Hathaway Encourages Focus on Environment, Sustainability Among Glazing Contractors
March 19, 2012

by Penny Stacey, pstacey@glass.com

"It's time to look at the the impact of the buildings we create on the environment," said Ted Hathaway, CEO of Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope, who provided a keynote speech at the Building Envelope Contractors (BEC) Conference this morning in Las Vegas. Hathaway spoke about creating smart building envelopes.

"Building envelopes can no longer be passive or stupid," advised Hathaway. "... Buildings currently account for 75 percent of the carbon emissions on the planet."

He encouraged the use of collaboration and technology to reach smart building goals, and profiled several projects in which he has seen these play a major role.

"Our industry is at the forefront of technology and we have to be able to share that knowledge with architects and designers," he said.

Hathaway also suggested that focusing on the environment also can be popular among owners and companies that eventually inhabit the buildings on which the industry works.

"Companies today want to locate in buildings that are environmentally friendly and sustainable," he said.

Hathaway also discussed a new technology--HeliOptix, integrated concentrating solar power. "It directly address the principle needs of every building," he said. "... This has the enormous potential to take buildings off the grid."

The technology can be used in both retrofit and new construction, according to Hathaway, and can be configured to work with a traditional glazing profile. "HeliOptix pays for itself in about four years without subsidies."

In closing, Hathaway quoted the famous Yogi Berra: "The future ain't what it used to be."

CLICK HERE to read blog from USGNN.com™/USGlass publisher Debra Levy regarding Hathaway's talk.

he BEC Conference continues through tomorrow, March 20. Stay tuned to www.USGNN.com™ for the latest news and updates from the event.