The New York Times recently ran an article on the importance of building for acoustical comfort and featured a Serious Materials’ QuietRock customer  at 37 Bridge Street in Brooklyn, NY.  The builder is installing QuickRock in the party- and demising- wall assemblies for this historic former soap factory being transformed into multifamily housing. Often builders think about occupant comfort as they’re building, and we’ve seen in green construction that occupant ratings on green construction outweigh their “brown” counterparts in every way but acoustics.

Articles about our innovative customer base didn’t stop there.  In North Boulder, Colorado, Spring Leaf is expected to be a LEED Platnium Net Zero Energy housing development that will include both multi-family and single family homes.  According to the blog Jetson Green, the recently completed model home has installed super-insulating SeriousWindows to help them meet their energy-efficiency goals.  The high R-value of the windows means less heating and energy loss compared to typical ENERGY STAR® windows.

An ambitious Philadelphia-based Passive House project’s goal is to produce a LEED Platinum home for “$100K in hard construction costs” includes the installation of fiberglass SeriousWindows.  According to their blog detailing the project, “These are Serious

Materials triple-glazed windows. They have an R-9 rating which is pretty ridiculous for a window, and they happen to look good as well.”  To which we say, thanks for choosing us and keep up the great building design!

Today, everyone from President Obama to Green Building Advisor Martin Holladay is talking windows – those that save money and save energy.

At a Home Depot store in Virginia, Obama explained how retrofitting buildings and investing in “energy-efficient windows and doors” is the biggest bang for the buck for economic growth, environmental initiatives and energy efficiency.

Martin posted a fantastic summary and is leading a great discussion on Windows That Perform Better Than Walls.

His technical explanations dive deep into the relationships and qualities of insulation values (R-value or U-value) and solar gain and a concept that we specialize in, and the critical art of directional “tuning” glass values based on a building’s position in relation to the sun. He discusses different standards such as Canada’s ER (Energy Rating) method and Passive House - one specifically that emphasizes the fine balance of solar energy gains and losses, super-insulation, advanced window technology, air tightness, and ventilation. Read more about Passive House here.

It is pretty simple. This chart details the amount of money you can save replacing your home’s old single pane windows (an R-value of 1.0) with other windows on the market. Super-insulating windows of higher R-values can help you save the highest percentage of heating and cooling costs when compared to other “energy-saving” windows available today.  Even compared to typical ENERGY STAR® windows (they are usually dual pane low-e windows with an insulating value of R-2.5 to R-2.8 depending on geography).

The data for this chart is based on the U.S. Department of Energy’s RESFEN model and is an average taken from 5 typical cities across the U.S.:

Yesterday at the Building Enclosure Technology and Environmental Council (BETEC) Symposium On Retrofitting Building Enclosures For Energy Efficiency And Sustainability, a co-located event at EcoBuild, our CTO, Dr. Brandon Tinianov, presented on advanced glazing technologies – and the critical role they can play in today’s energy efficient retrofits.

According to the Energy Information Administration EIA 2007, energy usage of buildings in the United States accounts for 40 percent of total energy usage. 80 percent of the building energy use is in heating or cooling or 32 percent of the United States energy use. Studies have shown that the existing building stock is comprised mainly of buildings with single pane glass, inadequate insulation and significant amounts of unmanaged air leakage. These conditions are responsible for substantial energy consumption, corrosion and decay of materials.

So what can we do? That’s what Brandon spoke about yesterday to a crowd of 100+ building enclosure specialists. Glazing technologies have made significant advances in recent years, specifically regarding how building glazing and systems interact with solar gain, envelope heat loss, and daylight – impacting the entire building energy performance. Glazing can have the single greatest impact of any energy efficiency measure. Research indicates that high performance glazing is critical in “fulfilling the vision of zero energy buildings”.

USGlass has a great summary of his presentation here.

For more information on advanced glazing, a study by AEC (registration required) demonstrates the energy savings and rapid payback potential super-insulating glass can produce for new construction and retrofit projects (considering glass replacement) compared to commonly specified glass.

The Palo Alto Net Zero Energy House is a completely renovated 1936 house in Palo Alto, California that is now net zero energy and carbon-neutral.

Renowned architect and artist Pedro de Lemos built the house in 1936.  Once a month you can tour entrepreneur Marc Porat’s (board member and co-founder of Serious Materials) recent green renovation that used advanced high-performance sustainable methods and materials throughout the home while preserving the architectural style. The five goals for the renovation were Energy Efficiency, Comfort, Health, Water, and Historic Preservation.

Custom designed, high R-value fiberglass storm windows with energy-efficient acoustic glass from Serious Materials were installed on all the windows.  The new storm windows fasten to the original windows by a magnetic frame and detach to let in fresh air.  The original front door was rebuilt with glass panes to bring in natural light. QuietRock soundproof drywall was used for high acoustic performance.

The contractor/designer on the home is Timeline Design, and remodeler and energy modeling services were performed by Recurve.

