ESCOs and Window Retrofits
As a leading manufacturer of energy efficient interior window systems, Thermolite specializes in helping Energy Service Companies (ESCOs) bring greater value to their clients. Windows are one of the most vulnerable points for buildings in terms of energy performance. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, 58% of the energy used in a building is impacted by windows. Compounding the problem, most commercial and government buildings constructed before 1980 have single pane windows that offer little to no insulation. ESCO projects for these types of buildings – which often contain 1,000s of single pane windows – are incomplete without incorporating a window upgrade into its bundle of energy measures.
Thermolite offers a simple, cost-effective window solution for ESCOs. Unlike traditional replacement windows, the Thermolite system installs quickly and easily on the interior of the existing glass. The original window stays in place, eliminating the need for scaffolding or intrusive downtime. In doing so, Thermolite upgrades a building’s window system from single to double pane insulated glass at a fraction of the cost of traditional replacement windows. Thermolite windows have been proven to reduce annual energy consumption in large commercial and government buildings by an average of 20%, making the Thermolite system a valuable energy measure for ESCO projects.
AT-A-GLANCE WINDOW RETROFIT BENEFITS FOR ESCOs:
- BUILDING ENVELOPE
- QUICK TURNAROUND
- ENERGY MODELING
- GUARANTEED R-VALUE/V-VALUE IMPROVEMENTS
- REDUCTION IN HVAC EXPENSES
- ADDITIONAL SECURITY AND COMFORT BENEFITS
- EXPERIENCED IN PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING
- AT RISK ASSESSMENTS
- FIRM FIXED PRICING WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION
BUILDING ENVELOPE | Incorporating Thermolite’s interior window retrofit into your ESCO project is one of the most cost-effective measures to increase energy savings for your client by an additional 20%. By upgrading your client’s window system, you’re effectively sealing the building envelope, eliminating one of the facility’s largest sources of energy loss. READ MORE…
QUICK TURNAROUND | Unlike traditional replacement windows, the Thermolite window retrofit is a secondary window system that installs on the interior of a building’s existing windows. The original glass stays in place and there’s no need for any scaffolding, permits or costly labor. The entire process of retrofitting a building with Thermolite interior windows – from the initial planning to the actual installation – can be completed in a fraction of the time it takes to plan and install replacement windows. READ MORE…
ENERGY MODELING | Energy modeling is one of the most sophisticated tools available today to determine which building upgrades will yield the best ROI. Thermolite uses energy modeling design software developed in concert with the U.S. Department of Energy and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories to show exactly how our secondary retrofit window systems will reduce a particular building’s energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and annual utility costs. Thermolite’s energy modeling software specifically helps building owners and ESCO engineers understand a building’s existing window performance (including U value and air infiltration) and what improvements to expect from an interior window retrofit system. READ MORE…
GUARANTEED R-VALUE/U-VALUE IMPROVEMENTS | Thermolite windows are guaranteed to increase the resistance of heat transfer (R value) and decrease the rate of heat transfer (U value) via the building’s new window envelope. The higher the R value of a window (which is the inverse of the U value), the more it prevents heat from escaping. A recent third party thermal analysis of the Thermolite window system installed at the Jacob J. Javits Federal Office Building concluded that its original single-pane windows had an R value of less than 1 and a U value of 1.4. After the installation of Thermolite’s RetroWAL system, the federal plaza’s windows increased to an R value of 2.94 and a U value of .33, nearly tripling the amount of window insulation. This simple upgrade is expected to generate $1.5 million per year in energy savings. READ MORE…
REDUCTION IN HVAC EXPENSES | The Thermolite window system reduces heating and cooling needs by lowering overall energy demand. A great deal of energy is wasted when HVAC systems are running at a high capacity because of the outside air infiltration and solar gain that occurs from improperly insulated windows. Whether your ESCO is implementing a high performing HVAC system into your project or simply addressing the performance of the existing system, Thermolite windows are guaranteed to reduce energy loads and improve HVAC efficiency. READ MORE…
ADDITIONAL SECURITY AND COMFORT BENEFITS | The Thermolite window system not only reduces energy use by an average of 20%, but can also provide additional security and comfort benefits at little additional cost, including:
Blast Mitigation | Thermolite’s Blast Safety Series is the only system made in the U.S. that uses dynamic loading and patented Compression Release Technology™ to withstand a high pressure impact without the need for structural steel reinforcement. Unlike traditional blast windows (which require heavy, conspicuous construction), Thermolite blast windows can be discreetly installed during evening hours to minimize downtime and conceal the building’s security upgrade from any prying eyes. View Safety Series Specifications
Hurricane Protection | Thermolite’s Hurricane Storm Series system utilizes a design that can withstand Category 5 hurricane winds. This system easily installs on the inside of a building’s existing windows and meets the strictest building codes in the country. View Hurricane Storm Series Specifications
Forced Entry Protection | Thermolite’s forced¬-entry windows feature a type of treated glass that is specifically designed to slow or prevent attempted break-ins. Common applications for forced entry windows include showrooms and display windows, as well as the ground floor exterior windows of government offices and financial institutions.
Signal Defense | Thermolite’s CyberWAL is a window defense system that uses transparent metal-based coatings to deflect electromagnetic waves and block audio transmissions. Proven to mitigate virtually all forms of electronic spying, CyberWAL helps keep the sensitive electromagnetic data inside your building from escaping, and helps prevent dangerous outside electromagnetic surveillance technology from intruding.
Sound Control | Thermolite’s Sound Control windows reduce outside noise by up to 90%. The system increases an existing window’s insulating properties with double-pane low-e glazing, creating an air gap between the panes of glass that traps excess sound and prevents it from reaching the interior of the room. Thermolite Sound Control windows reduce both high frequency transmissions and low frequency transmissions.
EXPERIENCED IN PERFORMANCE CONTRACTING | Unlike many traditional window manufacturers, Thermolite has extensive experience working directly with ESCOs. Our team of engineers and architects understands the ESPC process and goes the extra mile to streamline the incorporation of window retrofit measures into your energy project.
AT RISK ASSESSMENTS | Thermolite is committed to providing innovative, cost-effective solutions to improve the energy performance of commercial and federal buildings. In doing so, we provide at risk assessments to help ESCOs, building owners, architects and engineers understand what energy savings to expect from an interior window retrofit in a particular building. Our experienced team will conduct an on-site visit to assess the many factors that contribute to your building’s energy performance, including HVAC systems, lighting, insulation and much more.
FIRM FIXED PRICING WITH INCOMPLETE INFORMATION | As a testament to the efficiency and performance of our interior window systems, Thermolite is one of the few energy measure providers that offers firm fixed price quotes with incomplete assessment information.
