VOLUME 1
Custom Residential Projects European Windows
Acknowledgements Building custom-crafted, high performance windows and doors requires more than just passion —technical expertise, strong relationships and close attention to the needs of customers must converge from the first contact with the client and follow through to project completion. At Zola, a completed project is not a box checked off. It is knowing that our work opens a crisp window from the inside to the outside; that our wide expanses of high performance units provide the frame for the artwork which is the world all around. In the pages of this book, we celebrate the merging of quality with energy-efficiency and sustainability. We celebrate the power of engineering, design, high-performance materials and good old craftsmanship. Our first volume is the result of a collaborative effort with forward- thinking architects, builders, designers and, most importantly, homeowners of some of the leading examples of energy-efficient homes found in North America today. At Zola, we are privileged to work with an expert staff, a brilliant team of people dedicated to customer service excellence, who share a real love for the environment and work hard to build a more energy-efficient building industry, one finely crafted window and door at a time.
We partner with leading architects and builders across the US and Canada—professionals who share our values for high-performance, seamless interfaces between interior and exterior spaces, and uncompromising aesthetic quality. Our German-engineered window and door products outperform the competition by wide margins. This is impressive but far more importantly are the relationships we develop with our clients—built on our dedication to craftsmanship, comfort, and zero compromise. Be inspired by the projects in this book. - FLORIAN SPEIER & JESSICA PFOHL Co-founders of Zola European Windows and Doors zolawindows.com
“Sustainable architecture teaches us that when creative processes are used in conjunction with social, cultural, and environmental systems, architecture can meet the aesthetic and practical requirements of today without compromising the needs of future generations.” - Earth Pledge White Papers Set: Sustainable Architecture White Papers:
Foreword
Essays on Design and Building for a Sustainable Future
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Introduction Architects, Builders and Designers who choose Zola Windows and Doors for their projects have much in common. They have searched for top-of-the-line materials and products to create the most efficient and best designed buildings possible. They take seriously the challenge of building green and are making healthier, more efficient homes, innovating to deliver this in a cost-efficient way for their clients. Take a peek through these pages at some architectural trailblazers who have achieved the most rigorous efficiency certifications, including Passive House and Net Zero. The results are beautiful, functional buildings that vastly exceed acceptable standard efficiency requirements and push forward our concept of living spaces towards a higher energy performance paradigm.
Recent studies show that consumers have a strong preference for energy-efficient homes. They want comfort, elegance and better indoor air quality. We’ve presented a variety of experiences from a historic Brooklyn brownstone to a modern mountain home—the work of phenomenal architects, builders and their forward-thinking homeowners. We hope the following sampling of Zola projects will inspire you to delve into cutting-edge, high-performance, energy-efficient design.
Table of Contents 02
Ankeny Row Sustainable Multi-Family
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Lake Champlain Residence
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Fairmount Passive House
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Manhattan
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Casa Mirasol Napa Passive Haus
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Olson Residence
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Brooklyn Brownstone Renovation
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Pumpkin Ridge
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Historic Landmark Renovation
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Zero E Design Santa Fe Passive House
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McKeesport Multi-Unit Historic Renovation
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Skidmore Passive Haus
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Passive 154 Brooklyn
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Summit Passiv Haus
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Island Passive Haus
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Sunset Mountain House
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Renew House
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Sunshine Mountain House
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San Francisco Bay Area Residence
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Solar Decathlon House
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La Torretta
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View Haus 5 Multi-Family Passive House
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Ankeny Row Sustainable Multi-Family Portland, OR Zola Thermo Wood FSC Meranti windows and doors
Architect: Daryl Rantis Builder: Stephen Aiguier // Green Hammer
We chose Zola and this product line for a combination of reasons. It was aesthetically pleasing, reasonably priced, and provided high performance for energy-efficiency. Green Hammer
We wanted a living arrangement that brought together a group of friends to live separately in our own homes but with a shared courtyard, common room and space— an intentional community. Stephen Aiguier, CEO of Green Hammer, suggested Passive House construction for our desired energy-efficient home. Zola windows is the best window solution for meeting the demands of Passive House design standards. - FRANCIE ROYCE Homeowner
Photographer: Eric Bishoff Photography
02 - Ankeny Row Sustainable Multi-Family
- STEPHEN AIGUIER
Design inspiration and special acknowledgement “Our architect, Daryl Rantis, who passed away in March 2014, was primarily responsible for the aesthetic vision.
Both Fay Jones and Frank Lloyd Wright’s work initially inspired Daryl to become an architect. The rhythm of the exterior facade of the buildings is a nod to both those architects and to Daryl’s personal touch. The envelopes were designed to meet the Passive House standard, minimize energy loads and facilitate the net zero energy goals of the clients. So, to a degree the buildings were also influenced and inspired by the project owners’ shared desire for a reduced carbon footprint.” - STEPHEN AIGUIER Green Hammer
04 - Ankeny Row Sustainable Multi-Family
He was very much influenced by his time working for Fay Jones, an architect who had been a protégée of Frank Lloyd Wright.
06 - Ankeny Row Sustainable Multi-Family
Going Minimalist:
The Passive House Standard Originating in Germany, the Passive House standard is well-established in Europe and growing in influence in North America. Passive Houses are extremely well-insulated & virtually airtight buildings.
It employs continuous insulation through its entire envelope without any thermal bridging. The building envelope is extremely airtight, preventing infiltration of outside air and loss of conditioned air. It employs high-performance windows (typically triple-paned) and doors. It uses some form of balanced heat-and moisture-recovery ventilation and uses a minimal space conditioning system.
