So What Exactly Does Green Look Like?

When Joe Raposo wrote the song "It's Not Easy Being Green," he had no idea his words would be uttered years later, and not just on Sesame Street but in a meeting of architectural building products manufacturers.

Suppliers, manufacturers and other members of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) met and grappled with the green issue during the association's summer conference, which wrapped up yesterday in Hershey, Pa.

In one of the most popular sessions, the Green and Sustainability Committee had met the day before to review efforts to date in the area. Given the gargantuan task ahead of it, it was easy to see why so many attendees listened with rapt attention.

AAMA marketing manager Angela Dickson began with an overview of the external communications plan completed by an outside consultant to help promote AAMA's commitment to the environment and sustainability. A green e-newsletter, presentations and press releases and an AAMA "green" fact sheet were recommended.

Edgetech's Tracy Rogers, chair of the Green and Sustainability Development Task Group, reviewed the discussions about what constitutes a "green" product. Rogers discussed a number possible methods for product certification including point and prescriptive criteria. Rogers said a draft will be ready for review before AAMA's annual meeting in the fall.

It was also reported that AAMA has sent a letter to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) requesting that the two groups work together on the development of sustainability guidelines for fenestration projects.

The recycling of windows-not just the glass in them-was also discussed. "We have to create an end-of-life reclamation for windows," said Matt Dewitt of Omniglass. "The perception is that windows themselves cannot be actively recycled."

On Monday, DeWitt had chaired the first meeting of the Fiberglass Green and Sustainability Committee as it began the task of developing a scope and mission. "This is going to be a difficult task," said DeWitt, "but that was true of the vinyl group when it started out as well."

By the end of the meeting, the group had developed a draft of a scope.

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