Thomas McGrath is very serious about reducing energy usage of the 1890’s building he owns in Chicago. With partners Ted Roszkowski of ACT Construction and architect Gerhard Zenserling, this “gut retrofit”,  resuses as much existing materials as possible and focuses on replacing energy inefficient materials where needed - like the windows. The net result aims to be USGBC Leed Platinum, Chicago 3 star rated, and Energy Net Positive (meaning, excess energy will power the building, going beyond just being energy “net zero”).

Thomas is documenting the entire project on his blog. His latest update emphasizes the use of high R-value fiberglass windows - a key contributor to one of the core elements of his energy saving retrofit, “super-insulating”. Thomas explains…

…an average window might have an R value of 1.  A really well-made double pane window from a company such as Marvin or Pella might achieve an R value of 3.  The Serious Materials Windows achieve an R value of 9.  The higher the R-value-the higher the resistance, the higher the resistance the higher insulation, the higher the insulation- the slower heat moves through the material, and the slower heat moves through- the lower the energy required to heat or cool the inside space.

From his great pictures, you can tell that the building incorporate more window area in the design than what one may usually see (higher window-to-wall ratio). With his SeriousWindows, Thomas is able to accomplish super-insulation, reduce heat loss, and manage solar heat gain to his advantage - all contributing to the overall building energy saving performance and indoor comfort (of the future lucky owners!).

There are many things that make this project extraordinary, amongst them, Thomas’ first step of the project - transforming the garage into the power-house for the retrofit work currently underway.  The photovoltaic (PV) array, the garage provides power to the workers - for lighting the construction project, powering up tools, heating the space, etc. All the energy required to reconstruct the building is being generated onsite. That’s a very serious approach to how to rebuild.

For those of you attending GreenBuild in November, in the great city of Chicago, don’t miss your opportunity to experience this inspiring retrofit for yourself - the project will be part of the GreenBuild Tour Program. We look forward to seeing you there, and Thomas and Team, congratulations!

Chicago Mayor Richard Daley commends the dramatic turnaround of Serious Materials Chicago. Watch the video of the mayor’s speech here.

Senator Dick Durbin praises Serious Materials for reopening the Republic Windows & Doors plant, saving hundreds of jobs. “The federal investments in the Recovery Act are paying dividends in Illinois at a time when we need as many jobs as possible.” Watch the video of the senator’s speech here.

Senator Roland Burris discusses the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which has provided “the first step to re-igniting the great American economic engine through targeted tax relief, job creation, infrastructure, [and] education projects.” Watch the video of the senator’s speech here.

Frank Edwards of Serious Materials welcomes Vice President Joe Biden to the Chicago plant. Watch the video of Frank here.

Serious Materials’ CEO, Kevin Surace, welcomes Vice President Joe Biden along with United States Senators Dick Durbin and Roland Burris and Mayor Richard Daley to its most recently acquired windows manufacturing plant in Chicago. Watch the video of Kevin’s opening remarks here.

It’s amazing that when Vice President Biden has so many places he could visit to highlight the use of ARRA funds in creating our future economy, he picks Serious Materials.

This morning, he appeared at our most recently acquired window factory outside of Chicago. We also met Mayor Daley and both Illinois Senators, Dick Durbin and Roland Burris.

See an initial set of photos here.

Read the full Press Release here.

It is a great honor to host Vice President Biden, because he understands both the immediate impact energy-saving windows can have on cutting carbon emissions as well as on American job creation. There is no faster, greater return on both energy and cost savings than the opportunity we have right now to retrofit, weatherize, and build with the most energy-saving building materials available today. We will, and we must, continue to build for the future. We must create the very kind of jobs that will be of lasting benefit for generations to come and will reverse the destabilizing trends in our energy-starved world.

We like to think that this visit means more than just that we make great windows which also insulate, but because Kevin Surace, our CEO, is really exerting leadership and collaboration to use the economic crisis for social good.

Kevin thinks we can move the country to sustainable building practices relatively quickly using the ARRA retrofit funds, and that’s why we bought the former Republic Windows & Doors and former Kensington factory as well. After all, when you consider both the manufacturing processes and the buildings themselves, the built environment is responsible for 52% of greenhouse gas emissions.

It was a very inspirational event for all of us – certainly there were tears in all of Serious Materials Marketing’s eyes (and I’m sure in those of others as well!).

Well. Certainly something like this doesn’t happen every day. We were inspired and encouraged by a White House press release issued today. Vice President Joe Biden commended Serious Materials for working to re-open the recently shuttered Republic Windows and Doors plant outside of Chicago, Illinois and retraining and rehiring their workers.

The reopening of this factory and the rehiring of these workers provide an excellent example of how the money in the Recovery Act is targeted to spur job creation quickly,” said Vice President Biden. “These workers will not only earn a paycheck again; they will go back to work creating products that will benefit America’s long-term economic future.

We hope you are also inspired and encouraged as we all do our part to help strengthen the United States economy!