AERC Adds Commercial Products to the List of Certified Window Attachment Products
NEW YORK (March 4, 2021) – The Attachments Energy Rating Council (AERC) announces the certification of six new commercial secondary window systems — four interior storm window products from LARSON® Manufacturing, two interior and two exterior products from QUANTA, and two window insert products from Indow® Windows. Secondary windows offer a significant, cost effective opportunity to address energy performance and comfort in commercial buildings and reduce energy costs. For mid to large size commercial buildings with low performing windows, secondary windows can achieve similar performance to full window replacement in a cost-effective manner.
“QUANTA has been working with AERC since its inception,” said Jay Reyher, CEO and President of QUANTA Technologies, Inc. “The certification of commercial products through third-party organizations like AERC is important because architects, specifiers and building owners need to be able to make objective assessments of products and product performance.”
QUANTA, a manufacturer and marketer of architectural Low-E storm windows, has certified The QUANTAPANEL® 600 Series, which installs on the interior, and the QUANTAPANEL® 700 Series, which installs on the exterior, with AERC. QUANTAPANEL® Insulating Glass Systems are used in single family homes, as well as commercial and multifamily buildings. These products are best suited for buildings where the owner seeks to retain the building’s original windows for architectural or historic purposes, but also wants state-of-the-art performance in terms of energy efficiency, noise reduction, and occupant comfort.
LARSON® Manufacturing has certified four interior storm window models with AERC: I200E, I500E, and I600E single-hung, fixed, and sliding storm windows in the ComfortSEAL® product line, along with the I900C Commercial Insider Window, all with Low-E glass. LARSON’s certified Low-E storm windows are used as an additional layer of glass on the interior or the exterior of existing windows to provide more comfortable spaces for tenants. The secondary glazing system not only provides thermal benefits for warmer winters and cooler summers, but the added layer dampens outside noise for greater sound abatement.
“Secondary windows provide an easy, cost effective solution to energy performance in commercial buildings, yet they are often overlooked,” said Todd Stratmoen, Corporate Engineering Initiatives Manager at LARSON. “With AERC’s commercial product certification program, the performance of LARSON products is clearly communicated, which helps educate a broader audience about the outcomes they can expect with secondary window systems.”
Indow has certified both their Standard and Acoustic Grade Window Inserts. Indow inserts are used by commercial customers to block drafts completely and reduce noise by up to 70%. This ultimately leads to a 20% reduction in heating and cooling bills.
“AERC’s third-party commercial product certification will boost our credibility with large commercial purchasers,” said Sam Pardue, CEO and Founder of Indow. “Commercial purchasers will be able to use AERC testing data to confidently model energy savings.”
AERC launched the Commercial Secondary Window program late last year alongside its existing residential products certification program. AERC recognized the potential of secondary windows and prioritized the development of a commercial rating and certification program in order to provide the industry with credible data on the energy performance of these products. The commercial secondary windows program adopted similar, rigorous performance metrics used by AERC’s residential program including U-factor, Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), Visual Transmittance (VT), and Air Leakage.
“AERC is pleased to welcome these three manufacturers to the Commercial Secondary Window program,” said Ralph Vasami, Executive Director of AERC. “Indow, Larson, and QUANTA are leaders in the industry, developing products that will help consumers save energy and contribute to achieving the efficiency goals of our utility and research partners.”
For more information on the energy savings of window attachments or about the AERC Commercial Secondary Window Program contact Danielle Meyer, [email protected].
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About the Attachments Energy Rating Council (AERC)
The AERC is an independent, public interest, non-profit organization whose mission is to rate, label and certify the energy performance of window attachments such as blinds, shades, shutters, and storm windows. AERC is made up of a diverse set of stakeholders, which include product and component manufacturers, non-profit organizations, government bodies, testing labs and utility companies. Partially funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), AERC provides accurate and credible information about the energy performance of window attachments, which helps the public–including homeowners, architects and builders—make informed decisions when it comes to buying window attachment products. To learn more about AERC certification or the AERC Energy Improvement Program, visit www.aercenergyrating.org.