AFFORDABLE HIGH PERFORMANCE WINDOWS make for AFFORDABLE NET ZERO ENERGY BUILDINGS

he proposed R&D contributes to USDA's high priority goal of enhancing the nation's energyefficiency.Buildings use 30% of the nation's energy.A sustainable energy future requires adoubling of current window performance & improving whole building envelope performance asthis innovation affordably provides.The project addresses Rural & Community DevelopmentResearch Priorities encouraging "technologies… that protect or enhance the environment whilepromoting economic development" & "increasing opportunities for employment and incomegeneration in rural communities.R5 R7 & R10 thermal resistance windows with twice theenergy efficiency of the current state of the art will be prototyped tested & certified to enablemarketing of these high performance windows at affordable prices of $290 $390 & $490respectively in egress sizes that 'marry well' with 2x6 24" on center wall framing.Sustainableforest resources are supported both by the use of protected wood in these windows & in theenergy- & cost-efficient wall framing that eliminates up to 6 sf of headers jack & cripple studsfor every 13 sf of glass area.The windows have been designed for quality-controlled assemblyin air-conditioned workshops supplying local & regional markets using modest hand skills &capital expenditure.The mostly rural county home to the Inventor's workshop will benefit froma business that could reach more than $100 million in sales 6 years after completion of this R&D.The Phase I research will provide testing to meet NFRC thermal & optical ASTM Force EntryResistance & AAMA air/water/structure standards which all windows must meet.These testswill be certified by the International Codes Council Evaluation Services which will also conducta quality control & assurance review of the maker's operation.Results anticipate these windows being code-certified for actual use in buildings enablingmarketing to architects & builders at the close of Phase I & the launch of a high growth rural- based manufacturer.Phase II will result in testing & code certification of enhanced structuralcapacity for these windows where fixed sash acts as a load-bearing element.Building energymodeling with RS Means cost estimates target affordable Net Zero Energy Buildings includingthe cost of rooftop solar at $120-200/sf which compares to the $250-500/sf cost of most NZEBsbuilt to date making Net Zero Energy Buildings affordable & commonplace.