Architectural Products Update

 
Windpower for Homeowners

The Skystream 3.7T residential wind generator was designed to offer small-scale users a clean, renewable energy supplement. The low-profile wind machine harnesses energy at low wind speeds, does not use batteries, and is connected directly to the home power supply. When the wind is not blowing, the home is supplied by the electric utility. When the wind generator provides excess energy, some local utilities will buy back the excess power or offer it at a later date. The generator can produce 40 to 90 percent of an average home's energy needs and pay for itself in 5-12 years.

windenergy.com

 
Low-Maintenance Fencing

TimberTech® FenceScape™ is made of a composite material consisting of reclaimed wood fibers and pure plastic resins. The fencing has the look of natural cedar and is resistant to splitting, warping, rotting, and termite damage. It does not require painting, staining, or sealing and is suitable for marine climates. A patent-pending galvanized steel-reinforced rail provides strength to prevent the creep often caused by temperature changes or long-term loads. The components — fence boards, rails, posts, covers, and caps — are sold separately, enabling design versatility. The company offers a 25-year limited warranty for residential applications and a 10-year warranty for commercial use.

fencescape.com

 
Translucent Roofs for "Green" Houses

Centerpoint Translucent Systems offers roofs made of GE Lexan™ Thermoclear multiwall polycarbonate sheet, which admits full-spectrum natural light into living spaces. The material is ultraviolet-resistant and reduces cooling costs by reflecting unwanted heat. The preassembled translucent roofing system is tough, impact resistant, and virtually unbreakable. It can withstand wind loads of up to 140 miles per hour (225 kilometers per hour), making it practical even in areas of extreme weather. The material is light in weight and offers greater design flexibility than glass. The National Homebuilder Mainstream GreenHome project showcases the product, demonstrating that green building technologies and aesthetics can be integrated into the architecture of conventional subdivisons.

cptsystems.com

 
Retractable Window Screens

JELD-WEN® and Phantom Screen® have partnered to offer an integrated, factory-installed, retractable screen that fits into the frame of JELD-WEN® Custom Wood windows. The retractable screen pulls into place when required for insect protection, ventilation, solar shading, or enhanced privacy, and it retracts out of sight when not needed. The ultra-sheer fiberglass mesh screen is part of a built-in system that holds the screen firmly in place and resists impacts, sagging, and tearing. A wood cover and handle for the screen matching the window frame comes in pine, mahogany, red alder, and Douglas fir. The window/ screen combination is available in casement, double-hung, and awning styles.

jeld-wen.com