I wrote the column while compiling our green issue, and I became very interested in some of the things Wal-Mart is doing in its quest toward sustainability. For example, the corporate giant is looking at principles such as embodied energy and product life cycle, and is challenging its suppliers to embody some of their own sustainable principles. For example, the company has developed a sustainable product index.

The first phase of the company’s green program included a survey that included 15 questions that will serve as a tool for Walmart’s suppliers to evaluate their own sustainability efforts.

In phase 2 of the program, the company plans to create a group of universities that will work with suppliers, retailers, NGOs and government to develop a global database of information on the lifecycle of products—from raw materials to disposal.

In the final phase the product information will be translated into a simple rating for consumers about the sustainability of products. Maybe I’m an environmental geek, but this is pretty exciting to me.

So when writing that past column I went to the sustainability section of the Wal-Mart website to check a few facts and stumbled upon a video titled, “the Secret Life of Sour Cream,” just sitting there on the main page of the sustainability section with no explanation. So I watched the five-minute video (CLICK HERE to view it) and was intrigued by this explanation of the manufacturing process of Wal-Mart’s Great Value brand of sour cream. One of the things I learned is that cows produce 120 pounds of manure per day. This manure emits methane, which is one of the most powerful greenhouse gases emitted. “This has a greater impact on global warming than all the tailpipe emissions combined,” according to the video. Who knew?

I also learned that a machine called a methane digestor can capture the manure and turn it into electricity that saves one farmer in the story $12,000 per month.

That farmer said this, “Imagine a world where cows are producing the milk for Wal-Mart, then produce the electricity to cool the milk at Wal-Mart and provide the lighting and electricity for Wal-Mart.”

So long story short, watching Food Inc. made me think of Wal-Mart again as they also profiled the company for a brief segment in the film. The company talked about how it listened to the consumer who wanted organic products and that’s how it partnered with companies like Stonyfield Farm.

Whatever your thoughts on the company, I only highlighted them to get you thinking about your sustainability efforts. Are you listening to the customer and giving them what they want while also being profitable and energy-efficient at the same time? How are you lowering your environmental footprint? Are you looking at the product life cycle of your products? Just a few things to think about.

P.S. If you haven’t seen Food Inc. I recommend it. It’s one of those movies that stays with you and really makes you think.

The rules shall not apply to windows with a sill bottom of more than 22 inches above the finished floor.

If passed in its current form, the bill also would require the state’s commissioner of labor and industry to amend the state’s building code to comply with the law.

The law, passed in 2008, addresses window fall prevent devices, including safety screens, hardware, guards and “other devices that comply with the standards established by the commissioner of labor and industry.”

Some industry trade organizations, such as the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) have been actively involved in working to help prevent falls from windows.

“AAMA is part of the Window Safety Task Force, whose efforts focus on the balance between fall prevention and emergency egress. It’s important to teach children not to play near open windows, but also how to utilize windows for escape in case of fire,” says Rich Walker, AAMA president and chief executive officer. “Minnesota has taken this a step further by requiring window opening limiting devices and a minimum sill height. Regardless of guards, railings and other devices, proper supervision by an adult is essential to window safety.”

Berglin introduced the bill on March 1 and it has been read once, and referred to the Senate’s business, industry and jobs committee.

CLICK HERE for the full text of the bill.

“The homeowner would be eligible for a rebate from the store or the contractor for 50 percent of the cost of each upgrade up to $1,500. Now, if you decided to retrofit your whole house to greatly reduce your energy use, you’d be eligible for a rebate of up to $3,000,” said Obama in his remarks.

He continued, “Now, we know this will save families as much as several hundred dollars on their utilities. We know it will make our economy less dependent on fossil fuels, helping to protect the planet for future generations. But I want to emphasize that Homestar will also create business and spur hiring up and down the economy.” Steven Tourek, chair of the Window and Door Manufacturers Association (WDMA), says the WDMA supports the plan.

“The program will give the industry’s recovery a much needed boost while helping to improve our nation’s overall energy efficiency,” he says. “We will continue to work with the Administration and Congress to encourage the use of ENERGY STAR standards as the appropriate qualifying criteria for windows, doors and skylights eligible for consumer incentives under Homestar.”

The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) also is supportive of the president’s plan.

“This has the potential to be a real shot in the arm for the home building industry,” says NAHB chairman Bob Jones, a builder and developer in Bloomfield Hills, Mich. “It will help put America back to work and it will help families save on monthly energy bills.”

NAHB economists estimate that every $1 billion in remodeling and home improvement activity generates 11,000 jobs, $527 million in wages and salaries, and $300 million in business income.

