Inclusion into the Code Recognizes Window Film for Its Proven Energy Savings.

Washington, DC — June 11, 2012 – The International Window Film Association (IWFA), a nonprofit group, announced a landmark vote by the California Building Standards Commission placing Window Film, a polymer material offering energy efficiency advantages, into the state building code for the first time in the United States. Cost-effective energy savings is the driving rationale for including window film in the building code. While California is a leader in energy saving initiatives, it is also a major importer of energy.

The change to the building code voted on May 31st and effective January 2014, means window film is recognized across California as a building product just like glass or roofing materials, but primarily for retrofit applications. It can significantly reduce energy consumption and reduce the effects of glass breakage, glare, harmful ultraviolet rayexposure to the skin and interior fading of furnishings.

“This addition to the code is a major step forward for energy efficiency in California, especially when considering the amount of untreated glass in the state in the majority of buildings,” said Darrell Smith, executive director of the IWFA. “The wide application of window film is a simple way to immediately cut utility demand generation and the resulting reduction of peak demand on utilities and greenhouse gases will further the state’s reputation as an environmental leader,” he added.

Among the items the new building code for window film requires is a National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) certification label, manufacturer’s name, a 10-year warranty certificate, and compliance with the IWFA’s Visual Quality Standards. Although window films are normally used on existing windows, remodelers and contractors can also use the new building code for additional guidance.

With over 70 percent of the buildings and homes in the California market having been constructed before 1980, window film has to be high on the list for every building retrofit project across the state,” said Mike Hodgson, president of ConSol. The change in the code comes close on the heels of a major report comparing the application of window film to other energy saving methods across the state using the same study methods employed by the California Energy Commission.

The report, http://www.iwfa.com/ConsumerInfo/CAEnergySavingsStudy.aspx, by California-based ConSol showed among other findings that the vast majority of existing homes would be able to achieve significant energy savings and those with single pane glass could gain a greater energy advantage than using R-38 insulation in their home’s ceilings.

“We are immediately offering additional training and accreditation to window film installers across the state to ensure that the right type of window film, with the expected 10-year warranty that the state requires is being applied,” said Smith. “We want both businesses and consumers to benefit from professionally installed window film,” said Smith. Window Film installers interested in IWFA accreditation should visit http://www.iwfa.com/MemberInfo/Accreditation.aspx.

Window Film is widely recognized by the NFRC, an organization that certifies energy control performance values of windows, doors, skylights, and window films. Homeowners and property managers can be sure of the benefits of window film as a long term, and cost-effective solution. The IWFA offers a free guide on the benefits of window film that can be found at http://www.iwfa.com/ConsumerInfo/IWFAWindowFilmBooklet.aspx.

Source: Solutia

Hello all,

Last week, I posted about a wonderful road trip I recently took with my friend Paul Akers. If you haven’t already, read about the story behind the trip and watch part 1 here.

Now, here’s part 2!

Enjoy!

Best Regards,
J DeBruler

Hello all,

I just returned from a wonderful road trip, showing my friend Paul Akers, host of radio show The American Innovator what it’s really like to drive in America.

A little background:

Paul and I met at the Porsche Driving School at the Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, AL. (Barber also has the world’s 2nd largest motorcycle collection – all bikes are rideable even those that are nearly 100 years old). A year later we attended the Masters’ school at Birmingham. Paul finally purchased a Porsche in 2008: a Porsche Boxster RS 60 Spyder. It’s now 4 years old but with only 20K miles – obviously he was not really enthused about driving (go figure!). But, hey, he has a high performance prop jet and loves flying.

After years of hounding him, Paul finally agreed to do a little driving trip with me to experience his wonderful car on American roads that would challenge the car and driver. NOW, as you’ll see in the attached videos, he’s fallen love with his car and the driving experience.

So, take a look at part 1 of this two-part series. Get enthused about driving. Whether you have a sports car, a family wagon or whatever, the American roads have much to offer.

Enjoy!

Best Regards,
J DeBruler

Here’s a look at all of the on the fly instruments that a modern Formula One steering wheel has. Complicated is an understatement.

When in Monte Carlo, everything is done in style. And that includes crashing your car.

This was the moment when a woman driver caused a $1.14 Million five-car pile-up as her Bentley  collided with a Mercedes, Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin.

Disaster struck as the hapless blonde negotiated the traffic around the Place du Casino in her $400,000 Bentley Azure.

The driver of a white Mercedes S Class worth $125,000 was the first victim as the 2.7-ton Bentley scraped down the side of it before ploughing into a $230,000 black Ferrari F430.

An Aston Martin Rapide worth $245,000 and an $130,000 Porsche 911 also came a cropper. The driver and her two passengers then suffered the embarrassment of being surrounded by tourists as they were unable to open the doors of the convertible.

It is estimated the crash will cost more than $65,000 with the Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin requiring new front wings and bumpers. The Bentley will need the same repairs, plus a new door.

Ruud Poot, editor of European motoring website Autogespot, said: ‘You probably couldn’t find a worse place in the world to crash your car than outside Monaco’s Place du Casino in the middle of the summer.’

A staggering $1.12 Million worth of cars were shunted in a matter of minutes – enough to make the Top Gear boys wince in pain and criticise who caused the incident.

Since we receive dozens of calls and e-mails a week from people interested in protecting their cars’ paint, we’ve learned there’s no shortage of names people use to describe what they are looking for. So to provide some clarity, we compiled the following list of “aliases” we’ve heard (alias: also known as, AKA, anonym, assumed name, handle, moniker, nickname, pen name, pseudonym).

• Clear Bra (that’s what we at accutint* Bellevue call our PPF kits)
• Clear Mask
• Clear Shield
• Clear Tape
• ResistAll^® (ResistAll^® is a product we do offer at accutint* Bellevue. It’s not PPF, rather it is a sealant designed to protect your vehicle’s paint, fabrics, vinyl and leather. Please visit our Detailing section for a description of this service.)
• Paint Protection Tape
• Scotchgard
• 3M plastic “stuff”
• Invisible Bra
• Stoneguard
• StonGard
• Rockguard
• Road Wrap
• Invisible Bra
• Invisiguard
• Xpel
• Chipprotect
• Transparent Bra
• Star Shield Armor
• DuraBra
• NoChip
• Alphashield
• DiamondShield
• HuskyShield
• Invisishield
• SmartShield
• StarShield
• SuperShield
• VentureShield
• DefenZall

Now, did that end or add to the confusion? If you have a favorite name for this wonderful product, please share that with us.

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