DOE collaboration, Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days, and laminating best practices top the agenda
About 100 technical and advocacy leaders in glass gathered in South Carolina this week for the NGA Glass Conference: Isle of Palms | Charleston, Feb. 5-8. The conference included meetings for the NGA Advocacy, Fabricating and Forming Committees, a comprehensive look at new codes and standards, an update on U.S. Department of Energy Collaborations, a panel discussion on spandrel glass, and a planning and practice session for the NGA’s third annual Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days, scheduled for May 14-15 in Washington, D.C.
On day one of the conference, representatives from the Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency provided important updates and collaboration opportunities for the industry.
"Collaboration was seen and felt in the room via US DOE and EPA attendance and presentation," said Kayla Natividad of NSG Pilkington.
NGA and conference attendees also focused on discussions of sustainability, covering how it can be infused into everything we do in the glass and glazing industry, including EPDs, PCRs, new tools, operational performance and energy codes, building design.
"Being in the room at the NGA Glass Conference continues to be a must for anyone wanting a voice at the table in shaping the future of the industry," said Katy Devlin, NGA's content director, who is covering the event.
On day two of the conference, technical leaders had important conversations about school security and the role of glass in keeping occupants safe. And Devlin presented 10 Industry Metrics to Watch. "Global Supply Chain metrics have had a dramatic couple of weeks," she noted in the presentation. "Prices on containers have more than doubled in the weeks following the attacks in the Red Sea, which have forced shipments to route around the Cape of Good Hope."
In anticipation of NGA's third annual Glass & Glazing Advocacy Days, attendees heard from Laurie Purpuro, government affairs advisor for K&L Gates, the firm collaborating with NGA on organizing the event. Purpuro offered insights on ongoing and upcoming legislative efforts that could help drive discussions during Advocacy Days, and she provided some best practices on communicating goals and objectives to congressional leaders and staff. Purpuro detailed potential legislative efforts to push for more efficient and sustainable buildings, industrial decarbonization, workforce training and more.
On day three, Georgia Scalfano and Thomas Culp gave updates on Buy Clean initiatives being adopted in an effort to reduce new buildings embodied carbon. Stephen Selkowitz emphasized the way to achieve a net zero future is reuse (aka retrofit) the existing building stock. Kyle Sword touched on North Americas existing glass recycling infrastructure and Bertrand Cazes shared Glass for Europe‘s approach and successes with deconstruction and glass recycling across the pond.
And congratulations to Aaron Thompson of Viracon on receiving the Volunteer of the Year Award. And many thanks to three tireless volunteers who announced their retirements. Read the news.
More from NGA Glass Conference
Read a recap of the conference from Glass Magazine.
See the conference in photos in our Facebook album.
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