Solar gain is managed to exploit the sun’s energy for heating purposes and to minimize it in cooling seasons. Passive building principles can be applied to all building typologies— from single-family homes to apartment buildings to offices and skyscrapers.
However, even when reducing energy consumption is not a determining factor, the passive house still surpasses the best building practices because the technology results in an extremely comfortable home (due to its ability to maintain uniform interior temperatures), as well as outstanding indoor air quality derived from the continuous supply of fresh air.
The home-builder who is looking for these qualities in a home should consider using Passive House certified windows and doors, even if not seeking Passive House certification. Zola Windows is proud to offer a broad range of window products that can be applied to Passive House projects. Triple glazed windows are an essential component. From the ZNC™ (Zola No Compromise), top-of-the-line for uncompromising performance, available with state-of-the-art quad glazing, to the Thermo uPVC™— the go to Passive House window for projects on a budget, Zola Windows is an industry-leading window supplier for the Passive House.
08 - Going Minimalist: The Passive House Standard
According to the Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), which has certified over 200 homes in the United States, a certified passive house follows a set of design principles that delivers rigorous energy efficiency and optimizes comfort level, as follows:
Passive House certified buildings are extremely energy efficient, using up to 90% less energy for heating/cooling than conventional buildings. Heating requirements are primarily satisfied through passive solar gain and the energy produced by people and electrical equipment. The Passive House method of construction has the potential to dramatically reduce society’s energy consumption, and therefore radically reduce our carbon emissions.
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Fairmount Passive House Eugene, OR Zola Thermo Wood
Architect: Mark Gillem Builder: Rick Robertson // The Urban Collaborative, LLC
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- R I C K R O B E RTS O N Urban Collaborative
The essence of the home is the connection between the architecture and the landscape, which allows natural light and fresh air deep into each space. The home’s large windows and movable walls facilitate this connection and make it a place where the rhythms of the day are felt and the benefits of natural lighting and natural ventilation minimize the home’s environmental impact. The solidity of the windows and doors, made possible by the oak frames and triple pane panels, enhances the durability of the home and give it a permanence that is essential to any notion of sustainability.
- MARK GILLEM Architect, PhD, FAIA, AICP Photographer: Erik Bishoff Photography
10 - Fairmount Passive House
It’s important to have a supplier that responds to issues and changes during installation. The Zola tech support team was always available and offered excellent support even after installation. The windows and doors are beautiful. The hardware is incredible. The breeze panel bi-folds for large openings operate with ease.
12 - Fairmount Passive House
Zola Thermo Wood is a precision-crafted, all-wood window with aluminum rain guards for increased durabilty.
14 - Fairmount Passive House
The entire outer frame of our Thermo Wood™ Passive House windows can be over insulated for enhanced performance. Periodic refinishing of the exterior wood will be necessary over the life of the window, although we factory finish with the most durable, weather-resistant paints on the market.
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Casa Mirasol Napa Passive Haus Napa Valley, CA Zola Thermo Clad windows / Thermo Wood doors
Architect: Jarrod Denton // Signum Architecture LLP Builder: Rick Milburn // Passivworks, Inc
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The Zola product provides a wonderful value allowing the owner to have two windows for the price of one. There are many circumstances where you want the window or door to perform differently and having options to both tilt and turn is a luxury that, once you experience it, you benefit from over the entire lifespan of the house. I have used tilt turn windows for almost 20 years and I enjoy the air flow that you get through a home by the tilt feature. This provides a wonderful convection air stream and most owners are amazed at the tilt swing option of the doors.
- JARROD DENTON Architect Photographer: Michael Hospelt Photography
16 - Casa Mirasol Napa Passive Haus
Our design goal was to match the simplicity the owner achieved with the front guest house while elevating the concept of what a ‘home’ should feel like. Trying to achieve not only the typical goals which might be aesthetics, space layout, functionality, indoor/outdoor living, natural light, proper orientation, and energy efficiency but to also look at indoor air quality, durability, life cycle cost analysis, to create a sense of peace or relaxation by minimizing sound within the house.
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We wanted to build an energy efficient home with a smaller carbon footprint. Our acre lot was long and narrow and space was a major consideration. There was also the challenge of tying in the layout of the new house with the existing cottage that we built several years before. Our architect, Jarrod Denton was invaluable in solving this layout. We used Zola’s Tilt-Turn windows and doors. While being beautiful, they are exceptionally well built, easy to clean and insulating. The French doors along the loggia (all rooms in the back of the house) let in natural light while showing off back property views.”
Zola provides an excellent product and support for the Passive House Community. The best part, they make a daunting process simple. Love the support after installation, this is a sign of a sure winner. - RICK MILBURN Builder
Rick proves that you don’t have to give up comfort or style to build a netzero energy house. A few months after we moved in, we experienced a 6.0 earthquake with the epicenter 5 miles from our house. The house was so well built, we had no damage, faring better than most of our neighbors. Rick, our builder was knocking on our door the next day at 8am to check on us. He was making the rounds with all of his clients to make sure they were OK. We have a new friend for life. - Homeowner
- Homeowner
18 - Casa Mirasol Napa Passive Haus
“It’s all about the views from the windows and doors into the courtyard and to the back of the property. The windows and doors that surround the house give us the openness of that indoor-outdoor feel. The courtyard was designed with multiple garden rooms and entertainment purposes. It is also the main entry into the home. The loggia along the back of the home has a completely different feel. There are open rural views of vineyards, barns, horses, etc.
