Specialty Fabrics Review October 2019 - 57

Though efficiency standards in the United
States are less strict than those in Europe
and Canada, Fredrickson sees imminent
improvement. Part of this is due to continual
work by the American Institute of Architects
and the U.S. Green Building Council to
inform stronger policies and entities. "We're
going on the right path," he says. "Reducing
our demand for energy and making our
buildings more efficient will improve our way
of life. It's time for all of us to do a better job."
BOOSTING CREDIBILITY
Consumers play an important role in this evolution. To help them make educated decisions,
the Window Covering Manufacturers Association and the U.S. Department of Energy
funded the 2014 formation of the membership-based Attachments Energy Rating Council
(AERC). AERC is developing credible rating,
certification, labeling and performance verification procedures for the window attachments
industry to provide accurate information to
consumers-including architects and builders-
about the energy performance of attachments.
Its membership comprises window attachment
and component manufacturers, public interest
organizations and utilities.
"Prior to our creation, there was no way
for consumers or stakeholders in the industry
to evaluate whether a product was going to
make their home more energy efficient,"
says Erika Burns, program manager for the
New York City-based organization. "Unlike
other energy-focused programs, ours doesn't
have a minimum efficiency or performance
requirement. It's just meant to enable
companies to test and certify products in an
apples-to-apples comparison, and consumers
can use that information however they want."
Burns is a speaker at IFAI Expo on "Marketing
Energy-Efficient Fabrics."
AERC spent its first four years developing
the testing and technical procedures in
partnership with the Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory (LBNL). It also created a
label for certified products that provides warm
and cool climate ratings to help consumers
conceptualize whether or not a product is
going to save energy and money for them.
"Fabric is the driving factor of whether a
product is going to be energy efficient or not,"
Burns says, "so, what our program measures

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Feb. 19-21, 2020 | Nashville, TN USA
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The 2020 Women in Textiles Summit is gathering
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IFAI.com/Women

Our 2019 Annual Report is Here
Your success is our mission. Industrial Fabrics Association International
(IFAI) provides events, publications, education, networking, business
resources, industry advocacy and more. We deliver timely industry content
to help you stay informed about your marketplace. Our divisions provide
market-specific activities and benefits to members. Download the Annual
Report today to learn what your industry's association is doing for you.

See What Your Industry's Association is Doing for You

Overall membership
grew for the fourth
consecutive year.

$8,000,000+

4.11

IFAI invests more
than $8,000,000 each
year to advance the
industry and support
member companies.

Member satisfaction
grew to a record high
of 4.11, on a scale
of 5, in our biennial
Membership Survey.

READ
Our Annual Report Online

Over 100 volunteers
worked with our
staff to help provide
member programming.

NOW
IFAI.com/annual-report

www.SpecialtyFabricsReview.com 57

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Specialty Fabrics Review October 2019

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