Obama on energy-efficient windows

In his prime time news conference tonight, President Obama mentioned in his opening remarks that he met yesterday with a company from Pennsylvania that is reopening a factory to make energy-efficient windows. If you're like me, you're first thought was "I bet that's a company making vinyl windows." And you'd be right. The company is Serious Materials Inc., a Sunnyvale, Calif., company that is reopening a former Kensington Windows plant outside Pittsburgh. The Kensington plant closed in October when parent company Jancor Cos. Inc. closed its doors and filed for bankruptcy. Serious Materials bought the plant in January. Serious Materials also may reopen Republic Windows & Doors Inc. plant in Chicago that was in the news last fall when it shut down without notice -- and then workers refused to allow the owners to liquidate the assets. Serious Materials, naturally, is basking in the new-found Presidential attention. "It is an honor to be recognized as a company that is helping to lead our economic recovery and push forward towards energy independence," CEO Kevin Surace said in a news release. "Working to counteract the negative impacts of climate change and saving Americans substantial energy in their homes and offices are essential endeavors, but doing so while recovering jobs for American workers makes me proud of all of our employees beyond words." Sounds like a company that's on the sustainability bandwagon.