Glen Raven Seeks Recognition For awnings

As Energy Savers

Ask any awning fabricator to list the benefits of fabric awnings and energy conservation will be near the top of the list. Homeowners with awnings will also attest to the fact that awnings reduce heat gain from windows, resulting in lower electric bills during the summer. Scientific research has documented that awnings can reduce heat gain by up to 50 percent depending on the geographic location of a home.

With the energy efficiency of awnings widely recognized by fabricators, homeowners and researchers, you would expect awnings to rank along side energy efficient windows and appliances when it comes to universally accepted best practices in today’s green world.

for awnings could also lead to inclusion in green products building lists and in the growing number of green building standards and guidelines.

“In many ways, we are in the same situation that the windows industry faced two decades ago,” Gant said. “By working with the NFRC, the window industry created and adopted a universal rating system for windows that has resulted in better products and incredible energy savings. We want to do the same thing for awnings.”

The value of awnings as energy saving devices is gaining traction with other professional organizations. The National Association of Home Builders has developed a Green Residential Building Standard that includes the use of awnings. The United States Green Building Council, whose widely recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ requires energy efficiency in commercial and residential buildings, describes window shading as a recognized method of increasing energy efficiency.

“Unfortunately, awnings have not received the formal recognition they deserve as energy saving devices,” said John Gant, shade market development manager for Glen Raven Custom Fabrics. “Our goal is to work closely with professional and trade organizations that can provide official stamps of approval to elevate the status of awnings.”

Over the past two years Gant has played a key role in an intense effort by Glen Raven and other leaders in the awning market to network with professional building organizations. The goal is to provide these groups with information on why awnings should be formally recognized among industry approved energy-saving devices. It is a long-term process that is showing encouraging signs of potential success.

The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC), a government recognized organization that rates the energy efficiency of window products, has formed an Awning Task Group which Gant chairs. This committee has retained the Berkeley National Lab to assist in the development of a methodology for measuring the energy efficiency of fabric awnings, which is the first step toward the creation of a ratings system similar to the one used for windows. Several organizations, including the Professional Awning Manufacturers Association and Glen Raven, have pledged financial support for the research.

Energy ratings through the NFRC allow product manufacturers to provide better consumer information for purchasing decisions and in some cases have led to energy efficient products being covered by energy tax credits. A rating system

The American Society of Interior Designers’ Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council have included references to awnings as part of their development of best practice guidelines known as the Re-Green Program. Gant and others are targeting the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers whose residential building code is widely used by municipal governments around the country.

A precedent for official recognition of awnings in energy conservation can be found in Europe. In 2004, the European Union passed the “Efficient Performance Buildings Directive” (EPBD), which instructed member countries to change their national building codes to require more energy saving measures. As a result, many countries require residential and commercial builders to use exterior solar protection, which includes awnings and roller shades.

“Awnings are much more prevalent in Europe, which has taken steps to include shading devices in official building codes,” Gant said. “Recognition of awnings in the U.S. is ultimately a regulatory issue. Our goal is to get awnings and other shading devices included in the guidelines and standards that architects, engineers and building contractors use when selecting products for residential and commercial construction.This is a complex, multi-year process, but the potential impact could be incredibly significant in helping to grow the awnings market.”