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Glass Connections to feature a mix of technical and business topics

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Glass Connections to feature a mix of technical and business topics
The Canadian Glass Association (CGA) has announced the speakers and topics for its inaugural Conference & Trade Show taking place on Sept. 30, 2010, at the Delta Burnaby Hotel & Conference Centre.

July 13, 2010 – The Canadian Glass Association (CGA) has announced the speakers and topics for its inaugural Conference & Trade Show taking place on September 30, 2010, at the Delta Burnaby Hotel & Conference Centre. 
 
Glass Connections 2010 is a highly focused educational and networking event for glaziers, architects, engineers, designers, spec writers, commercial construction contractors and building owners. Seminar topics will address photovoltaic technology for the glass industry, window thermal performance, the durability of insulating glass units, recruiting top level talent and a session outlining the new standards to improve the energy efficiency of windows and glazing systems under the BC Energy Efficiency Act. 
 
Leonard Pianalto, P.Eng, the technical committee chairperson for the conference, says it wasn't difficult for committee members to recruit a panel of highly knowledgeable industry experts.

“The people on the technical committee were well connected enough to personally know experts who can speak about the topics we wanted to cover in the curriculum. It developed organically,” he says, adding that they wanted a mix of technical and industry specific business management topics. “There is a variety of elements in the program that are relevant to anybody involved in the glazing industry, including trades people, suppliers, architects and engineers.”
 
One session by Andrew Pape Salmon, director of the Energy Efficiency Branch for the Ministry of Energy in BC, will outline the policy and market overview of latest government, utility and private sector standards for the energy efficiency of windows and glazing systems in new and existing buildings. The presentation will summarize some of the typical technical characteristics of products that are compliant with the regulated standards in the province, along with estimated energy savings for new and existing homes, and new multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs).“There have been a lot of changes in the building codes pertaining to the Energy Efficiency Act that will directly impact BC and the rest of Canada,” says Pianalto. “The emphasis will be on sustainability and the upcoming code changes.”
 
In addition, the conference will host a Table Top Trade Show to give manufacturers and suppliers the opportunity to showcase their products, services and upcoming technologies. “The CGA wanted to provide a venue for them as well so we will have a trade show mixed in with the conference. It is a unique educational event as all of this will be happening in one day,” says Pianalto. “We hope to show attendees that the CGA is on top of the latest trends and issues related to the glazing industry.”
 
 Glass Connections Topics & Speakers
 
• Raise Your Window Performance to Meet Tomorrow’s New Levels – by Christopher Barry, Director Technical Services, Pilkington NA Inc.
 
• Harvesting Sunlight – Using Photovoltaic and Advanced Thermal Glazing Units to meet new Federal, Provincial and Municipal GREEN sustainable design initiatives – by John Carpenter, President, Clearstream International Products / Schott Okalux Architectural Glass.
 
• The High Cost of Losing People, How to Recruit and Retain Top Talent – by Corey Maedel MBA, PCC, CEC, CHRP, CEO, Jouta Performance Group Inc.

• Durability of Insulating Glass Units – by Margaret Webb, Executive Director, Insulating Glass Manufacturers Alliance (IGMA).
 
• Energy Efficiency for Windows, Glazing & Doors, BC’s Market Transformation Approach  – by Andrew Pape Salmon Director, Energy Efficiency Branch, BC Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources.
 
Visit www.canadianglassassociation.com for more information about Glass Connections 2010.