2010 ENERGY STAR® Award Application

Partner of the Year – Door Manufacturer

ProVia Door

Executive Summary

ProVia (pro-VEE-uh) Door is committed to making entry doors the professional way: doors individually customized to meet the homeowner’s highest standards including providing energy efficient ENERGY STAR qualified door products. We believe the ProVia way of providing superior energy efficient products is clear on three key principles.

ProVia’s first principle is our dedication to educating homeowners. We distributed 21% more point of purchase literature with ENERGY STAR messaging over the previous year. We’ve created a special ENERGY STAR TV commercial in 2009. It’s even on YouTube! Additionally we trained 53% more sales persons over 2008 at showroom dealers across the nation to inform homeowner’s about the value and importance of superior energy efficient doors and the significance of the ENERGY STAR program.

Another principle is our commitment to offering homeowners energy efficient entry doors. ProVia’s commitment to offering homeowners energy efficient doors is unmistakable—99.4% of the entry doors listed in the 2009 product catalog and 98.2% of all products shipped were ENERGY STAR qualified.

A final clear principle is our pledge to designing superior energy efficient doors. Even with all products being ENERGY STAR qualified we continued to improve our product’s performance. First and most noticeably, in 2009 was we added the Signet Fiberglass Door Series – an ultra high definition wood grained fiberglass entry door with a stunningly realistic wood appearance combined with the energy efficiency of a polyurethane foam filled fiberglass door. Second, ProVia improved our steel door design to reduce the whole product u-factor by 13%.

ProVia Door is committed to protecting our environment and offering homeowners energy saving door products. That is why we are devoted to manufacturing superior energy efficient doors and dedicated to promoting ENERGY STAR and educating consumers on the benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified products.

Product Qualification Efforts

ProVia sells four door product series; one steel, two fiberglass and one vinyl. These product series are available in fifty-one styles with a multitude of glass options. ProVia offers 1449 ENERGY STAR qualified models in their 2009 catalog, a 44% increase over 2008. The large increase is primarily due to a second fiberglass door product series added in 2009.

ProVia takes great pride in offering only ENERGY STAR qualified entry doors in our product catalog. The past four years ProVia has promoted our catalog as, “All our entry systems are ENERGY STAR qualified,” including the 2009 catalog. Since publication of the 2009 catalog we discovered two glass options were not ENERGY STAR qualified in all climate regions. We apologize for the error. The product qualification summary below accurately reflects the products as listed in the catalog.

Of the models listed in ProVia’s 2009 entry door catalog, 99.4% are ENERGY STAR qualified in all climate regions. Of the non-ENERGY STAR qualified models, 89% can be upgraded to meet ENERGY STAR qualifications resulting in 99.9% of all ProVia entry doors models are available as ENERGY STAR qualified in all climate regions.

98.2% of entry doors sold from January 1, 2009 through October 31, 2009 were ENERGY STAR qualified in the climate region sold, down 0.1% over the same period in 2008. The remaining 1.8% of entry doors sold were customer special order requests not included in ProVia’s product catalog.

Product Innovation

Homeowners that demand the beauty of a wood no longer have to settle for a non-insulated inefficient solid hardwood entry door. They now have a second option, ProVia’s brand new Signet fiberglass entry door. The Signet door features a cutting-edge nickel vapor deposition technology to achieve an ultra high definition wood grain pattern on a fiberglass door. The door is filled with blown polyurethane foam to provide a superior energy efficient entry door with a stunningly realistic wood look. Homeowners no longer have to compromise energy efficiency for beauty; they can enjoy both by choosing the Signet fiberglass entry door. Cherry, Mahogany and Oak series are offered. (Pages 6 & 7 in the Door Catalog & the Signet Oak Brochure show the beauty and construction of the Signet fiberglass door)

ProVia improved the energy efficiency of their steel entry door in 2009. The previous door included two steel channels to construct the top and bottom rails. The rails were redesigned to use only one channel hence improving thermal performance and reducing steel usage as shown in Figure 1. Total product u-factor for an opaque steel door with a full wood frame dropped from .23 to .20, a significant improvement.

Figure 1: Vertical cross-section of door slab showing the differences in the rail design.

