AAMA is one of four associations that have come together to study Life Cycle Assessment. Topics such as transportation, energy use, and packaging, to waste management and resource extraction are all being studied.
Rich Walker, president and CEO the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) of Schaumburg, Ill., briefed members of the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Oversight Task Group regarding its latest efforts regarding LCA.
AAMA is one of four associations that have come together to study this complex issue. It is working with members of the Glass Association of North America (GANA), the Window and Door Manufacturers Association, and the Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance. Rita Schenck, executive director at the Institute for Environmental Research and Education, is assisting the group with its efforts as she has worked with other organizations on LCA. Representatives of the group also represent both the residential and commercial window industries.
Walker informed attendees that the group is looking at everything from transportation, energy use, and packaging, to waste management and resource extraction. The group is using COMFEN, a tool from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as its energy model and is based the research on a building that is 10 feet wide, 9 feet high and 20 feet deep.
Regarding durability, the group decided on a 30-year shelf life but currently is looking into this more, including a review of existing data.
The associations hope to have a working document complete this summer.
Future tasks of the group include performing an LCA study, developing a consumer facing label for big box stores, and planning a meeting with retailers with an example or a consumer label to gain feedback.