ORLANDO, FLORIDA, Vinyl-framed windows were showcased at the 2007 International Builders Show in Orlando in a unique demonstration project: A two-story, 2,700-square-foot "First in the Future" house.

The WinGuard ® vinyl-framed windows and French doors, supplied by PGT Industries of North Venice, FL, were chosen for their Energy Star insulation rating, noise abatement qualities, and resistance to high-speed winds and the impact of windborne debris.

Sponsored by the public-private Partnership for Advanced Technology in Homes (PATH), the house spotlighted 15 technological advances that addressed long-term issues like moisture, mold, and durability, as well as disasters like severe hurricanes, according to PATH researcher Carlos Martin.

PATH's mission is to accelerate the development and use of technologies that radically improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America's housing.

"We're pleased that PATH recognizes both the economic and environmental value of vinyl-framed windows," said Tim Burns, president of the Arlington, VA-based Vinyl Institute. "They save energy through better insulation, they are low maintenance, and they are extremely durable."

The Vinyl Institute reports that the use of vinyl over less energy-efficient alternative window frames reduces the use of fossil fuels and saves the United States nearly two trillion BTUs of energy a year - enough to meet the annual electrical needs of 20,000 single family homes.

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