Each week USGNN is asking some pretty good questions… and I figured its time to at least give my take…
This week’s question: What do you feel is the glass industry’s environmental responsibility?
My answer: In reality the glass industry, at least from the Fabricator and Glazier is as responsible as they can be to support the environment with the programs that are in play. That said, the programs, headed by the all famous LEED are weak when it comes to involving and incorporating the Glass and Metal side of the business. Until LEED or any of the other myriad of “green” programs can step up and give proper value to our side of the industry, it really does not matter what we do.
That said, we do work with a highly recyclable product and as an industry I think we embrace the ability to do right by our environment. We would get so much more mileage if the “green” folks would notice us over here in the corner… that is if they tear themselves away from the waterless urinals, wheatboard and bike racks that all get more credit than glass and aluminum.
- And on a related matter, how does Power Coating of aluminum, which releases no VOC’s into the atmosphere get no advantage over traditional paint finishes? There’s more to this story, but I’ll throw that out and see what happens…
- I could not imagine working for USGlass fulltime. In the last several weeks they had to cover Glassweek, the Builders Show, AAMA, IGMA, and the Auto Glass Show with BEC and NFRC looming up ahead. Unreal. And I probably missed one or two- like I am sure USGlass sent reporters to the NBA All Star Game in Vegas too.
And with basketball on the mind- Here is this week’s video- a dunk where the guy does a 720… which is simply amazing, I can’t turn around that much on the ground, let alone in the air:
- Survivor Update- Our Architect Sylvia is still alive. Though her tribe hates her. They called her stubborn and arrogant. Plus they said she’s bossy and she pushes people around. Andthey were mad because she had Spectrum Glass in her specs and they went out business years ago…. Well they said everything but the last part… anyway, she is alive… barely… for another week.
- Lastly this week… are you into baseball… do you play fantasy baseball or have you ever wanted to play and never found a league. Well through our friends on the Auto Glass side of the world, we have started a league. What’s it cost? Nothing- Its for fun and for bragging rights (and updated standings on the blog for thousands to see each week!)
I know I can count on Jim Fairley for sure to join us, but everyone else is welcome- we have plenty of room in our lst league and if that fills up we’ll start a second. If you want more info- e-mail me at MAXBCAT@aol.com. I will tell you this, being in a fantasy baseball league makes you enjoy baseball so much more.
8 comments:
Oh the Environment, a topic near and dear to my heart. Yes, LEEDs is weak in the area of glass and metal, it was very weak overall when it started. I remember from my undergrad days working with Sustainable practices and how new it was. What I have seen is a great growth and great strides forward, from Sustainable practices years ago we spawned the LEED's program. Hopefully years from now the parts we find weak will be strong. Remember when we didn't even think of these concepts?
I would like to add that being Green is not just a concept to work in a new structure of Sustainable Building and getting more business, it's a philosophy that goes right to the heart of your business. How much of a carbon footprint do you personally have and how much of one does your company leave behind?
The strength of glass and metal in LEED's will come when our community themselves takes the concept and puts it in their vision and what they value as business people.
It's up to us to be a part of the Sustainable community and bring glass and metal in line with these practices.
Glass has huge potential to be a product that contributes greatly to the Sustainable push. Adding products such as OPACI-COAT-300 as the spandrel add even more points and creates a Sustainable unit or concept.
Even surfers who ride the wave have to paddle to get to the wave.
Hang loose Dude....
Dude, how 'bout you start some chatter on the message forum for us, too? We've been trying to get traffic there with these questions (though I'm glad you felt this one worthy enough to discuss). :)
boleary
Great Post Kris! Thank You
And yes I really should've put the link to the message board and need to promote that more next week!
USGlass Message Board:
http://pub43.bravenet.com/forum/show.php?usernum=3673102673
Max,
It's interesting that you say "Until LEED or any of the other myriad of “green” programs can step up and give proper value to our side of the industry, it really does not matter what we do." Isn't it the industry's responsibility to make LEED give us the proper value?
I'm of two opinions on this. I'm working on a certification program in a completely different industry and we've been pulling teeth to try to get industry involvement. They don't seem to care. But I bet you, dollars to donuts, as soon as the program starts gaining some momentum, they're going to be screaming bloody murder about why they weren't consulted. That's a common phenomena in any kind of certification development.
It strikes me that in some ways, the glass/window industry is very lucky that there isn't more recognition. Without their active involvement to set criteria that works for them, they run the greater risk of having all kinds of headaches because the criteria is not realistic or over excessive (at least in the industry's opinion).
