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34 | AUGUST 2019 Residential Windows All Weather Windows' notes that grey has quickly grown in popularity to be second in sales behind black. "The market is shifting toward darker colours, espe- cially dark grey and black," says Nadiger. A faux-wood look, however, continues to be a highly in-demand look, too. "We launched internal colour acrylic wrap on our 9100 and 9950 casement windows used in the residential market. We also have an acrylic wrap that is fir grain and is stainable. It can be stained to match the interior wood grains in the home and gives the look of wood without the maintenance of wood windows." Changes to the building code have also turned a lot of architectural focus towards windows. "Energy modelling is causing designers to focus on thermal's weakest links, which everyone knows is windows," says Bousfield. "So there's a demand for higher performance products." This quest for high-performance windows is particularly important as the interest for thin lines and frameless windows continues. The desired look right now, says Bousfield, is a "square, minimalist appearance," though generally they're poorer performing. "The current esthetic, what's new and sexy, is at odds with improving performance." But when done with the right products, glazing can actually create indirect cost savings as buildings may be able to avoid insulating in tricky areas. "Energy requirements continue to be a major component in the facade design," agrees Jim Lebedovich, president and general manager for Phoenix Glass. "Windows frames will continue to get wider as glass areas become larger." It's pushing companies to develop higher performing curtain walls for applications in commercial markets. "Glazing facade design and geometry building systems continue to advance our industry to new levels of creativity," says Lebedovich. Beyond building codes, windows need to be able to stand up to the local climate. "V-weld technology ensures that our combination windows are virtually leak-free and can withstand the elements," says Nadiger. V-weld technology allows All Weather Windows to build a one-piece frame for our windows. This has some seri- ous benefits: it's virtually air and water leak free, with incredible structural strength. "We've been talking about it for some time now, but owners are continuing to look for even larger expanses of glass for their projects," says Hanson. Of course, with bigger windows come bigger security concerns. "Larger windows can also prompt owners to consider enhanced privacy and security for peace of mind while away or at home," says Hanson. It's these fears that prompted Marvin to introduce the Lock Status Sensor, allowing homeowners to remotely confirm a window is closed and locked. More security doesn't necessarily have to mean more complexity either. Horizontal sliding and single-hung windows in Milgard's Trinsic series come with a SmartTouch lock, which is squared off to be flush with the frame, and allows homeowners to close or open a window with a single motion. "We did extensive market research before designing Trinsic Series," said Kevin Anez, Milgard's director of product management. "We're very pleased at the positive feedback we've received from our certified dealers." The biggest trend Bousfield has noticed in the past year has nothing to do with style or materials: rather, it's a shift in the supply chain. "We've noticed a shakeup in international trade thanks to tariff changes and trade agreements," Bousfield notes. "There's an increased interest in international products from China, Poland, and Portugal, in addition to the usual suspects like Germany." It's not that they're offering substantially different products; they've simply got the goods at a time where North America just can't keep up. "We've reached the existing capacity for architectural glass," says Bousfield. But, he warns, the busiest times don't last forever: "When we return to a less than 100-percent capacity, products that are additions may become competitors. We'll have to be careful." All Weather Windows knows that the building codes are constantly changing and is trying to stay ahead of the game. "We're always looking ahead of the market trends to ensure we are offering the latest features for energy efficiency, thermal performance and more," says Nadiger. What are they seeing? New technologies for the treatment of glass provide new ways to use this material in architecture. "Applied indoors, specifically in retail stores, glass in its different textures, colours, finishes, and levels of transparency can allow the unobstructed view of certain products, hide more private areas without blocking the passage of light, and attract the attention of customers as focal points, among many other uses," says Nadiger. And beyond that, technology is sure to make its way into the world of windows in a big way. "There is already electromagnetic glass [smart glass] that auto tints depending on the position of the sun," adds Nadiger. Westeck Windows and Doors has been focussing its efforts on the Passive House and net zero market. In fact, Westeck's all-wood window, the PH Wood Casement window, is the only North American-produced, operable, all-wood window listed in the Passive House Institute's database. Also, Westeck's new Passive House certified 6100 Series outswing and picture-style windows integrate 100 percent renewable cork as a thermal break around their insulating glass spacer system and the middle, outward-facing surface of their frames. Equipped with triple-pane glass, the design achieves UW 0.80 ratings. "Following research it started to become clear that Passive House is not only a great idea for Westeck to support, it is actually more our responsibility to support! Westeck is driven to provide products that make peoples' lives better and not to provide prod- ucts that simply 'fill the hole.' How better for us to achieve this than producing products that make our customers more comfortable, increase the quality of their home and by positively contributing towards a more sustainable future for them and their children," says Neal Turner, general manager at Westeck Windows and Doors. EuroLine is also making waves in the Passive House sector. In 2016, EuroLine received certification from the international Passive House Institute for its 4700-series ThermoPlus PHC tilt & turn window. "We are always working on making all our products more efficient, to meet and exceed the rigorous new BC Energy Step Code. We also continue to look into new products to meet future energy targets," says Michele Funk general manager at Euroline. The company has supplied windows to many Passive House certified homes, but also to multi-family buildings. The Heights at 388 Skeena Street in Vancouver is currently Canada's largest Passive House building, and EuroLine's 4700-series ThermoPlus PHC windows have helped the project achieve the strict performance requirements of air tightness and minimal heat loss. Scott Kennedy, the project's architect, estimates that the development saved approximately $450,000 on mechanical systems, and the residents' annual heating bills are expected to be about 10 percent of the average cost of comparably-sized units. Over at Innotech Windows + Doors, its high-performance products were recently featured in the 20th Eco-Solar Home Tour in Alberta, which showcases energy efficiency technologies and practices that are available today. This year, two projects with Innotech's high-performance, triple-glazed windows and doors made the tour: the Effect Home Builders Office Renovation (the first off-grid business in Edmonton) and the Green Building Technologies (GBT) Lab and Demonstration Centre at Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT), the first net-zero commercial building in Calgary. For the GBT Lab and Demonstration Centre, Innotech supplied high- performance Tilt + Turn Windows, Picture Windows, and Tilt + Turn Doors for the 5,900-square-metre, energy-efficient facility. Innotech supplied its durable triple seal system for maximum thermal per- formance. Triple glazing with various Low-E and i89 coating combinations were used throughout the building for optimal solar heat gain; west and south facing windows have a low SHGC and east and north facing windows have a high SHGC. In addition to the glazing package, the windows were installed recessed into the wall, thereby increasing their overall installed performance. The south side of the building also has large overhangs to further protect the building from unneces- sary solar heat gain in the hot summer months. A Passive House certified 6100 Series from Westeck Windows & Doors. Installation of the triple seal system from Innotech Windows + Doors at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, AB.

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