National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) vice chair Daniel Huard delivered the keynote address at the recent MiaGreen Expo, which was held March 14–15 at the Miami Airport Convention Center. Tom Herron, NFRC’s senior director, communications and marketing, also addressed the gathering.

Speaking to a group of nearly 70 design-build professionals and energy officers from the U.S., Latin America, and the Caribbean, Huard’s presentation, “Increasing Buildings’ Resiliency and Efficiency by Adopting Energy Storage Technology,” discussed the importance of understanding resiliency as it relates to a building’s ability to operate following a catastrophic event.

Huard also talked about the components of the infrastructure grid and the differences between grid-supported and independent energy storage solutions.

“Now, more than ever, an aging and overwhelmed power delivery infrastructure is concerning for building and portfolio managers, who need consistent and reliable energy delivery,” Huard told the audience. “Coupled with climate change, the need for resiliency becomes more prominent.”

Herron discussed NFRC’s origins, introduced the benefits of its ratings, and talked about the energy savings achieved through the strategic installation of high-performance fenestration products in the Empire State Building.

On the second day of the event, Huard returned to the stage to talk about optimizing building performance through commissioning.

Providing an overview of commissioning and its purpose for new and existing buildings, Huard discussed using the NFRC label to achieve code compliance. He said the growing emphasis on commissioning promises to expand the use and relevance of the organization’s ratings.

During the talk, Huard pointed out that buildings that meet code are the worst buildings that can be created without breaking the law. He added that green building does not necessarily cost more, because upfront expenses are usually offset by a decrease in long-term life-cycle costs.

“Studies also show green buildings more easily attracting tenants and commanding higher rental rates,” Huard added.