However, the NAHB says the association does have concerns about some of the implementing details as the program has been proposed in various legislative drafts.

“For this effort to be successful, the opportunities must be equally accessible to everyone,” Jones says. “We need to make sure that Congress does not put up barriers that would keep this program from reaching its full potential.”

But the residential industry isn’t the only industry to benefit from these rebates. A similar program, Building Star, also was introduced last week. The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) is just one group supportive of this plan, which would offer rebates and tax incentives for energy-efficient improvements to commercial properties and large, multi-family buildings.

“Spurring retrofits of commercial and multi-family buildings through Building STAR can start to reverse the downward trend in construction and manufacturing by leveraging private-sector investment to create jobs,” says Rich Walker, AAMA president and CEO. “We believe the Building STAR program should be included in the federal ‘jobs bill’ because it would help create at least 150,000 high-quality jobs during 2010 in every part of the country. We encourage individuals to contact their Senators to express support for the bill.”

CLICK HERE for more information about Building Star from DWM’s sister site, www.USGNN.com.

CLICK HERE to take DWM’s latest poll regarding Homestar. (The poll is located in the bottom right-hand corner of the site.)

The administrative order on consent, filed in Kansas City, Kan., is intended to address a series of longstanding environmental issues related to soil and groundwater contamination around Pella’s facilities at 102 Main Street in Pella.

In 2006, under the authority of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA), EPA Region 7 completed an assessment of the company’s facilities in Pella and identified a total of 30 different potential sources of soil and groundwater contamination. The RCRA order follows up on EPA’s assessment and requires a thorough investigation and cleanup of wastes released from the facility. The contaminants to be addressed by Pella are primarily solvents and petroleum products related to wood treatment activities at the facility, including the solvent pentachlorophenol which has been detected in groundwater above federal drinking water levels, according to the press release.

The City of Pella relies on the Des Moines River and a deep well situated close to the company’s plant for its public drinking water, according to the EPA. According to the EPA, Pella has committed, under EPA oversight, to investigate its hazardous releases, conduct a study to identify cleanup strategies, and then implement the cleanup selected by EPA at its own expense.

Pella spokesperson Kathy Krafka-Harkema told DWM magazine that Pella Corporation is committed to the safety of its team members, neighbors and communities in which it operates.

“As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, Pella Corporation has entered into a consent order with The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to study soil and groundwater at the Pella, Iowa, manufacturing site at 102 Main Street,” says Krafka-Harkema.

 ”Pella Corporation is committed to working with the EPA. Under the agreement, a review will be conducted. Following the results of that review, Pella Corporation will make further appropriate remedial actions if necessary and as directed by the EPA,” she adds.

According to the proposed credit (CLICK HERE  to view it), the intent is to reduce the release of persistent bioaccumulative toxic chemicals (PBTs) associated with the life cycle of building materials. Additionally, materials manufactured without added halogenated organic compounds for at least 75 percent (by cost) of the material totals in a minimum of three of the following four groups would be required: exterior components (including at a minimum, roof membranes, waterproofing membranes, door and window frames, siding); interior finishes (including at a minimum, flooring, base, ceiling tiles, wall coverings and window treatments); piping, conduit and electrical boxes; and building-installed electrical cable and wire jacketing.

The Vinyl Institute met with USGBC staff in December to protest this pilot credit and ask for evaluation criteria.

“We have followed up on that meeting recently and yet continue to be met with silence on the issues that need answering – why the credit was proposed, how it can be justified given USGBC’s own life-cycle study, and how it will be evaluated in a meaningful, performance-based way,” says Bocchi, who adds that others in the industry need to voice their objections as well.

“We hope CEOs or other top executives of building product companies will jointly sign this letter as a way to make a powerful collective statement against this unjustified and discriminatory pilot credit.”

One window industry member who also opposes the credit is Wayne Gorell, chief executive officer for Gorell Windows and Doors.

“I’m at a loss as to why USGBC decided to not allow PVC products to participate in this program. It makes no sense. PVC is an accepted green product, [that has?] less impact on the environment to create great energy-saving benefits, and [is] totally recyclable. I hope they come to their senses and accept PVC as the great material for use in windows and doors.”

Bocchi sent a request to all members of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association’s (AAMA) Vinyl Materials Council requesting these members voice their concerns as well.

AAMA president Rich Walker encourages AAMA members to express their concerns to USGBC President Rick Fedrizzi.

“The vinyl medical and packaging industry segments have been attacked by radical environmental activists for years. The U.S. Green Building Council’s Pilot Credit 2 is the manifestation of another one of these unfounded anti-vinyl material campaign attacks, which now promotes the avoidance of all vinyl building products. USGBC has no scientific or due process justification for this approach,” Walker says.

