The Reaction to the List

I can tell you lists are great for Blog traffic… Last week’s “What to look for in 2008” was one of the most read posts since the whole Pella/EFCO deal last fall. In all of that traffic were plenty of e-mail with thoughts, opinions and omissions. Some of the best are down below, and THANK YOU to all that checked in!!

By the way the success of the “list” means my competition will probably start doing them anytime now. Then again I am used to that.

3 Great items that really could’ve made the list…

1. Jobsite Security- HUGE issue for the glazing community because of the on going desire to steal materials… especially copper and aluminum. No matter how safe or how hard you try, the bad guys are seemingly winning. And this issue is not just for jobsites, I got this link a while back- and meant to post- talking about a Louisville glass company getting their materials stolen…. However when you see the amount the company says was stolen, you have to wonder how long this could be going one, because that’s a lot of money. Regardless, this is a MAJOR issue and because of a struggling economy, along with desperate people, it will be a pain for glaziers going forward.

2. Blast Resistant Glazing- How I missed this I do not know. This is everywhere and expect it to grow and grow. Problem is that communication and understanding of specifications is VERY murky right now. That problem really leaves the glazing community in a major lerch. LUCKILY for all of you, the BEC has a great presentation scheduled on this. Yes another, reason to come to the BIGGEST and BEST glass gathering of the year.

3. Decorative- Dang I was a space cadet huh? My apologies to Kris Vockler, Scott Surma and all of the fine deco folks I work with either at GANA or in the industry. Decorative glass continues to be a solid growth item and more and more mainstream folks are getting it. To me this will be just like glass guys buying metal folks…. Sooner or later you’ll have people NOT in Deco buying operations to get in it.

I had several others come through that I debated off line and again I appreciate it.

Elsewhere…..

-- Quick rant after reading a trade magazine… there was an ad in there that promoted a company’s ability from “Coast to Coast” yet said company has no operation west of Kentucky…. So I guess they meant East Coast to the Gulf Coast maybe? Or could it be the “Coast” of the Allegheny to the "Coast" of the Hocking? Anyway, I love to pick….

-- I was in attendance at the ABC meeting in Dallas a week ago… once again tremendous stuff. I was late due to flight nightmares but I did get there in time to be a part of the discussion surrounding competition for my pals at the NFRC. It was a spirited debate, but as always, you can count on Greg Carney at GANA to make the right points and he did again. Basically the NFRC is hoping to convince the code orgs that they should keep their unbelievable monopoly. Here is hoping that logic prevails. Anyway, can anyone tell me why the NFRC is above competition? Its stunning and worse yet, the people who think that a 1 system approach is good for the marketplace or the public is delusional.

-- By the way GANA did extend the deadline of BEC and that’s good considering how many late arrivals there’s been. Major props to Carol Land at GANA- she is the one handling all of this and she has been spectacular. Between the late adds and all of the changes everyone has had to make and times that by 700, well it’s a miracle Carol hasn’t hidden under her desk. She deserves major thanks because come 4 weeks from now, no one will realize how her efforts made registration and check in so smooth. (To sign up CLICK HERE)

-- I have talked in the past that a bad part of LEED is that people will use products just to get the “point” and not care about the overall effect of the building, process etc. Well I saw it happen in real time this week and it was ugly. The architect’s originally specified product came in just a tiny bit short in performance. So short that it was probably a statistical tie. But because of LEED fear, the architect chose a new product that “met it” and in turn spent 50k more. Hey as the manufacturer and I am sure the glazier would agree, that’s fine by us, but really will that owner realize what is happening to him? My fear is things like this will sour people and the green movement could take on a negative turn. Then again in the rush to be more green then the next guy, said owner probably would pay 100k just to show off his certification….

-- By the way, LEED is getting more competition... (see even the might USGBC has competition!) Its called Social Economic Environmental Design Network but they are using the acronym SEED...(I guess SEEDN, just isn't as cute eh) Anyway the story about SEED (and they lovingly call themselves "SEEDlings") is HERE. I say the more the merrier... see competition is good.. monopoly bad. Building owners will have another option if they want to be "green"

-- Last, I have been remiss on the football side… but here’s hoping for a New England-Green Bay Super Bowl… that game would be one surely worth watching… instead the way it has been of late… a game played in between all of the new commercials….