Comments on: The phony green jobs debate http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/ This blog is about the impact of business on society. Thu, 09 Feb 2012 04:08:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: lizziendfw http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-284273 lizziendfw Wed, 10 Feb 2010 18:14:28 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-284273 STAY AWAY FROM SERIOUS MATERIALS... I don't care if they bought the bankrupt Kensignton windows...I have over $15K in these windows and the quality is ABSOLUTELY horrible!!! If you live in southern states STAY AWAY. This company is not honoring lifetime warranty from Kensignton customers. They are using the same materials and plant to build the horrible windows. I had to have Kensignton reinstall 2 times in 2002, and by one of their installers. I am recaulking every year in and out the house around windows, I have a fogged up window and no way of getting it replaced for free under my now (DEFUNCT) warranty. CONSUMERS LISTEN UP! THIS COMAPNY WILL DO THE SAME AS KENSINGTON WHEN THEY GO BELLY UP BECAUSE OF INFERIOR PRODUCT! GO WITH PELLA! I am going to have to invest another $15,000 to reinstall windows with a COMPANY THAT WILL STAY AROUND! I will continue to post complaints about Serious Windows all over the internet to avoid lose of home improvement $$investments$$ like what happened to me! WHAT IS SO GREEN ABOUT THIS SITUATION! My electric is still high and now its colder in the winter in my house and my gass bill is up $60.00 more a month. STAY AWAY FROM SERIOUS MATERIALS… I don’t care if they bought the bankrupt Kensignton windows…I have over $15K in these windows and the quality is ABSOLUTELY horrible!!! If you live in southern states STAY AWAY. This company is not honoring lifetime warranty from Kensignton customers. They are using the same materials and plant to build the horrible windows. I had to have Kensignton reinstall 2 times in 2002, and by one of their installers. I am recaulking every year in and out the house around windows, I have a fogged up window and no way of getting it replaced for free under my now (DEFUNCT) warranty. CONSUMERS LISTEN UP! THIS COMAPNY WILL DO THE SAME AS KENSINGTON WHEN THEY GO BELLY UP BECAUSE OF INFERIOR PRODUCT! GO WITH PELLA! I am going to have to invest another $15,000 to reinstall windows with a COMPANY THAT WILL STAY AROUND! I will continue to post complaints about Serious Windows all over the internet to avoid lose of home improvement $$investments$$ like what happened to me!

WHAT IS SO GREEN ABOUT THIS SITUATION! My electric is still high and now its colder in the winter in my house and my gass bill is up $60.00 more a month.

]]> By: The Green Jobs Debate | Sea Change Radio http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-162926 The Green Jobs Debate | Sea Change Radio Thu, 30 Apr 2009 20:22:45 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-162926 [...] But environmental economics reporter Marc Gunther, formerly of FORTUNE magazine, thinks these claims may be downplaying the costs of transitioning to the green economy, especially the toll it may take on employment in conventional energy sectors. Gunther thinks the environmental movement needs to level with the public — and he’s gotten some flack from environmentalists for the recent Phony Green Jobs Debate article. [...] [...] But environmental economics reporter Marc Gunther, formerly of FORTUNE magazine, thinks these claims may be downplaying the costs of transitioning to the green economy, especially the toll it may take on employment in conventional energy sectors. Gunther thinks the environmental movement needs to level with the public — and he’s gotten some flack from environmentalists for the recent Phony Green Jobs Debate article. [...]

]]> By: Marc Gunther » Second thoughts on green jobs (and economists) http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-145702 Marc Gunther » Second thoughts on green jobs (and economists) Sun, 19 Apr 2009 06:17:58 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-145702 [...] week, I offered a few thoughts on the jobs question in a blogpost called The phony green jobs debate that made its way around the Internet and caused a kerfluffle. I argued, essentially, that the [...] [...] week, I offered a few thoughts on the jobs question in a blogpost called The phony green jobs debate that made its way around the Internet and caused a kerfluffle. I argued, essentially, that the [...]