We’re honored to be featured in Inc. Magazine’s December issue, and see our CEO and Founder, Kevin Surace, named as Entrepreneur of the Year (and on the cover sitting on a stack of EcoRock). The story is online here. We think it’s a must-read if you’re interested in knowing more about what drives us as a company and how rethinking our buildings - starting with windows and drywall - can make a real difference to our energy crisis, climate challenges, and economy.

It has indeed been an incredible year. The reinvention of how we build and rebuild our environment for utmost energy savings is no simple task. With our partners and customers, we are seriously committed to continue on the very important path we are on together.

Selected by Inc. Magazine for annual honor

Serious Materials today announced that its CEO, Kevin Surace, has been named Entrepreneur of the Year by Inc. Magazine in its December issue feature cover story. Entrepreneur of the Year is an annual honor recognizing the individual that has achieved the most in his field throughout the year. The prestigious magazine selected Kevin based on his passion for the environment, his keen ability to grow a profitable company, and his entrepreneurial drive.

“I am humbled by this incredible honor from Inc. Magazine. My team and I have had an amazing year,” said Surace. “The impact that buildings have on the energy crisis and environment is tremendous, and we are changing the game. As we move into 2010, we look forward to another year of growth and opportunities with our partners and customers.”

As mentioned in the Inc. article honoring Kevin, he states the biggest opportunity to change the world: “the “built environment” presents a far greater opportunity than oft-demonized cars and light trucks, which produce 9 percent of emissions.” Responsible for 52 percent of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide, we can slash that number by reengineering common products that use or lose the most energy, such as drywall and windows. It’s time to get serious about energy-saving building products.

“Kevin Surace is going after a huge chunk of a huge problem in innovative and unexpected ways; and his approach is being touted at the highest levels. It’s been a tremendous year for Serious Materials, and as the stimulus package provides the wind beneath the company’s wings, I expect it to fly higher,” said Leigh Buchanan, editor at large for Inc. Magazine.

As CEO of Serious Materials, Kevin leads the company in its mission to reduce energy usage and CO2 generation of the world’s largest contributor, our buildings. By developing new materials and processes that require little energy to manufacture, and advanced products which dramatically improve the insulation and comfort of homes and offices, climate change can be minimized and the U.S. can lead the world in the next industrial revolution. Kevin received his degree in electrical engineering technology from Rochester Institute of Technology where he currently serves on the Board of Trustees, and has been awarded nine patents.

About Serious Materials
Serious Materials develops and manufactures sustainable green building materials that save energy, save money, improve comfort, and aggressively address climate change. Super-insulating high R-value SeriousWindows™ reduce heating and cooling energy costs by up to 40%. SeriousGlass™ super-insulating commercial glass has been installed in thousands of projects and offers the highest energy savings in the industry. QuietRock® soundproof drywall reduces material use, enhances livability, and supports dense urban construction. EcoRock™ is the only true green alternative to gypsum drywall. Serious Materials’ products are manufactured in the company’s 5 factories across North America. For more information, visit www.SeriousMaterials.com.

Press Contacts
Valerie Jenkins
Serious Materials
+1 408-636-6329
vjenkins@seriousmaterials.com

Catriona Harris
Vantage Communications
+1 407-767-0452 x222
charris@pr-vantage.com

One of only 26 companies selected based on its technology innovation and the potential for long-term impacts on business and society

Sunnyvale, Calif. — December 3, 2009 — Serious Materials, a leading energy-saving building materials company in the U.S., has been selected for The World Economic Forum’s 2010 Technology Pioneers Program. Serious Materials is one of the companies recognized for representing the most innovative start-ups from around the globe that will have a critical impact on the future of business and society.

To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of a life-changing technology innovation and have the potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition, it must demonstrate visionary leadership and show all the signs of a long-standing and sustainable market leader – and its technology must be proven.

“It’s an honor to be chosen by the World Economic Forum on a global level for such a prestigious award among so many innovative companies,” said Kevin Surace, CEO of Serious Materials. “This is a time of tremendous growth for our company, as we continue to focus on driving change and helping to address the world’s energy and climate crisis by dramatically reducing the impact of the ‘built environment’ with our energy-saving building products.”

Buildings, its operations and materials manufacturing, is the single largest contributor to global greenhouse gases at over 50 percent (compared to less than 10 percent attributed to cars). The impact of making our buildings more energy efficient is one of the biggest opportunities we have for meeting energy and environment goals.

Sustainable green building materials manufactured in the U.S. by Serious Materials include:

• SeriousWindows™: Super-insulating windows that offer performance up to four times higher than major brands and current ENERGY STAR® requirements.  SeriousWindows can reduce heating and cooling costs by up to 40 percent depending on climate zone.
• SeriousGlass™: Installed in thousands of projects, SeriousGlass is advanced, super-insulating glass that can deliver the highest energy savings and performance for any building.
• QuietRock®: Sound reducing drywall and accessories that create acoustically comfortable buildings, lessen material use, enhance livability, and support dense urban construction.
• EcoRock™: An entirely new, virtually zero CO2 emitting manufacturing process is used to create EcoRock, the only true green alternative to gypsum drywall.  Gypsum manufacturing is the third largest greenhouse gas producer in building materials.

