 
DOE Considers Expanding R5 Window Volume Purchase
Program, According to Recent Webinar
August 2, 2010
The Department of Energy is considering expanding its R5 volume
purchase program to include a commercial aspect, according to a
recent webinar on the topic.
"We're considering adding different window types, windows
for more commercial building applications," said Graham Parker
of Pacific Northwest Laboratories, who was one of several speakers.
He added that the commercial component mainly would focus on high-rise
buildings-those above three stories.
In addition, Parker advised his company, which has worked with
DOE on the program development, is looking at raising the structural
performance grade required by the program, "as suggested by
window vendors and buyers."
DOE also is considering changing some of the specifications required
of the windows included, Parker said-for example, the possibility
of adding a regional solar heat gain coefficient to the program.
Jason Bogovich, manager of Energetics Inc., said he thinks the
program fits in perfectly with some of the others under consideration,
including possible Home Star legislation.
"The timing couldn't be much better with what's happening
in policy and in products-the Home Star program, which is still
under consideration, the Better Building Initiative and also the
energy tax credit," he said.
He added, "We kind of want to make everyone aware of this
window of savings that is currently available."
Bogovich described the process the group is using to promote the
program as "boots on the ground strategy."
"We want to use [our] relationships to really get down to
the local level," he said. Targeted audiences of the R5 program
include homebuilders, contractors, weatherization agencies, apartment
owners and operators, non-profit agencies and state and local governments.
"A large part of this is regional workshops," he explained.
Christian Kohler, who is with the windows and daylighting research
group of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, explained that
one goal of the program is to reduce carbon emissions, "starting
with buildings."
"The window is responsible for 15 to 17 percent of energy
use," he said. "That represents $13 billion a year in
energy costs."
Nils Peterman of the Alliance to Save Energy, a program led by
the University of Minnesota, explained that one important aspect
of the R5 program is the breadth that it covers.
"Another important aspect is that all the different components
of the window are being accounted for-it's not just the glass or
frame system," he said.
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