]]> By: Lauren Guite http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-145510 Lauren Guite Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:24:16 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-145510 Oops! I meant to say his David Yarnold's reply is posted on Climate411 - http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2009/04/17/green-jobs-not-just-economic-projections/ Oops! I meant to say his David Yarnold’s reply is posted on Climate411 – http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2009/04/17/green-jobs-not-just-economic-projections/

]]> By: Lauren Guite http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-145507 Lauren Guite Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:23:13 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-145507 Marc, I just wanted to let you know that David Yarnold, EDF's executive director at www.Climate411.org - http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2009/04/17/green-jobs-not-just-economic-projections/ Marc, I just wanted to let you know that David Yarnold, EDF’s executive director at http://www.Climate411.org – http://blogs.edf.org/climate411/2009/04/17/green-jobs-not-just-economic-projections/

]]> By: Climate 411 » Green Jobs: Not Just Economic Projections - Blogs & Podcasts - Environmental Defense Fund http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-145506 Climate 411 » Green Jobs: Not Just Economic Projections - Blogs & Podcasts - Environmental Defense Fund Fri, 17 Apr 2009 20:19:00 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-145506 [...] Gunther was kind enough to write a post on his blog about our latest campaign for a carbon cap.  Unfortunately, he also called the green [...] [...] Gunther was kind enough to write a post on his blog about our latest campaign for a carbon cap.  Unfortunately, he also called the green [...]

]]> By: Marc http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-145020 Marc Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:15:24 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-145020 Kevin, thanks for your comment. I love the story of Serious Materials your efforts in Chicago and Pennsylvania. I look forward to hearing you talk about "green jobs" at our Brainstorm Green conference next week. and I agree, there's no question that in this economy, every newly-created job is needed. What's more, as I understand it, the products that you make and sell will help your customers save energy and become more efficient--therefore more productive and competitive. All good. My broader point remains, though--that it's not clear that climate change legislation will be a net creator of new jobs and that the environmental movement should not try to sell climate change regulation as a cost-free proposition. That's pandering. Kevin, thanks for your comment. I love the story of Serious Materials your efforts in Chicago and Pennsylvania. I look forward to hearing you talk about “green jobs” at our Brainstorm Green conference next week. and I agree, there’s no question that in this economy, every newly-created job is needed. What’s more, as I understand it, the products that you make and sell will help your customers save energy and become more efficient–therefore more productive and competitive. All good.
My broader point remains, though–that it’s not clear that climate change legislation will be a net creator of new jobs and that the environmental movement should not try to sell climate change regulation as a cost-free proposition. That’s pandering.

]]> By: Cool Green Morning: Thursday, April 16 @Special News Bureau http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-144646 Cool Green Morning: Thursday, April 16 @Special News Bureau Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:47:24 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-144646 [...] Green? Marc Gunther says environmental groups like Environmental Defense and Blue Green Alliance are creating [...] [...] Green? Marc Gunther says environmental groups like Environmental Defense and Blue Green Alliance are creating [...]

]]> By: Cool Green Science: The Conservation Blog of The Nature Conservancy » Cool Green Morning: Thursday, April 16 http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-144575 Cool Green Science: The Conservation Blog of The Nature Conservancy » Cool Green Morning: Thursday, April 16 Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:01:28 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-144575 [...] Green? Marc Gunther says environmental groups like Environmental Defense and Blue Green Alliance are creating [...] [...] Green? Marc Gunther says environmental groups like Environmental Defense and Blue Green Alliance are creating [...]