The entire list of Technology Pioneers, including company profiles and video interviews with the CEOs, can be found here.

About Serious Materials

Serious Materials develops and manufactures sustainable green building materials that save energy, save money, improve comfort, and aggressively address climate change. Super-insulating high R-value SeriousWindows™ reduce heating and cooling energy costs by up to 40%. SeriousGlass™ super-insulating commercial glass has been installed in thousands of projects and offers the highest energy savings in the industry. QuietRock® soundproof drywall reduces material use, enhances livability, and supports dense urban construction. EcoRock™ is the only true green alternative to gypsum drywall. Serious Materials’ products are manufactured in the company’s 5 factories across North America. For more information, visit www.SeriousMaterials.com.

Press Contact
Catriona Harris
Vantage Communications
+1 407-767-0452 x222
charris@pr-vantage.com

We are honored and pleased to share some great news. The World Economic Forum (WEF) announced today that Serious Materials has been named to the 2010 class of Technology Pioneers.

According to WEF, “The 26 companies selected as Technology Pioneers 2010 represent the most innovative start-ups from around the globe that will have a critical impact on the future of business and society. These innovators will join the wider World Economic Forum community for the first time during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010 in Dwavos-Klosters, in January.”

See the full press release by WEF:

WORLD ECONOMIC FORUM ANNOUNCES TECHNOLOGY PIONEERS 2010

Geneva, Switzerland, 3 December 2009 – The World Economic Forum announced today the 2010 class of Technology Pioneers. The 26 companies selected as Technology Pioneers 2010 represent the most innovative start-ups from around the globe that will have a critical impact on the future of business and society. These innovators will join the wider World Economic Forum community for the first time during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2010 in Dwavos-Klosters, in January.

The Technology Pioneers 2010 are active in areas such as cloud computing and open source application management, social networking, financial inclusion through telecommunications, genome sequencing, responsive implants and wireless patient management solutions, waste remediation, fuel cell technology and the production of energy efficient building materials.

This year, the Forum witnessed a substantial increase in the number of cleantech and energy-related companies applying for the award, as well as in the overall percentage that were selected as Technology Pioneers compared with previous years. This suggests that the concern surrounding the environment and climate change coupled with the “green stimulus package” is driving resources and top innovation in this area.

The identification of the Technology Pioneer companies is the result of a vigorous selection process for which the Forum received more than 300 applications from around the world, and that were evaluated by 58 global technology experts. The 2010 class covers four continents, with 18 of the 26 companies hailing from the US and the rest from Brazil (for the first time featuring a company in the Technology Pioneer award), Germany, India, Israel, Luxembourg and the United Kingdom.

The selected companies are in alphabetical order: Amiando, Amobee, Aura Biosciences, BioFuelBox, Bloom Energy Corporation, Boston Power, Care Electric Energia, Collabnet, Corventis, Dilithium Networks, Epuramat, eSolar, Innovid, Lehigh Technologies, Metabolix, MicroCHIPS, Obopay, Pacific Biosciences, Playfish, Proteon Therapeutics, RingCentral, Serious Materials, Streambase, Twitter, Ushahidi and VNL. The entire list of Technology Pioneers, with their profiles and video interviews with their CEOs, can be found at http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers.

To be selected as a Technology Pioneer, a company must be involved in the development of a life-changing technology innovation and have the potential for long-term impact on business and society. In addition, it must demonstrate visionary leadership and show all the signs of a long-standing and sustainable market leader – and its technology must be proven. Previous Technology Pioneers include 23andme (2008), Amyris Biotechnologies (2006), Dr Reddy Laboratories (2001), Google (2001), Gridpoint (2008), Kaspersky Lab (2001), Mozilla Corporation (2007), Nanosolar (2007), Recyclebank (2009) and Silver Spring Networks (2008).

“Entrepreneurship, innovation and technology have always played a key role in shaping and improving society. This proves to be even more the case during times of crisis, similar to the one the world faced this past year during the biggest recession in almost a century. New companies are already planting the seeds of recovery and the next wave of growth and progress,” said André Schneider, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of the World Economic Forum.

The Technology Pioneers Programme is run by the World Economic Forum with guidance from its partners, Accel, Alcatel-Lucent, BT, KPMG and Kudelski Group.

Go to http://www.weforum.org/techpioneers for the entire list of Technology Pioneers.

Watch interviews with the CEOs of the selected companies at http://tr.im/tpitw

The World Economic Forum is an independent international organization committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.

Incorporated as a foundation in 1971, and based in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Economic Forum is impartial and not-for-profit; it is tied to no political, partisan or national interests (http://www.weforum.org).