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20 - Casa Mirasol Napa Passive Haus
22 - Casa Mirasol Napa Passive Haus
Preserving Our Architectural Heritage:
The restoration of historic brownstones continues to be a growing trend in American cities and is expected to continue rising as forward-thinking builders and architects find ways to balance the old and the new, while exceeding the minimal standards designed to preserve our architectural heritage. The double hung window dates back to the English manor houses of the 1670’s. Along with the English immigrants to the United States came the double hung window. These windows were implemented in many colonial buildings and became an architectural staple of historic American buildings. In its earlier renditions, the double hung window design relied on ropes, counter-weights, and pulleys to open and close and featured a prominent dividing bar.
Double hung windows, which are very common in older buildings, present a major challenge to architects & builders aiming to significantly improve energy efficiency in historic buildings while preserving their architectural heritage. The Zola American Heritage SDH features R-11 glass and triple air seals. At the same time, it maintains the original architectural aesthetic due to its historic style, proportions, and also the clever use of offset glass planes that create the shadow line that is characteristic of the double hung window.
24 - Preserving Our Architectural Heritage
Zola’s Replica-Quality Tribute to the Historic Double Hung Window
Zola created the American Heritage SDH™ (simulated double hung) a replica-quality window that has been engineered for historic restorations to include a lower Tilt & Turn and a Fixed upper that provide outstanding performance, all while maintaining the style and proportions of a traditional double hung or sliding sash window. Successfully integrated into historic, high performance landmark projects across the United States, this sliding sash style window has been approved by many historic preservation commissions, including Brooklyn and Manhattan commissions.
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Brooklyn Brownstone Renovation Brooklyn, NY Zola Thermo Clad windows and doors
Architect: Louis Mackall Contractor: Build with Prospect, Inc. Fabricator: Breakfast Woodworks
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- LOUIS MACKALL Architect
Photographer: Michel Arnaud Photography
26 - Brooklyn Brownstone Renovation
I have to say, Zola did a great job on Laura & Robert’s windows and doors. They are very well made, and were exactly as specified for both dimension and function. As you know, their performance is a key reason that their house required - no - heating last winter, and that was a cold one.
28 - Brooklyn Brownstone Renovation
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Historic Landmark Renovation Brooklyn, NY Zola Thermo Wood
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McKeesport Multi-Unit Historic Renovation Pittsburgh, PA Zola American Heritage SDH Thermo uPVC
Architect: Laura Nettleton // Thoughtful Balance
Energy efficiency was a key focus of this project, which implements stringent Passive House methods to maximize efficiency. Another major concern of the project team was to maintain the historic charm of the building. The project team worked closely with Zola Windows to specify a unique uPVC window that not only offers Passive House performance levels at an affordable cost, but also harmonizes with the building’s historic aesthetic. Zola’s American Heritage SDH (simulated double hung) from the popular, budget-friendly Thermo uPVC line was selected for the project, which feature a lower tilt & turn window and a fixed upper window for maximum airtightness and thermal performance. The implementation of these windows helped the project team achieve a very significant energy consumption reduction of at least 75%.
Photographer: Alexander Denmarsh Photography
We were given a historic structure with thermal bridges and inherent leakiness to update to make it comply with Passive House Criteria. The project: conversion of a former YMCA building to a multi-unit residential apartment building for at-risk and formerly homeless clients. We did not model this project after any other; providing the residents with the best space possible and the most important amenities was our goal. - LAURA NETTLETON Thoughtful Balance
34 - McKeesport Multi-Unit Historic Renovation
Located in McKeesport, Pennsylvania, this project is a high-performance retrofit and renovation of a former YMCA building and now a multi-unit residential apartment building for at-risk and previously homeless clients.
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Nettleton used the Thermo uPVC line from Zola for its affordability. “We would like to add that Zola has great service and really responded to our needs on the project. - LAURA NETTLETON Thoughtful Balance
36 - McKeesport Multi-Unit Historic Renovation
“We love our Zola windows…that really is the truth…we cannot buy windows that have this quality for this price made in the States and we think they add great value to the project.”
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Passive 154 Brooklyn Brookyln, NY Zola American Heritage SDH Thermo Wood and Thermo Clad windows
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Architect: Gita Nandan // Thread Collective
Most windows can achieve two out of four requirements, but finding a window that met all proved to be a challenge. Zola was the only one that met the challenge with a historically appropriate window approved by NYC LPC, high energy efficiency, well priced and aesthetically beautiful. We were extremely happy to have found a perfect solution. - GITA NANDAN RA, Leed AP
Photographer: Amiaga Photography
38 - Passive 154 Brooklyn
We had four issues to contend with on this project while searching for the perfect window: NYC Landmarks approvals, Passive House standards, cost and beauty.
40 - Passive 154 Brooklyn
Buildings and Energy
According to the UN Environmental Programme, buildings use about 40% of global energy, 25% of global water, 40% of global resources, and they emit approximately 1/3 of GHG emissions. Yet, buildings also offer the greatest potential for achieving significant GHG emission reductions, at least cost, in developed and developing countries. Furthermore, energy consumption in buildings can be reduced by 30 to 80% using proven and commercially available technologies. UNEP Sustainable Buildings & Climate Initiative, February 2016
Some key facts: Residential and commercial buildings consume approximately 60% of the world’s electricity.
The building sector is the largest contributor to global GHG emissions.
Existing buildings represent significant energy saving opportunities because their performance level is frequently far below current efficiency potentials.
