Windows play a pivotal role in a building’s energy profile, directly affecting heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting demands. With up to 30% of heating and cooling energy loss attributed to inefficient windows, they are often the biggest obstacle to achieving high energy efficiency and occupant comfort. This session will examine how the building envelope, particularly fenestration (the arrangement, proportioning, and design of windows), influences thermal bridging, lighting, and solar heat gain, all of which are critical to overall energy consumption and occupant comfort.

Despite significant advancements in window technology, smart materials, and supporting policies like rebates and energy codes, high-performance fenestration is still not the norm in commercial construction. Join us on Tuesday, August 26 to learn how modern fenestration solutions—such as triple-pane glazing, innovative frame materials, and smart window technologies—offer not only energy savings but also benefits like enhanced noise reduction (up to 50%) and superior performance in extreme climate conditions. This webinar will also address market adoption challenges, cost perceptions, and the path toward integrating fenestration strategies in Passive House and other high efficiency building standards.

Panelist:

Katie Allen Cort, Senior Economist, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Katie is a senior economist with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and team lead for multiple projects focused on high-performance windows, window attachments, envelope, and HVAC technologies. She has over 25 years of experience analyzing energy-efficiency programs, technologies, and research. Her work includes technical support for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Program. She also leads environmental, resilience, and economic impact assessments related to energy resources and technologies.

Lance Wheeler, Staff Scientist and Group Manager, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Lance is a staff scientist and manager of the Materials Physics Group at National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He received his PhD in 2014 from the University of Minnesota where he focused his research on the development of quantum dots. Since joining NREL his work has remained in materials science with applications that span photovoltaics to neuromorphic computing. In 2017, he invented the world’s first thermochromic photovoltaic window. Since then, he has continued to develop the technology and engage in research on other building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) technologies and BIPV education.

Lisa Bergeron, Director of Business Development and Regulatory Affairs, JELD-WEN of Canada
Lisa Bergeron is Director of Business Development and Regulatory Affairs for JELD-WEN of Canada, a global leader in window and door manufacturing, representing the company on provincial, national and international trade associations. She is a board member of FGIA, FGIA Chair and voting member at JDMG – Joint Management Document Group which oversees changes to the North American Fenestration Standard – NAFS, Co-Chair’s FGIA’s NAFS Committee and sits on FGIA’s Rapid Response Committee as well as on the board of FGIA’s Fen BC Region. She also sits on NRCan’s Energy Efficient Fenestration Steering Committee which sets criteria for the ENERGY STAR program in Canada.

Alison Ray, Director of New Product Development, Alpen 
As director of new product development at Alpen High Performance Products, Alison works on consultive sales of custom-tailored super-high performance fiberglass window and architectural glass products for energy efficient buildings. In addition to her Green Building and LEED experience, she has held previous roles at Serious Energy, Inc and Ecofutures Building, Inc.  

Moderator:

Noah Gabriel, Senior Project Analyst, New Buildings Institute
Noah Gabriel is a Senior Project Analyst at New Buildings Institute working within the Building Innovation team. Before joining NBI, Noah worked at Atlas Public Policy where he wrote about green building technology.

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