Bocchi says the Vinyl Institute plans to collect names, titles and companies that agree to support this effort, list them at the end of the letter, then deliver the letter to Fedrizzi.

Those interested in joining this effort can e-mail their name, title, company name and address to leeschilling@gmail.com.

Additionally, Gorell, ProVia Door, in Sugarcreek, Ohio and Pella Corp. in Pella, Iowa, have earned the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence Award. The Sustained Excellence Award is given to organizations that have won the ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year award three or more consecutive times. Gorell and Pella are winners in the windows category while ProVia earned the Sustained Ecellence Award for doors.

All these companies will be presented their awards during a ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 18.

CLICK HERE to view a press release from Andersen about the award.

CLICK HERE to view a press release from Gorell.

CLICK HERE to view a press release from Jeld-Wen.

CLICK HERE to view a press release from Pella Corp.

CLICK HERE to view a press release from ProVia.

The DOE R-5 Program seeks to amass increased demand for leading edge, high-performance windows through the creation of an on-line virtual marketplace between qualified suppliers and qualified volume buyers, according to a press release from Crystal.

“We’ve invested heavily in new production equipment, product testing and improving the energy efficiency of our windows,” says Steve Chen, Crystal’s executive vice president. “We have high hopes for the DOE R-5 Program and the growth of the affordable high efficiency window market.”

Has your company considered involvement in the R-5 program? Please e-mail ttaffera@glass.com.

CLICK HERE for more information on the R-5 Program.

In the Engineered Products Group, the company announced an initiative, Project Nexus, which is the company’s new growth program focused on connecting the Engineered Products Group (EPG) businesses: Mikron, Truseal and Homeshield. The sales, marketing and engineering efforts of these businesses, which have operated independently in the past, will now collectively utilize their capabilities to expand sales with current customers as well as beyond their current customer base, according to a Quanex press release.

The Project Nexus unified sales approach will provide one point of contact to make it easier for customers to acquire all of the products and services offered by Quanex. This collaborative approach also will target the smaller national and regional OEMs, where the company believes profitable sales growth can be achieved.

Revenue growth will be enhanced by the development of new pre-certified fenestration systems as opposed to how we now primarily sell individual components that are assembled and tested by the customer.

“While Project Nexus remains a long term program, we do expect to see incremental sales growth in 2011 as a result of its implementation. Significant capital expenditures are not required given our existing capacity. Specifically, we expect related capital expenditures under $4 million in fiscal 2010,” says the press release.

Commenting on the financial results, David D. Petratis, president and chief executive officer of Quanex Building Products, says the Engineered Products business outperformed the overall market again with first quarter sales up 12 percent from a year ago, “based in part on market share gains by customers, the addition of new customers, and by our growing penetration in the R&R market.”

“Operating income was $4.1 million compared to a loss of $121.5 million a year ago, the result of improved shipments and higher average selling prices. Our view of the 2010 housing market remains guarded, but we are certainly off to a much better start compared to this time last year,” he says.

He also added that the company will be closing its China Truseal facility by the end of the fiscal year “due to the contraction of demand and our ability to serve the overseas thin film solar panel market from our North American operations.”

“We saw an improving trend in housing starts towards the end of 2009, as the national seasonally adjusted annual rate for single-family starts increased from 393,000 at the end of 2008, to 477,000 at the end of 2009,” says Floyd Sherman, Builders FirstSource chief executive officer.

The company reports that while 2009 sales and gross margin were down $314.1 million and $73.1 million, respectively, from 2008, its adjusted EBITDA decreased only $2.7 million.

“Although we have seen some recent stabilization in single-family housing starts, single-family units under construction decreased almost 28 percent in the current quarter as compared to the fourth quarter of 2008,” says Sherman. “Historically, units under construction have declined at a similar, and often times slower, rate than starts. However, this trend changed in June 2009, and since that time single-family units under construction have fallen 32 percent, while single-family starts have fallen only 12 percent, compared to the same period of 2008. For reasons that are unclear, the industry is experiencing delays in housing starts moving to units under construction. A start is triggered once the dirty work begins. Once the foundation has been established, the start becomes a unit under construction, at which time our potential for revenue begins.”

The Midwest was the only region of the country to register an increase in new-home sales this January, posting a 2.1 percent gain from an abnormally low December rate. The Northeast and West posted double-digit declines, of 35.1 percent and 11.9 percent, respectively, and the South posted a 9.5 percent decline, according to the National Association of Homebuilders.

While the overall number of new homes on the market remained virtually unchanged in January, at 234,000 units, the month’s supply rose to 9.1 from 8.0 in the previous month due to January’s slower sales pace.