Guardian works closely with the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) on the development of THERM – a state-of-the-art, Microsoft Windows™-based computer program for use by building component manufacturers, engineers, educators, students, architects and others interested in heat transfer. Using THERM, users can model two-dimensional heat-transfer effects in building components such as windows, walls, foundations, roofs, doors, appliances and other products where thermal bridges are of concern. THERM's heat-transfer analysis allows you to evaluate a product’s energy efficiency and local temperature patterns, which may relate directly to problems with condensation, moisture damage, and structural integrity. THERM is a module of the WINDOW+5 program, which is the next generation of the WINDOW software series. THERM's results can be used with WINDOW's center-of-glass optical and thermal models to determine total window product U-factors and Solar Heat Gain Coefficients. These values can be used, in turn, with the RESFEN program, which calculates total annual energy requirements in typical residences throughout the United States. Visit http://windows.lbl.gov/software/resfen/resfen.html.
Guardian Automotive is an active member of the Suppliers Partnership for the Environment (SPE). SPE is an innovative partnership between automobile original equipment manufacturers and their suppliers and the Environmental Protection Agency that creates new and innovative business-centered approaches to environmental protection that improve the environment while providing value throughout the automobile supply chain. SPE also provides a forum for small, mid-sized and large automotive suppliers to work together, learn from each other and share environmental best practices. Visit www.supplierspartnership.org.
All Guardian Automotive plants comply with the End-of-Life Vehicle Directive. This includes identifying and reporting restricted and reportable substances found in the materials used for Guardian vehicle components. This information, entered into the International Material Data System (IMDS), will be used at end-of-vehicle life for recycling purposes. Additionally, end-of-vehicle life efforts have led to the reduction and/or elimination of hazardous substances such as lead, mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium in Guardian’s automotive components. Currently, 16 international automobile manufacturers use the information found in the IMDS database.
The Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate is an innovative new effort to accelerate the development and deployment of clean energy technologies. Founding partners Australia, China, India, Japan, Republic of Korea and the United States have agreed to work together and with private sector partners to meet goals for energy security, national air pollution reduction, and climate change in ways that promote sustainable economic growth and poverty reduction. The Partnership will focus on expanding investment and trade in cleaner energy technologies, goods and services in key market sectors. The six partner countries represent about half of the world’s economy, population and energy use, and they produce about 65 percent of the world’s coal, 48 percent of the world’s steel, 37 percent of the world’s aluminum and 61 percent of the world’s cement. Visit www.asiapacificpartnership.org.