In the December 2012 issue of Windsor World, we provided information on the government’s new and latest update to the Energy Star program, version 6.0. We also discussed Energy Star version 6.0 in the June issue as a result of information released at that time from the government and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
In June, we reported there had been a flurry of activity from many fronts relative the EPA’s version 6.0 draft criteria and its feedback. Organizations like AAMA and WDMA, along with a bipartisan group of 23 Congressmen, expressed concerns with the specifications for windows and doors and questioned the consistency with the guiding principles of the Energy Star program – specifically the 0.27 U-Value for the Northern Zone.
That Since June, the EPA has been reviewing this feedback. As a result, they have released the final criteria for final comment. The highlights of the final Energy Star version 6.0 criteria are as follows:
- The Northern Zone U-Value of 0.27 will remain unchanged
- The North-Central Zone U-Value will go from 0.29 to 0.30
- The South-Central Zone U-Value will go from 0.31 to 0.30
- The implementation date for version 6.0 has been delayed from January 1, 2014 to January 1, 2015.
Windsor is happy the EPA recognized the need to delay version 6.0 implementation. However, we feel the payback to achieve the 0.27 Northern Zone U-Value does not pencil out and is unjustified. We stand firm with AAMA and WDMA in supporting and preserving the current Energy Star program criteria.