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Defender 88PH+ Pro Windows and Doors Series from Innotech. M A R C H 2 0 2 5 | 9 Residential Windows P H OTO G R A P H Y BY DA N K I RC H N ER /CO U RT E S Y I N N OT EC H W I N D OWS + D O O R S Revolutionary styles and cutting-edge tech are transforming the residential window sector by ROBIN BRUNET I t's a familiar refrain throughout the con- struction products sector, especially when it comes to residential windows: energy standards continue to drive product development, whether through meet- ing performance codes or developing an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD). Tracy Nadiger, VP of marketing at All Weather Group, which includes All Weather at Home (for- merly All Weather Windows), summarizes the market as her company looks ahead to business this year: "In the past, advancements in technology tended to focus on the use of PVC over wood, but the focus now is on glass technology," she says. Specifically, Vacuum Insulating Glass (VIG) is beginning to establish a presence in the Canadian residential construction sector sooner than expected. Nadiger says a key entry point will be in the construction of net-zero homes. "From there, VIG could become more mainstream as developers seek to minimize the energy losses associated with traditional windows," Nadiger says. With R-values of up to R20, VIG has been credited with turning walls into windows. Essentially, a VIG unit consists of two lites of glass with micro support pillars in between, lined by a seal. The high vacuum chamber is said to provide better thermal insula- tion than a brick wall or insulated glass and is also excellent at blocking noise, making vacuum glass especially attractive for urban areas. VIG units are also free of condensation, even in extreme cold Nadiger cites another development to keep an eye on in 2025. "Low-E coatings continue to be driven by energy codes and Canada's 2030 sustain- ability mandate, to the point we're seeing coatings on three sides of window systems instead of two," she says, referring to triple pane applications. But Nadiger warns that both VIG and Low-E come with tradeoffs. "VIG is two to three times more expensive than standard window systems, plus the capillary tubes between the two glass panes are noticeable," she says. As for Low-E coatings, "They significantly affect the transmission of light into a building. So developers will have to assess when and where these systems are a good investment. But both technologies are here to stay and will likely become more accessible in coming years, which is why we at All Weather at Home will be unveiling Low-E offerings in 2025, and possibly VIG units." Nadiger has another observation about the resi- dential window industry in 2025: "I have no idea where this is going or if the effect will become severe, but the demand for glass for solar panels is ramping up and taking away capacity from float glass for residential and commercial applications. Whether this will cause shortages remains to be seen, but it's worth keeping track of." As of January, Innotech Windows + Doors was busy launching its line of EPDs. The company's brand manager, Jessica Owen, says reaching this point "took 18 months of significant effort involving all of our departments and suppliers – but the result is worth it, as we now have EPDs that outperform the baseline." Innotech's EPDs pertain to its Defender 76TS and Defender 88PH+ Windows and Doors Series. Developed in compliance with ISO 14025 and EN 15804:2012+A2:2019, the EPDs have been verified by the Athena Sustainable Materials Institute. Innotech is also very much on top of Life Cycle Assessments (LCAs) as they become common vocab- ulary of developers, especially those in government projects. "For example, the City of Vancouver con- tinues to lead the industry with requirements for embodied and operational carbon to meet zero emissions buildings targets, and we continue to be part of the discussion surrounding the need to bal- ance embodied carbon with operational carbon," Owen says. Pane & Simple

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