Starting in the 1940s, the idea for artificial intelligence lingered in laboratories and on the fringes of society for decades. In the 1980s and 1990s, development of machine learning techniques showed glimmers of hope for the technology’s potential, sparking a heightened period of development in the 2000s. Soon, AI became part of our day-to-day lives—most […]

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) recently updated a specification establishing the minimum requirements for polyvinyl chloride (PVC) exterior profiles that are used in doors, windows and skylights. “Voluntary Specification for Rigid Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Exterior Profiles” (AAMA 303-23), an FGIA document, is now available for purchase in the FGIA online store. The document, […]

The Fenestration and Glazing Industry Alliance (FGIA) has updated an industry specification for rating the ability of doors, windows, skylights and sliding glass doors to withstand impact and pressure cycling associated with hurricanes. AAMA 506-23, Voluntary Specification for Impact and Cycle Testing of Fenestration Products, was updated to align with the recently released NAFS-22 standard, says […]

According to a task group led by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), around 70% of homes in the country were built before 1990—before stricter building codes were enacted. As a result of aged materials and outdated codes, 30% of a home’s heating energy is lost through windows, the task group says. During the summer, […]

A new law in Colorado focusing on environmental standards is set to take effect in January 2026, requiring all residential structures three stories or lower to use Energy Star-rated products. House Bill 23-1161 applies to a range of appliances, fixtures and other products used in residential buildings—including doors, windows and skylights. The new law mandates […]

by Helen Sanders Deployment and adoption. These are major challenges in getting high-performance envelope solutions into new and existing homes and buildings in the U.S. Deployment is a key focus of the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) programs, driving work at the National Laboratories and their partners. Last week, I was […]

This time last year, National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) launched a campaign to encourage more people—builders, remodelers, architects, individual homeowners and others—to not take the state of their windows for granted. The campaign has had success with several national organizations, industry groups and magazines, and a few manufacturers are joining the effort. But there is […]

It is estimated that roughly 5,000 children fall from windows each year. Studies show that approximately 3,300 of them are treated in emergency rooms for their injuries—many of which are life-altering. Tragically, eight to 10 of these children will die from their injuries. As a window screen inventor and manufacturer, window safety is something I’ve […]

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published final specifications for Energy Star 7.0 Thursday, handing manufacturers their final marching orders if they’re to keep the program’s sticker on their door and window products. The news arrived amid the final hours of GlassBuild America—a week in which some companies said they were shopping new glass packages and […]

Ironically, writing this blog post has been trickier than the others because it’s the topic with the most research behind it. It also makes the most sense since no one gets excited about the idea of sitting in a windowless room for any time –barring those requiring it, of course, like movie theaters. But while […]