Investment in building energy efficiency is accompanied by significant direct and indirect savings, which help offset incremental costs, providing a short return on investment period.
In developing countries, new green construction yields enormous opportunities. Population growth, prosperity and increasing urbanization fuel building and construction activities, which represent up to 40% of GDP.
Building sustainably will result in healthier and more productive environments.
42 - Buildings and Energy: A Global Perspective
A Global Perspective
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Island Passive Haus Olympia, WA
Architect: Tessa Smith // Artisans Group
Zola ThermoPlus Clad windows and doors
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- TESSA SMITH Architect
44 - Island Passive Haus
Working with Zola Windows has been a stunningly positive experience. Zola offers vastly superior service and responsiveness over any other window provider I have worked with. The price is feasible, the windows are stunning, and the performance is everything a certified Passive House consultant could hope for, not to mention the color options that come standard, it’s enough to make an architect’s heart sing.
46 - Island Passive Haus
We are absolutely in love with the way our windows turned out. It is a joy to visit the site and be inspired by the artistry of our windows. They are the most noticeable feature of the house and serve as a functional sculpture just the way I hoped they would. Thank you to Zola for all the help you gave us in the decision-making stage. - THE GRIFFINS Homeowners
48 - Island Passive Haus
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Building Better
The Basics of US Building Industry Energy Standards Both public and private efforts to make building and buildings in the United States more energy efficient have ramped up over the past two decades. and construction for new and renovated buildings that impact energy use and emissions over the life of the building. Mandates are in place for federal buildings, and voluntary and incentivized mechanisms exist to encourage green building. Making sense of the various green energy standards available for your new home is not an easy task.
While local building codes generally impose very low minimal energy performance requirements, the home builder who is looking for environmental sustainability, high performance and thus, enhanced indoor air comfort — will most commonly encounter the following four key standards, arranged here in ascending order of stringency, and therefore, performance:
In the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) approach developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several areas that address sustainability issues. Based on the number of points achieved, a project then receives one of four LEED rating levels: Certified, Silver, Gold and Platinum. LEED continues to innovate, and is currently on Version 4—designed to be more flexible. The Living Building Challenge™, on the other hand, goes above and beyond the requirements of even the highest LEED rating (Platinum) and is considered to be a more comprehensive approach to building that requires all project stakeholders to consider the real life cycle impact of design, construction, and operation. The Living Building Challenge™ is a building certification program comprised of seven performance categories called Petals: Place, Water, Energy, Health & Happiness, Materials, Equity and Beauty. Petals are subdivided into a total of twenty Imperatives, each of which focuses on a specific sphere of influence, which can be applied to different building projects.
There are other key differences between LEED and LBC. For example, LEED gives points for energy efficiency efforts. In contrast, under the Living Building Challenge™, a project must confirm that it has generated at least as much energy as it used one year after completion, that is, an LBC building must achieve net-zero energy use. LEED is a flexible approach, offering optional points in a variety of different categories— whereas LBC requires that a building achieve every single imperative (there are no optional imperatives). Another notable difference is that the LBC is focused on the building becoming a supplier of positive services to its environment. For example, LBC requires that the landscape be a source of local, organic food production. Passive House standard is the most stringent, and over 200 homes in the United States have been certified by PHIUS which certifies homes as Passive House if they are built according to specific engineering and design principles. Originating in Germany, the Passive House movement is well-established in Europe and a growing trend in North America. Passive Houses are extremely well-insulated and virtually airtight buildings. Governed in the United States by the Passive House Institute (PHIUS), over 200 homes in the United States have been certified based on a set of design principles that delivers rigorous energy efficiency and optimizes comfort level. In comparison to Passive House, LBC and LEED, ENERGY STAR is the simplest and least demanding choice for energy efficiency. It includes the independent certification of products, buildings, or homes that use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change.
50 - Building Better - The Basics of US Building Industry Energy Standards
The green building industry has introduced innovative approaches to provide broad and flexible mechanisms that work with specific value considerations while staying within budget for both residential and commercial construction. In addition, the federal government has put in place, and continues to advance towards energy codes and standards that set minimum requirements for energy-efficient design
The least demanding energy standard is ENERGY STAR. A national program of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), ENERGY STAR is a key part of ongoing national efforts to develop programs, policies, and regulations for reducing air pollution. ENERGY STAR is also the standard with widest awareness, estimated at more than 85% in 2014 (ENERGY STAR® OVERVIEW OF 2014 ACHIEVEMENTS, EPA Climate Protection Partnerships Division).
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Renew House Boulder, CO
Architect: Brian A. Fuentes // Fuentes Design
Zola Thermo Clad Windows and doors.
52 - Renew House
Featured
Featured in Colorado Magazine
54 - Renew House
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“Globally, buildings account for close to 40% of total end use of energy. Given the many possibilities to substantially reduce buildings’ energy requirements, the potential savings of energy efficiency in the building sector would greatly contribute to a society-wide reduction of energy consumption. The implications of such potential reduction should not be underestimated, as the scale of energy efficiency in buildings is large enough to influence security policy, climate preservation and public health on a national and global scale.”
It is a myth that European Windows cost significantly more than domestic options.
Cost Versus Benefits According to the Passive House Institute US, passive building typically costs 5-10 percent more than a conventional building. However, as more large-scale window and door manufacturers bring high-performance products to market, economies of scale are expected to drive down costs. In an apples to apples comparison, a customer found that Zola Windows were price competitive with North American suppliers of high-performance windows, and still outperformed these alternatives in terms of R-values as well as technical support.
