This past week GANA held it’s
Fall Conference in Kansas City and as always with events like these there’s a
great deal of information and education (as well as primo networking)
available. So a few takeaways from that
event…
-- If you haven’t heard the
acronyms LCA or EPD, get ready, you will certainly be hearing more from them
and about them in the future. LCA stands
for Life Cycle Analysis and EPD is for Environmental Product Declarations. This is a trend that started a few years ago
that boasts more transparency in a products environmental make-up. Green building rating systems are a driver of
it but so are architects and building owners.
Mark Silverberg of Technoform, who always leads thoughtful discussions
on serious energy issues was great in taking the audience through the
options. This will be an area to
watch. But I will also throw it out to
you my dear readers- are you seeing LCA or EPD in your specifications?
-- Also in the same session that
discussed the LCA/EPD, Dr. Tom Culp gave some updates on the various code and
ratings bodies. The push to be
sustainable seems to getting more organized with two groups combining standards
and I liked the fact that one standard has an angle that really promotes the
use of dynamic glazing. As anyone who
knows me, knows I am a fan of that technology, so seeing it the approach here
was a daymaker.
-- In addition I learned that
the NFRC hired a consulting firm to among other things “help them understand
the commercial manufacturers value chain and what will encourage them to adopt
the program” Seriously. I was among many who told them these things way back in 2004. I was mocked and villified as I wrote,
debated, argued that the commercial world was different. And in the end so much of what our industry
tried to teach them was ignored. Amazingly
in the end they could’ve saved themselves a ton of money and resources if they would’ve listened. Oh well.
And despite this move I do not believe they’ll ever really want to
understand the commercial world.
-- The conference featured a
tour of the AGC Float Glass facility in Spring Hill, Kansas. For me it was the 7th float plant
I have toured and I still learned new things.
The AGC folks really did a tremendous job with this effort, the plant
was spotless and impressive. Major
thanks to Gus Trupiano of AGC for setting this up.
-- Kansas City also featured
some great glass and glazing viewing.
Really unique buildings, excellent usage of glass for the most part, and
the downtown area was very nice.
-- Next up on the North American
show/conference schedule is GlassBuild America and the Glazing Executives
Forum. You seriously can never have
enough education, information, or networking in your life.
-- But before GlassBuild America
dominates the landscape I am excited about getting to attend my 2nd
glasstec in Germany. That show kicks off
in a few weeks and now that I have one under my belt, I am pumped to take the
show on again. I look forward to
reporting back on here some of what I see and experience. And if you are headed over there, I look
forward to running into you along the way!
-- Last this week… the always
great Twitter feed of Conners Sales Group (@ConnersSales) had an incredible
link posted a few days ago. Check this one out. It is an “All Glass Office” and
when I say “All Glass” I mean ALL GLASS.
Now I love glass. Live for
it. Want it everywhere- but I have to
admit this actually was event too much for me.
That would be live or work in as obviously if I was the fabricator or
glazier, I would LOVE these jobs….
LINKS of the WEEK
I hate companies that gouge.
I get profits and wanting to make a lot… but gouging is terrible and
what the makers of the EpiPen (I have to buy at least 6 a year) are doing is
criminal.
And while we are on the path of things that are very wrong in our world… how about the debtors prison?
I get the concept, hate the execution.
VIDEO of the WEEK
The turning of the tables… robbers take on a cell phone
store. Manager runs out the back and
locks the bad guys in the store.
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