As 2023 comes to an end, it’s a good time to look back at the performance of both the U.S. and Canadian economies this year. Much has happened in both countries, and we might be able to glean some insight into the coming year based on what we’ve seen in the last 12 months. Let’s take a look at the state of the economy in both countries and look forward to 2024.The U.S. Economy TodayDespite strong forecasts early in the year that the U.S. was...

GlassBuild 2023 was an expansive, up-close look at our industry and its innovations! The 20th anniversary featured a rodeo theme – a nod to the location of next year’s show in Dallas. With that theme in mind, I wanted to offer some post-show cowboy wisdom for those planning for next year in Texas.Always drink upstream from the herdWe were all cowboys this year at GlassBuild America 2023! We were committed, worked hard and made a great show happen again! Like a cowboy with a good...

A common piece of advice I give to companies in our industry is often something they don’t always want to hear. Even if you don’t plan on using a specific social media platform, you should still secure your company’s username on it so no one else can. Now, there is a bit of follow-up to this advice: if your company has a Twitter (now “X”) account you’ve snapped up but are not using, begin posting there now. Read on to learn why.In the wake of...

As of September 1, it has officially been one year since the newest FGIA region was created by the Association, a milestone that was celebrated during the recent FGIA FENBC Region Technical Summit held on October 18. It has been a big year for the FENBC Region, full of British Columbia-centric events with speakers and presentations most of interest to those in BC. The region’s leaders have been committed to both residential and commercial knowledge sharing. Let’s take a look back at the previous year...

Many fenestration manufacturers now offer residential windows, sliding glass doors, skylights and tubular daylighting devices (TDDs) that meet new, more rigorous U.S. ENERGY STAR 7.0 specifications. Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the more stringent residential ENERGY STAR 7.0 program goes into effect October 23, 2023. View the U.S. ENERGY STAR 7.0 specifications for windows, doors and skylights.Fenestration manufacturers seeking to have residential products certified to ENERGY STAR 7.0 will have to meet additional new requirements to comply with the new program, compared...

Almost 10 years ago, the internet stopped what it was doing and watched the Wendy’s corporate Twitter account roast everyone from Burger King to complete strangers. This unexpected yet hilarious behavior from a major corporation sparked the great debate: can brands be fun online?The results were mixed. There were two main schools of thinking: your company could either be traditionally professional on social media, or you could be fun and get attention for your brand. The path you picked depended on a number of factors,...

The 20th GlassBuild America is getting closer. Not only is this a must-see event for the industry, it also serves as a great training ground for all levels of knowledge when it comes to glass and fenestration. FGIA is an association sponsor of the show and we are thrilled to be hosting two new education sessions at the show this year. Learn about performance of fenestration and glass when it comes to seismic movement and sit in on a session delivering insights on successfully managing...

I have been enjoying a late summer here in Wisconsin, spending time outdoors with my grandkids. But, late summer brings with it a reminder: as colder weather begins to come this fall, it is the perfect time to look at weathering of the home. Luckily, FGIA has updated a document establishing minimum performance requirements for pile weatherstrips and replaceable weatherseals.AAMA 701/702-23, Performance Specification for Pile Weatherstrips (AAMA 701) and Polymer Weatherseals (AAMA 702), an FGIA document, provides details on test methods, equipment, specimen sampling techniques,...

This year is the 20th anniversary of GlassBuild America, the largest event for the glass, window and door industries in North America. The big show is happening October 31 through November 1 in Atlanta, GA, but buzz is already being generated in advance of it online. Don’t miss out on the chance to get your followers hyped for your appearance at GlassBuild. To get them excited between now and Halloween, and to get the most out of your event registration, here are some suggestions for...

I can’t stress enough how much I am looking forward to being in Denver, CO for the FGIA Fall Conference September 18-21. September is beautiful in the Centennial State, with ideal weather and scenery. Don’t miss this gorgeous location – register now for the Fall Conference and enjoy event attractions like the annual FGIA Product Showcase, an array of networking opportunities, dozens of working meetings and a slate of industry-focused speakers.FGIA Product ShowcaseThe FGIA Product Showcase Tuesday night, September 19 provides conference participants with the...