Residential and commercial buildings consume approximately 60% of the world’s electricity.
The building sector is the largest contributor to global GHG emissions.
Existing buildings represent significant energy saving hfrequently far below current efficiency potentials.
Investment in building energy efficiency is accompanied by significant direct and indirect savings, which help offset incremental costs, providing a short return on investment period.
In developing countries, new green construction yields enormous opportunities. Population growth, prosperity and increasing urbanization fuel building and construction activities, which represent up to 40% of GDP.
Building sustainably will result in healthier and more productive environments.
60 - To Go European Windows or Not: Cost Versus Benefits
-INTERNATIONAL ENERGY AGENCY
To Go European Windows or Not:
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San Francisco Bay Area Residence Belmont, CA Classic Wood
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R-value Comparison: High Performance Windows Versus Standard American Windows
Stacking Up:
Andersen Corporation, 400 Series
Zola Windows Leading the Way Among High-Performance Window Companies
Zola Windows, ThermoClad
Pella Windows, Clad Direct
Marvin, Highest Efficiency Line
While performance and energy efficiency are growing in importance to the average home-owner, Zola Windows understands that there is a wide range of factors and considerations that go into each architect, builder and homeowner’s selection of a high-performance window. Zola Windows also prides itself on being able to custom-build windows and doors to fit just about any project configuration and design. Our company excels at designing and following through on individualized experiences for each client and project. Whether it is a Brooklyn Brownstone, or an ocean-front vacation home, Zola delivers on its promise to deliver high-end German engineered windows at an exceptional value.
Standard American Window
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Sources: Andersen Corporation offers windows with R value of 3.7 (U value of < 0.27 Values for the Andersen 400 Series. See https://www.andersenwindows. com/~/media/aw/files/technical-docs/performance/performance-windows-patiodoors-nfrcratings--400series.pdf Pella Corp windows high-performance “Clad Direct” Window has an R value of 5. This is a U of 0.20. See http://pressroom.pella.com/fast_facts/153/ confused-about-rvalues-and-other-window-and-door-terms Marvin Windows offers the Clad Ultimate Double/Single Hung, one of its most efficient product offerings, with an R value of 6.6 (a U value of 0.15). See http://www.marvin.com/downloads/request-information/Marvin_EnergyEfficient_MostEfficient_List.pdf Zola Windows offers the ThermoClad window which has an R-value of 7 (U-factor of 0.14). See independent Passive House Institute (US) performance data at http://www.phius.org/phius-certification-for-buildings-and-products/phius-product-data-certification/find-compare-windows Standard American windows have comparatively low R values ranging between between 1.1 to 3.2.
68 - Stacking-Up: Zola Windows Leading the Way
A side by side comparison of window performance across a wide range of suppliers for high performance windows demonstrates that Zola Windows are engineered to deliver superior performance over the lifetime of a window.
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La Torretta Steamboat Springs, CO Zola Classic Clad / Classic Wood
Architect: Michael Olson // Michael J.K. Olsen Architects Builder: Craig Amaron
70 - La Torretta
The Language of Energy Efficiency:
Basics of High-Performance Windows & Doors The language of energy efficiency can be difficult to decipher, but often the comparison between one window company and another comes down to a few key terms. Understanding some of the numbers is crucial as you choose the right window and door units for your project. Five key terms are essential in making a choice that strikes the right balance among multiple interests:
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have coatings that minimize ultraviolet (UV) and infrared (IR) light transfer through the glass without limiting the amount of available visible light.
U-value
(also called U-factor) measures the rate of heat transfer through a construction assembly in Btu/h/ft²/°F. The lower the U-factor, the better the window insulates. The inverse of the u-value is the R-value (the higher its R value, the more thermally efficient a unit is). 0.25 is considered a decent u-value in U.S. units. Compare this to the Passive House benchmark 0.14, a super-highperformance criterion that many U.S. window makers have not attained with commercial-grade offerings. (Zola Windows ZNC and Zola Arctic lines meet this stringent standard. The ZNC line is certified by both the Passive House Institute US and Passive House Germany).
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Visible Light Transmittance (VT)
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This measures the solar energy transmittance of a window or door as a whole. It is the proportion of solar energy available on the indoor side of the window, and is expressed as a number between 0 and 1 where lower values mean less solar heat is transmitted through the assembly. Remember, the lower the number, the less heat a window lets in.
If having maximum natural light, and a seamless minimal divide between the exterior and the interior (for example, homes with a view of the mountains, or the ocean, or the city skyline), the VT of your windows is important. VT measures the amount of visible light transferred through a window. Low E coatings can reject solar heat gain without reducing visible light to pass through the glass.
Air Leakage
Air leakage, or air infiltration, is the amount of air that passes between the indoors and outdoors through cracks in a window assembly.
72 - The Language of Energy Efficiency
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Low-E or low-emissivity glazings
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Solar Heat-Gain Coefficient (SHGC)
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Lake Champlain Residence Braintree, VT Zola Thermo Clad windows and doors
Builder: Stuart Merusi // Merusi Builders
We chose the versatile Zola tilt and turn windows, a key decision in the design process. The windows create a strong connection to the natural environment while maintaining energy- efficiency. Even with high winds coming off the lake, the windows can be opened during the summer months for ventilation and block any drafts during the colder months. - Homeowner
Featured in Fine Homebuilding
Photographer: Susan Teare Photography
74 - Lake Champlain Residence
Low energy costs and low maintenance were a priority when designing our lakeside retirement home. The main living area, kitchen and master suite are on the first floor, the music room and office are in the loft, and storage is in the basement.
