SBIR-STTR Award

The proposed R&D contributes to USDA's high priority goal of enhancing the nation's energy efficiency. Buildings use 30% of the nation's energy. A sustainable energy future requires a doubling of current window performance & improving whole building envelope performance as this innovation affordably provides. The project addresses Rural & Community Development Research Priorities encouraging "technologies’ that protect or enhance the environment while promoting economic development" & "increasing opportunities for employment and income generation in rural communities.R5 R7 & R10 thermal resistance windows with twice the energy efficiency of the current state of the art will be prototyped tested & certified to enable marketing 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. Sustainable forest resources are supported both by the use of protected wood in these windows & in the energy- & cost-efficient wall framing that eliminates up to 6 sf of headers jack & cripple studs for every 13 sf of glass area. The windows have been designed for quality-controlled assembly in 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 from a 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 Entry Resistance & AAMA air/water/structure standards which all windows must meet. These tests will be certified by the International Codes Council Evaluation Services which will also conduct a quality control & assurance review of the maker's operation. Results anticipate these windows being code-certified for actual use in buildings enabling marketing 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 structural capacity for these windows where fixed sash acts as a load-bearing element. Building energy modeling with RS Means cost estimates target affordable Net Zero Energy Buildings including the cost of rooftop solar at $120-200/sf which compares to the $250-500/sf cost of most NZEBs built to date making Net Zero Energy Buildings affordable & commonplace.