DOE Offers Update On Changes To Energy Star

Karney spoke at the National Fenestration Rating Council fall meeting last week.



Karney said the DOE is working with manufacturers to learn what products are available in the marketplace and what products are in development. Analysis of the findings should be published by the end of January and distributed to stakeholders. A stakeholders meeting is planned for March.



January 1, 2009 is the earliest effective date for the new criteria. “We’re trying to stick to that date as best we can. But, we will not keep it if it means sacrificing better criteria,” Karney said.



The DOE also plans to issue even tougher criteria for Energy Star windows in 2012 and again in 2015, he noted. “We’re looking to establish much more aggressive criteria in 2012 using technology that’s out there or technology that’s coming down the pipeline. … We’re studying targets for 2015 that will be extremely aggressive—extremely high tech products, perhaps using technology that may not exist now,” Karney said. “Products like highly super insulating units, or windows with dynamic glazing.