76 - Lake Champlain Residence
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Daylighting: A Naturally Efficient Consequence of High Performance Windows
Plugging the Hole in the Bucket and Bringing in Natural Light:
Why Choosing a High Performance Window is an Effective Way to Significantly Improve Your Home’s Energy Efficiency The Role of Windows in Your Home’s Overall Thermal Performance
When a building envelope is made up of elements of very disparate thermal performance levels, the weakest links will dictate to a large part the overall performance. Unfortunately, the windows that we have become accustomed to in mainstream American construction are not insulating well enough and thereby eliminating a large part of the thermal performance gains that have been made in better wall construction and detailing. Additionally, many gains in glass performance on the mainstream market are achieved by more restrictive low-e coatings, which significantly lower the potential for solar heat gains and for successful natural daylighting.
Assuming an R-50 wall with a 15% glazing percentage with an ENERGY STAR(R) level R-3 window, the entire wall performance amounts to an unimpressive R-15, which is a 70% performance reduction, directly attributable to the inclusion of this not so stellar window. Assuming a significantly increased wall performance of R-100 by doubling the insulation, and using that same R-3 window, the entire wall performance increases to R-17, a fairly insignificant overall improvement. Assuming once again a R-50 wall, but this time using an R-8 window (such as the Zola ThermoClad Plus), the overall wall performance rises to R-37.
Economical. Per square foot, the cost of the unit is more cost effective. Much of the cost of each window is the labor that goes into making each frame, which is essentially the same whether we are making a window that is 2 feet wide or 6 feet wide. Optimized daylighting. Improved daylighting of a space by means of a bigger window creates a more pleasant interior, reducing electricity use for artificial lighting.
The ideal high performance window has a high ratio of glass to frame. Windows are one of the weakest spots in a building, but with the potential for solar gain, the glass can level out or be beneficial to the overall energy performance. In contrast, window frames do not offer this solar gain advantage, but are simply losses. We encourage our clients to opt for expansive windows and doors whenever architecturally possible. Selecting such units has a number of very important advantages.
The success of a window in maximizing daylight in any given space is a factor of glass size, visual transmittance of the glass and header height. Sill height plays a role mainly in the subjective feel of the room—a sill that is too high will make a room feel “basement-like” and dark. Any glass area below about three feet has very little impact on actually measurable illumination levels in the depth of the room. As a general rule, we advise our customers that a window that is the width of the room and has a sill height of 3’ or less creates great daylight to the room depth of about 2.5 times the header height. As an example, an 8’ floor to ceiling window would daylight about 20’. By making careful choices during the window selection process, the natural light can be maximized to bring multiple benefits to a living or work-space.
82 - Plugging the Hole in the Bucket and Bringing in Natural Light
When you look at the way energy loss occurs in your home, it’s easy to see why high performance windows are emerging as one of the key points of focus in energy efficient home design. Heat travels along the path of least resistance towards the outside of the building. Focusing on the that path of least resistance, which definitely includes windows, reaps the greatest benefits.
To illustrate this concept, Portland and Seattle-based contractors Hammer & Hand calculated this convincing example of three possible wall and window combinations:
Superior thermal performance. Again, windows are one of the weakest spots in a building, but increase the potential for solar gain, so expansive glass is beneficial to the overall energy performance.
Natural, effective lighting can be achieved in a building for most of the daylight hours without the use of electric lights. Taking advantage of the natural light available from the sun contributes to a visually pleasant and productive environment and also allows for significant reductions in electricity usage.
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Manhattan Renovation New York, NY Zola Thermowood
Architect: Brian Ripel, RA // RSVP Architecture Studio PLLC
84 - Manhattan Renovation
Photographer: Accra Shepp
If no action is taken to improve energy efficiency in the buildings sector, energy demand is expected to rise by 50% by 2050. This increase is driven by rapid growth in the number of households, residential and services floor area, higher ownership rates for existing electricity-consuming devices and increasing demand for new products. However this growth could be limited to just over 10% without changing comfort levels or requiring households to reduce their purchases of appliances and other electronic equipment.â&#x20AC;?
- International Energy Agency, Transition to Sustainable Buildings: Strategies and Opportunities to 2050, OECD/IEA 2013
86 - Manhattan Renovation
â&#x20AC;&#x153;The rationale for changing our current energy and climate path is compelling. Energy efficient and low-carbon technologies will play a crucial role in the energy revolution needed to make this change happen. The buildings sector is the largest energy-consuming sector, accounting for over one-third of final energy consumption globally and an equally important source of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. In certain regions highly dependent on traditional biomass, energy use in buildings represents as much as 80% of total final energy use.
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Olson Residence Marquette, MI Zola Thermoplus painted wood windows, tilt turn & sliding glass doors,
Architect: Frank X. Arvan, AIA // FX Architecture
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For this project I chose the Zola ThermoPlus line for energy efficiency and the reasonable price. They are beautiful and operate in an elegant way.” - FRANK X. ARVAN, AIA Architect
Photographer: Christopher Burnett Photography
88 - Olson Residence
“The Zola windows are exquisite, energy efficient and work well.