Yet (to continue to muse as a devil's advocate), how many places can industry HAVE effective people? Between codes and certification programs and standards, any association or business could employ 5 or more professional meeting goers. Can they afford to cover that many bases? Can they afford not to?
Arlene- Thanks for the comment and reading the blog- I appreciate it!
Yes there is no doubt whatsoever that the Glass and Glazing industry should be making the effort to make ourselves known in that arena- but that said, we can only do so much if the decision makers there do not want to even embrace it. I know several people who have worked to try and get more Glass and Metal insight within USGBC and their efforts are usually taken like sour milk. I think that LEED has so many people pulling and tugging at it- and USGBC has grown so much that they can only serve so many sides. I guess where my frustration comes in is that you look at the structure of USGBC (and you know me I am into Board structures!) and you see no one that comes even close to understanding what our side of the business offers. Plus with the way USGBC is set up, their elections are actually controlled even more than NFRC (amazing) to the point that they just don't let "anyone" run- they choose the slates- thus closing the door to others that may indeed bring new ideas to the table.
Wow that was long winded.
As for your point on the "risks of headaches" because of the lack of realistic options, I acceptthat and understand it- afterall that is what we are suffering through at NFRC! So I guess we should be careful for what we wish for- the difference here is NFRC has people profiting off of un-neccesary police actions on an industry they still can not grasp, while the green effort hopefully has more noble causes in mind- like improving our energy efficiency all over.
Lastly your point at the end was right on- with so many things to now worry about, it is VERY hard to effectively cover them all. I noted that it had to be tough for a magazine editor to cover all of the shows- but at those same events, you had many of the companies having people there too...
[quote]but that said, we can only do so much if the decision makers there do not want to even embrace it. I know several people who have worked to try and get more Glass and Metal insight within USGBC and their efforts are usually taken like sour milk. I think that LEED has so many people pulling and tugging at it- and USGBC has grown so much that they can only serve so many sides.[/quote]
I absolutely understand. As with any organization, it takes time to be heard, to become one of the 'doers' (so to speak) rather than just a fly-by-night 'member' who pops off about something in a meeting, just because it's within driving distance and will never been seen again. My wise mother always said that you have to take time to work your way into any organization. You keep showing up, you do the small jobs and sooner or later, when people know you're going to be there, then they start to listen to you, start to ask you to do things. For my part, it's taken my 8 years working with home builders to gain their trust enough to be asked my opinion about their issues. That's a century in business years.
So how do you ask a business or corporation, who looks at the bottom line on a quarterly basis, to make a long term commitment that is needed for a staff person to gain the kind of influence needed at such a BIG organization as USGBC in order to POSSIBLY have input into a voluntary standard that MIGHT become mandatory? How do you find the right type of person to infiltrate the incumbant hierarchy to have the concerns heard effectively? How do you keep that staff person at the company with the way that personnel jumps around these days? A company can put all kinds of time and resources into building up that person's reputation, to all of a sudden have a headhunter come and snatch him/her away along with the credibility that the company has developed. Is any of this realistic for any organization but the biggest corporations? Is it no wonder that small companies have little representation?
Eh, I fear I've hijacked your blog and gone way off-topic. Such is the way of a frustrated problem solver...That will teach you, Max, to encourage me with positive reinforcement.
Arlene-
Hijack anytime- you make good points and they are appreciated and respected. I agree the most with the "fly by night" comment- no doubt that is what gives many a bad name- I can assure you on the LEED angle it may have been percieved as that by USGBC but it was not the case.
I must note one thing for those following along, that Arlene has been the only person active within NFRC who actually has taken the time to learn about our industry. Especially telling when NFRC blows off a chance to have an education session at Viracon when their membership meeting was held in Minnesota last summer. At least you make the effort.
I have just finished watching "24" followed by reading glass forum and this blog and posts. I have come to the conclusion that we are all being scammed.
24 isn't about terrorists...it is about us, the Glass Industry. How else can you explain it. Many of us can put a name to the characters on the show, the big company or association that is all about profit no matter the effect on our environment or industry. The research that is put into product for quotes "Chloe, I need that info now, we have no other leads".
Don't forget the interegations and torture "who is the lowest bidder, I must have last shout, give him another shot (of Jack Daniels)" or the "I don't trust him but we have no other options"
I am not going to mention the office personnel (CTU) the geeks, (howd day do dat) potential drunks and people who seem to walk around without a purpose. There is the guys who are suspect at doing their jobs but we keep then around anyway and of course the bad guys who always turn up for a second ( third, fourth, fifth) chance.
It all ads up to one thing......" I don't care what you have to do Jack, but the country will grind to a standstill if we don't get that job delivered on time."
or...is it time for bed.
You decide
Good night and good luck
Jim
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