Individuals from the newly launched Attachments Energy Rating Council (AERC) member organizations met at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California. AERC was formed to tap into the energy savings from window attachments, such as blinds, shades, shutters, drapes and awnings. Effective window covering use in both residential and commercial buildings has the potential to save about 800 tBTU by 2030 through the rapid turnover of the installed base of window coverings.
The recent AERC session brought together technical and marketing expertise from AERC members to explore how the rating program will take shape. The group considered the challenges and potential rewards faced by various stakeholder groups from homeowners to utilities, and from code officials to architects.
The AERC members came up with prototypes for both product labels and a product database that will reflect both residential and commercial attachment products. The group created a roadmap for its continued work in coming months.
The AERC’s work is supported by $1.6 million in cost-shared funding from the Department of Energy.