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- BRUCE OLSON Homeowner
“The views are oriented towards the lake, and the large tilt and slide doors in front open to the patio for entertaining. In spring and fall we get shimmering reflections on the ceiling from the lake below us through the west windows. When it is snowing outside the effect is like standing inside a giant crystal snow globe. Every day there is something new to see outside.” - BRUCE OLSON Homeowner
90 - Olson Residence
“Although we did not opt for the full passive house design we were very concerned with comfort and efficiency as we have some pretty cold winters here. During our first winter in the house, the outside temperature did not go above 32° for 75 consecutive days and 65 of those days had low temperatures below 0°. Despite this, the temperature standing next to the giant living room window was within 2° of the warmest room in the house.”
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“ “We used the Meranti Wood Timber Windows line from Zola for its energy efficiency, clean modern lines, superior hardware, available large sizes and reasonable price. Their tilt/turn operation allows for secure ventilation and also complete opening of the window.” - FRANK X. ARVAN, AIA Architect
- FRANK X. ARVAN, AIA Architect
Meranti Wood Timber Windows line from Zola
92 - Olson Residence
“The house takes advantage of the only flat part on the site, a logging trail.The project connects to the environment both physically and spiritually. It was inspired by the mining traditions of the area, and the ore dock in Marquette. The building is designed to be an almost completely Passive House with 12” thick super insulated walls, and takes advantage of both the Southern exposure and the views of the reservoir to the West.”
94 - Olson Residence
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Pumpkin Ridge Portland, OR Zola ThermoPlus Clad
Architect: Scott|Edwards Architecture Builder: Hammer & Hand
The Zola windows and doors are a huge plus as they allow for gorgeous views without any thermal bridging and provide extra insulation from the elements. They’re beautiful, yet also an essential part of the function of our Passive House. The tilt-turn windows are the best— they’re versatile and function well for every need. We love the fact that we can open them to get a breeze without having a window swung into the house. Our large Zola lift slider glass door leads to our deck. That is a serious piece of hardware! - B R YA N & ST E P H A N I E FA R R I S Homeowner Photographer: Jeff AmramPhotography
96 - Pumpkin Ridge
Our main focus was building the greenest house we could afford, while keeping it logical, functional and comfortable— each green characteristic had to have a good return and contribute to the overall livability of the home.
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- HAMMER & HAND Builder
98 - Pumpkin Ridge
The Pumpkin Ridge Passive House harnesses the simplicity of Passive House design to deliver superb comfort and efficiency at minimal added construction cost. The Pumpkin Ridge Passive House is no more expensive to own. Yet the high performance green building will consume 90% less heating energy and offer exceptional comfort and indoor air quality. The windows from Zola play a key role in achieving this level of performance.
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Zero E Design Santa Fe Passive House Santa Fe, NM Zola Passive House windows and doors called Thermo Plus Clad
Architect: Joaquin Karcher // Zero E Design Architect: Steve McCormick // Zero E Design
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- JOAQUIN KARCHER Architect
Photographer: Kate Russell Photography
100 - Zero E Design Santa Fe Passive House
We chose Zola for this ultra- low energy home because they offer the best performance- to- cost- ratio in the high performance window industry. If you want to achieve the stringent Passive House energy standard your windows and doors are one of the most critical components. Our clients were intrigued with the aesthetic qualities, the craftsmanship and the color options of the wood/ clad window. The support and service we received from Zola was first class.
102 - Zero E Design Santa Fe Passive House
104 - Zero E Design Santa Fe Passive House
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Skidmore Passive Haus Portland, OR Zola ThermoPlus Clad windows and doors
Architect: Jeff Stern // In Situ Architecture
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â&#x20AC;&#x153; My favorite construction products used in this project are the ebony stained rough sawn cedar siding, the unfinished steel stairs, the fir plywood cabinets, the cement plaster bathroom walls, and the pops of bright color. The Zola ThermoPlus triple-glazed clad wood, for the durable clad exteriors and beautiful wood interiors were used for the windows and doors.
- JEFF STERN In Situ Architecture
Photographer: Bittermann Photography
Featured
The house is simple in form, modern yet modest, filled with light and color, and is extremely comfortable and energy efficient. My personal design focus for this project was to merge contemporary design with extreme energy efficiency.
- JEFF STERN In Situ Architecture
106 - Skidmore Passive Haus
The challenge with this project was to create an affordable contemporary house in an existing neighborhood that meets the Passivhaus standard.
About Skidmore Passive Haus Generous amounts of south facing glazing (.5 shgc) maximize the solar gains for most of the year, while motorized exterior aluminum shades can be lowered to block unwanted summer heat gain resulting in extremely comfortable temperatures year round. An extensive green roof helps manage all stormwater on site, while a roof mounted 4.32 kW PV array provides enough electricity to result in a near net zero and truly sustainable building.
While the lift and slide door is amazing and so easy to operate, I really love the tilt and turn balcony door. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a key part of our cooling strategy in the summer and allows us to use the door tilted open for ventilation while remaining locked and secure. The tilt-turn windows have many benefits including the ability to use external blinds for shading while still allowing the windows to open for ventilation, and the ability to tilt open for ventilation while remaining completely secure. They also make cleaning a breeze.
- JEFF STERN In Situ Architecture
Featured in: Portland Monthly, Dwell, Wall Street Journal, Architectural Record, Portland Architecture, Inhabitat, Houzz, Real Cedar
108 - Skidmore Passive Haus
Located in an existing neighborhood of post-war houses, Skidmore Passivhaus merges contemporary design with the highest level of energy efficiency. Providing a true live / work condition, two separate buildings address the program requirements while creating a unique indoor / outdoor space between. High levels of insulation, extremely airtight construction (tested at .32ach50), high performing triple glazed european windows, and a super-efficient heat recovery ventilator allow the structure to meet the stringent requirements of the German Passivhaus standard.