]]> By: Kevin Surace http://www.marcgunther.com/2009/04/14/the-phony-green-jobs-debate/comment-page-1/#comment-144200 Kevin Surace Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:24:58 +0000 http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=631#comment-144200 Marc - This is a fine piece and under other circumstances, the "phony" green jobs debate might be more complicated. But in light of the current economy and severe loss of manufacturing jobs in the United States due to the restructuring of the auto industry among other things, green jobs can only be additive right now. And we need all we can get. At the same time, lowering energy costs for people is an improvement in quality of life whether climate change exists or not (it is real...but will leave that for another debate). When someone pays $400 a month in heating or cooling costs because 50% of their energy is escaping through their windows, their issue is microeconomics, not global warming. The unemployment rate in America is heading to 10%...maybe more. But nevertheless, we acquired the assets of Republic Windows in Chicago and are in the process of hiring back their laid off workers. Believe me, they were not doing anything more productive. They, for a time, were occupying the closed plant in the hope that they could at least get their severance form the former owners. And in the end, we gave much more, and have begun making our super-insulating windows at that plant. And the former Kensington Windows plant in Vandergrift, PA shut its doors in October 2008, putting 150 people out of work after its parent company filed for bankruptcy. Serious Materials looked at the plant and its people, and liked what it found. The average tenure of the work force was 18 years, with 9 percent having more than 30 years with the company. It was clear that we could revise the production to focus on highly insulating, high-tech full frame R5 to R11 windows and commercial glass, and quickly introduce our cost and performance enhancing technology. The location was also excellent, allowing us to conveniently deliver products and service to the east, mid-Atlantic and central regions. Serious Materials acquired their assets too at the end of January 2009 through the bankruptcy process. And we started ramping that workforce in early March and target getting back to a workforce of 150 by year’s end. And for everyone we hire back, there are another 2 workers required for install by our partners. So we are creating green jobs today by improving the technology and energy efficiency of the built environment (the largest CO2 contributor). Not by dragging people away from other jobs, but re-hiring those laid off by an old commodity industry...and retraining them to manufacture high R value windows and glass. And this surely helps with climate change, creates great jobs, saves energy, and directly impacts CO2...potentially more than anything else anyone can do quickly. We all need to help America recover. Right now. And if we can employ the unemployed...right now...to make products which are advanced and save quantifiable energy, lets do it. Call it green jobs...or anything else. It doesn't matter to those lucky enough to land them. Kevin Surace CEO Serious Materials, Inc. Marc – This is a fine piece and under other circumstances, the “phony” green jobs debate might be more complicated. But in light of the current economy and severe loss of manufacturing jobs in the United States due to the restructuring of the auto industry among other things, green jobs can only be additive right now. And we need all we can get. At the same time, lowering energy costs for people is an improvement in quality of life whether climate change exists or not (it is real…but will leave that for another debate). When someone pays $400 a month in heating or cooling costs because 50% of their energy is escaping through their windows, their issue is microeconomics, not global warming.

The unemployment rate in America is heading to 10%…maybe more. But nevertheless, we acquired the assets of Republic Windows in Chicago and are in the process of hiring back their laid off workers. Believe me, they were not doing anything more productive. They, for a time, were occupying the closed plant in the hope that they could at least get their severance form the former owners. And in the end, we gave much more, and have begun making our super-insulating windows at that plant.

And the former Kensington Windows plant in Vandergrift, PA shut its doors in October 2008, putting 150 people out of work after its parent company filed for bankruptcy. Serious Materials looked at the plant and its people, and liked what it found. The average tenure of the work force was 18 years, with 9 percent having more than 30 years with the company. It was clear that we could revise the production to focus on highly insulating, high-tech full frame R5 to R11 windows and commercial glass, and quickly introduce our cost and performance enhancing technology. The location was also excellent, allowing us to conveniently deliver products and service to the east, mid-Atlantic and central regions. Serious Materials acquired their assets too at the end of January 2009 through the bankruptcy process. And we started ramping that workforce in early March and target getting back to a workforce of 150 by year’s end. And for everyone we hire back, there are another 2 workers required for install by our partners.

So we are creating green jobs today by improving the technology and energy efficiency of the built environment (the largest CO2 contributor). Not by dragging people away from other jobs, but re-hiring those laid off by an old commodity industry…and retraining them to manufacture high R value windows and glass. And this surely helps with climate change, creates great jobs, saves energy, and directly impacts CO2…potentially more than anything else anyone can do quickly.

We all need to help America recover. Right now. And if we can employ the unemployed…right now…to make products which are advanced and save quantifiable energy, lets do it. Call it green jobs…or anything else. It doesn’t matter to those lucky enough to land them.

Kevin Surace
CEO
Serious Materials, Inc.

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