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M A R C H 2 0 2 5 | 11 Residential Windows P H OTO G R A P H Y CO U RT E S Y S I L E X F I B R EG L A SS W I N D OWS & D O O R S Zhen Liu, owner of Silex Fibreglass Windows & Doors, champions the adoption of EPDs as a reflection of the construction industry's growing commitment to transparency and sustainability. "While EPDs haven't directly increased our client base, they are increasingly required for large-scale commercial and institutional projects," Liu notes. "These certifications demonstrate our environmen- tal leadership and position us as a trusted partner in sustainable building initiatives." Fibreglass windows are particularly well-suited for projects that demand both environmen- tal responsibility and cutting-edge performance. "Fibreglass as a material inherently supports sus- tainable construction," Liu explains. "Unlike aluminum, fibreglass requires significantly less energy to produce, and it doesn't involve forest- based materials like wood. This allows us to market our products as having some of the lowest embodied energy in the industry." Beyond manufacturing benefits, fibreglass win- dows excel in operational performance. With a naturally high resistance to thermal transfer, they offer superior insulation, contributing to reduced heating and cooling demands in buildings. This not only enhances occupant comfort but also aligns with stringent energy efficiency targets, such as those required by LEED and other green building certification programs. Durability is another critical advantage. Fibreglass windows resist warping, rotting, and corrosion, significantly extending their lifecycle compared to traditional materials. "When archi- tects and developers choose fibreglass, they're not only investing in a product that lasts longer, but also reducing long-term maintenance and material replacement costs," Liu says. Design flexibility is equally important for the architectural community. Fibreglass windows can be customized to meet aesthetic and structural requirements, allowing architects to maintain their creative vision without compromising sustainability. As the construction industry increasingly prioritizes environmentally responsible solutions, Silex's fibre- glass windows are emerging as the material of choice for projects that aim to combine design excellence with sustainability. "At Silex, we're proud to offer products that not only meet the functional and aesthetic needs of modern architecture but also support the broader goal of reducing environmental impact," Liu concludes. In a similar vein, Inline Fibreglass Ltd.'s windows exhibit all the environmental benefits of pultruded fibreglass, along with stability (the material expands and contracts an incredible 800 percent less than vinyl), conductivity (fibreglass is less conductive than aluminum and fibreglass frames), and strength (a well-engineered fibreglass window delivers vastly superior strength characteristics compared to other windows, such as PVC, and provides greater sheer strength than PVC). For the record, Inline also touts as a benefit that it is the only fully integrated fibreglass window and door manufacturer in Canada: "As a result, we have the distinct advantage of controlling all aspects of design, production, and quality. Beginning with the manufacturing of lineals using the pultru- sion process, painting, to design and final assembly of windows and doors, our experienced team has gained the industry reputation for producing the best fibreglass windows and doors in the marketplace." Davyd Funk, president of Euroline Windows & Doors, says his company, a leading North American manufacturer of high-performance, custom-made windows and doors, reports that, "Since 2020 we've enjoyed an extremely productive relationship with Aluplast, a German company globally recognized for its innovation in product development." One product that made a splash upon its intro- duction in 2024 and is expected to grow even more in popularity is the energeto NEO tilt-and-turn window system, which boasts a Bauhaus-style min- imalist design with rebates that are nearly half as narrow as those in other Aluplast systems. Energeto NEO is replete with innovative Aluplast technologies, such as steel reinforcements replaced by Powerdur composite reinforcements, the tech- nology of gluing the glass unit into the sash glazing rebate, and the option to fill the profile chambers with thermal insulation materials. Of the tilt-and-turn functionality, Funk says, "We'll be seeing an expansion of tilt-and-turn well into 2025 and beyond, especially in the multi-family residential sector. It's ideal for developers who want to create a narrow, modern aesthetic, and German engineering ensures that these systems are durable over the long term." Cascadia Windows & Doors of Langley, B.C., is well known for creating high-performance fibre- glass windows and cladding support systems. It recently became the first window manufacturer in the world to issue an EPD for its Universal Series Windows, Doors, and Window Wall, in accordance with the new Fenestration Assemblies Product Category Rule (PCR). This underscores the compa- ny's commitment to transparency and the transition to high-performance building design. The new PCR prescribes standardized rules and methods for calculating and reporting the environ- mental impacts of products, allowing for greater accuracy and consistency in evaluating a product's lifecycle impacts, particularly in reporting embod- ied carbon impacts. Michael Bousfield, technical director at Cascadia, points out that "In general there are two competing interests in construction with regards to windows: the requirement to meet stringent energy codes, especially in locations such as urban B.C., and the architectural desire for more glass in order to pro- vide better views and boost property values. "Cascadia has developed to the point where we accommodate both needs along with provid- ing developers with product longevity – because as building codes become even more rigorous, it's hardly acceptable to have a window with a 20-year service life compared to the 100-year lifespan of the surrounding wall." High performance fibreglass windows from Silex. The Gallo Residence, Winnipeg, MB

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