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Summit Passiv Haus Park City, UT Zola Thermo uPVC windows and doors
Architect: Chris Price // Park City Design + Build
I chose the epic tilt / turn triple pane behemoths and Patio doors from Zola. These windows and doors clearly have the engineering, quality, and performance that is far superior to any North American brand we have seen thus far. - CHRIS PRICE Designer, Project Manager
Passive Haus Pre-Certified Featured in Custom Builder, Contemporist, Houzz, and Design Boom Photographer: Douglas Burke Photography
110 - Summit Passive Haus
The house itself was intended to nestle neatly into the 45áľ&#x2019; sloped site and to take full advantage of the limited solar access and views. The house was designed and built based on Passiv Haus standards. The framing, ventilation windows and doors became critical elements to maintain such minimal energy requirements.
112 - Summit Passive Haus
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Sunset Mountain House Boulder, CO Zola Thermo Clad windows and doors
Architect: Brian A. Fuentes // Fuentes Design
Working with Zola, I was able to implement large glass openings even in our challenging climate without compromising comfort. Zola provides outstanding performance, customer support, customization and price. - BRIAN FUENTES Architect, AIA, CPHC
Photographer: Dane Cronin Photography
114 - Sunset Mountain House
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18â&#x20AC;&#x2122; wide-lift slide door that easily glides open and closedâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; features wide panels for unobstructed views.
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Sunshine Mountain House Boulder, CO Zola ThermoPlus Clad windows and doors
Architect: Brian A. Fuentes // Fuentes Design Builder: Roger Sims // Natural Homes, LLC Sims
Working with Zolaâ&#x20AC;ŚI was able to implement large glass openings even in our challenging climate without compromising comfort. Zola provides outstanding performance, customer support, customization and price. - BRIAN A. FUENTES Architect
Photographer: Dane Cronin Photography
120 - Sunshine Mountain House
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122 - Sunshine Mountain House
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We added solar shades for the daylight. This system provides passive heating and cooling which makes the rooms more comfortable and keeps our energy consumption lower. - BROOKE WEATHERS Homeowner
124 - Sunshine Mountain House
Our architect recommended Zola European Windows and Doors. He had them in his own home, and we were able to see samples. Second, the u value being better than any windows made in North America was the big selling point for us also, and yes, they performed as hoped -we have big glass windows and they really keep the cold out in the winter!
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- ROGER SIMS Natural Homes, LLC Sims
126 - Sunshine Mountain House
Zolaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s large windows and doors provide unhindered views of the surrounding mountains make this home outstanding. The outstanding craftsmanship of the product are beautiful to look at and their performance and easy operation make them ideal for controlling air flow and ventilation. This house will have a substantial reduction in energy use because of these high quality thermally insulated windows and doors.
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Solar Decathlon House Colorado Zola ThermoPlus Clad windows and doors
Solar Decathlon House is a unique, solar-powered house for the Solar Decathlon Europe competition. Through an emphasis on synthesizing a high-design, low-cost concept, the students introduced the foundation for an innovative sustainable community to Versailles. The team is one of only two from the United States that competed at Versailles in 2014. The Solar Decathlon Europe is an international competition that challenges twenty collegiate teams to design and build sustainable homes powered exclusively by solar energy.
128 - Solar Decathlon House
Solar Decathlon House is a joint project between students from Brown University, the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), and the University of Applied Sciences Erfurt, Germany (FHE) designed and built a unique, solar-powered house for the 2014 Solar Decathlon Europe competition.
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132 - Solar Decathlon House
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View Haus 5 Multi Family Passive House Seattle, WA Zola Thermo uPVC and Zola Classic uPVC windows and doors
Architect: Brad Khouri // B9 Architects Builder: Sloan Ritchie // Cascade Built
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- SLOAN RITCHIE Cascade Built
Best Multifamily Project 2015 PHIUS North American Passive Building Projects Awards Photographer: Aaron Leitz Photography
134 - View Haus 5 Multi-Family Passive House
Award Winner
We certified one unit Passive House, so needed the performance of the Thermo, and wanted the tilt-turn with air tight gaskets for all the rest. The Zola Windows and Doors helped us achieve our performance goals.
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- BRAD KHOURI B9 Architects
136 - View Haus 5 Multi-Family Passive House
Our primary challenge was applying Passivhaus building performance standards to a multi-unit townhome project on a significantly sloped site. This commitment to the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals required a significant collaboration between the client and architect as well as the consultants. Detailing with the goals of achieving Passivhaus produced a building that far exceeds code requirements and sets an example for how infill development can minimize its footprint and succeed in its market.
Contact Headquarters 1169 Hilltop Parkway, #201 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 T. 303.578.0001 Seattle Office pacificnorthwest@zolawindows.com New York Office nyc@zolawindows.com www.zolawindows.com
Zola Windows offers a wide range of high-performance windows and doors at an exceptional value. Exceeding even the most stringent requirements such as the Passive House standard in its premium lines, Zola offers high-performance, quality-crafted custom windows for every project and prides itself on its extensive product lines. The Zola promise of exceptional products and service is bolstered by a CAD/CAM manufacturing facility, premium German hardware, and expertly trained craftspeople. The Zola team of professionals includes architects, energy consultants, engineers and experienced builders who are ready to support you from start to finish.
Zola Windows 1169 Hilltop Parkway #201 Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 Ph: (303) 578-0001 Fax: (303) 578-0001 www.zolawindows.com info@zolawindows.com