From the fabricator: The battles will continue

The IECC hearings were held last week in Charlotte, and as an industry, we did get a couple of “wins" but overall are still chasing our tails. Codes and code implementation and enforcement are usually positive things from a business sense, but not when they are illogical or impossible to produce with some sort of efficiency. The ironic thing in these fights is usually most of the manufacturers are on one side and the consultants and advocacy groups on the other. Why we can’t ever take the best of both (like Dr. Tom Culp always tries to push) is beyond me. As an example, I truly believe the manufacturer side is not misleading you when they talk about structural integrity. Believe me, they know and work with the products, have installed them, etc. So when a consultant or politico breaks into a speech that a vinyl curtain wall can go 20 floors in the sky and hold up the same as metal or steel… well sorry, not in my world. Anyway, bottom line is the fight goes on.

Elsewhere…

• I have to say that no other cause has ever done a better job of being commercially active than Breast Cancer Awareness. The folks behind that effort in getting the pink involved EVERYWHERE should be commended for their efforts. It’s all over the place: magazines, TV, football players, hockey players using pink sticks and so on. It’s absolutely amazing. Hopefully all of this will lead to the advancements needed to strike down this and other related diseases.
• Last week’s note on USGBC raised several comments to me personally and one on the post itself. The issue that some people have is the program is just not realistic on some levels. People will use products to get “points” or “credits,” and they might not be the best products for the long-term life of the structure. It becomes a game in a way. And quite frankly, the fact that glass doesn’t count as recycled material, or that powdercoat and liquid paint count the same, are among other issues. I don’t deny that it has made people aware of green building and it does do some good things, but the issues that Henry Gifford and other naysayers have are legitimate.
• I missed making my NBA picks last week, so here they are… take 'em to the bank. In the East, no doubt despite having no other players the Miami Heat will win. LeBron is just a beast, and once these guys figure out how to play 3 on 5 every night, look out. In the West… hard to argue with the Lakers- just too much talent there. It's funny that Kobe is now more popular than LeBron. And in the finals I like the Lakers to repeat…
• The PPG story on the supply of the WTC glass at least is happier than it was a few months ago. It’s a shame the glass will be fabricated in China though, but I guess it’s still a win. Kudos to PPG for staying on it like they did as the initial reaction on all parties was that this deal was done and there was no turning back. Kind of proves that some things are not over until they are over.
• Last, this election day is huge, as you may know. This really will be fascinating to see what happens, but at the end of the day, let’s hope that the folks we are sending to Washington start working for US and doing what needs to be done to advance this country.

Max Perilstein is chief marketing officer for Vitro America, Memphis. Write him at mperilstein@vitro.com.

The opinions expressed here are those of the individual author and do not necessarily reflect those of the National Glass Association, Glass Magazine editors, or other glassblog contributors.