Labeling Efforts

ProVia’s product qualification labels are easy to read and clearly designate a product’s ENERGY STAR qualifications. Each color label is custom printed for the specific door product the label is being adhered to. We aim to set a higher standard on product labeling, as a Partner of the Year and an industry leader. It is our responsibility to take extra care and expense to provide a consumer friendly, easy to understand label that clearly describes the product and its ENERGY STAR qualification. ProVia Door ships 100% of qualified models with the ENERGY STAR qualification label applied on the door’s interior surface. (See the attached ENERGY STAR Label file for a sample. See page 5 of the photos file to view a labeled door photo.)

One hundred percent of ProVia’s display doors are shipped with the appropriate ENERGY STAR display label. Five hundred twenty-five display doors were shipped in 2009, up 156% over 2008. (See pages 1 & 2 in the attached Photos file to view labeled display doors.)

In addition to the minimum labeling requirements, ProVia proudly displays the ENERGY STAR PARTNER messaging logo on all our packaging. (See page 5 in the attached Photos file to view ENERGY STAR messaging on our packaging.)

Training Efforts

ProVia trained 100% of our account managers on the latest updates and benefits of ENERGY STAR products using our ENERGY STAR Doors and Windows Sales Associate Training booklet. ProVia’s account managers took the same message to our dealers and trained sales associates on the significance of ENERGY STAR. Our ENERGY STAR for Doors and Windows Sales Associate Training booklet clearly describes ENERGY STAR and explains the many benefits of purchasing an ENERGY STAR qualified product. Our account managers trained 4,135 sales associates at 723 dealer locations across the United States. A 53% increase over 2008. (View the booklet in the attached ENERGY STAR Training Booklet file.)

ProVia also offers a two day Installers Certification Program to train dealers on proper door installation procedures. Critical to an energy efficient door is a quality weather tight installation. 65 installers from 23 dealers were trained in 2009.

Sales and Marketing Activities with Dealers

ProVia actively co-markets ENERGY STAR with many of our dealers. We published several custom door catalogs, each prominently displaying ENERGY STAR messaging. (A sample custom brochure named Sears Brochure is attached. ENERGY STAR messaging is located throughout the brochure and most dominantly on page 2.)

We have also partnered to promote ENERGY STAR qualified entry doors at trade shows. In 2009 ProVia partnered with dealers to show ENERGY STAR qualified entry doors at 423 trade shows nationwide. (View an operating portable trade show display door on page 1 in the attached Photos file.)

Consumer Education

ProVia is committed to actively promoting ENERGY STAR to consumers. The scope of our efforts reaches from our point of purchase literature, product brochures, website, TV commercials, press releases, Message on Hold system and beyond. Below is an itemized breakdown of our consumer education activities.

Just go to www.proviadoor.com and click on the ENERGY STAR tab located in the right column to discover ProVia’s webpage dedicated to ENERGY STAR (http://www.proviadoor.com/Energy-Star.aspx). This webpage clearly explains ENERGY STAR and the value of purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified doors. There were 5,875 unique hits in 2009, a 159% increase over 2008, on ProVia’s ENERGY STAR webpage with an average view time of 1:02 minutes. (View a copy of the webpage in the attached ENERGY STAR Web Page file.)

ProVia released a brand new 30 second ENERGY STAR TV commercial in 2009! It is shown on television, in showrooms, at tradeshows and in homes across the nation. It’s even on YouTube. The URL is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMwfetNlarg. A radio version of the commercial is also available. Unfortunately ProVia has no way of quantifying the commercial’s reach. (View the commercial in the attached ENERGY STARS TV Commercial Windows Media file.) (A high definition copy of the commercial is available upon request.)

ProVia distributed 293,857 pieces of point of purchase literature that included ENERGY STAR messaging to homeowners in 2009, a 21% increase over 2008. Literature included, but not limited to, our Sustained Excellence brochure, entry and patio door accordion brochures, countertop displays, banners, poster and door catalog booklet, all displaying the ENERGY STAR logo on the front cover and additional ENERGY STAR messaging inside. (See the attached SEA Tri-fold Brochure, Entry Door Accordion Brochure and pages 3 & 4 in the photos file for samples of ENERGY STAR messaging.)

ENERGY STAR messaging is included throughout our door catalog starting on the front cover. Page 2 in the catalog provides special emphasis on the benefits or purchasing ENERGY STAR qualified doors. (See the attached Door Catalog file.) (Note: Storm doors are also listed in the door catalog but not included in this application as storm doors are not part of the ENERGY STAR program.)

ProVia issued one media release with ENERGY STAR messaging in 2009. The media release was distributed to local newspapers and industry trade publications. (A copy is attached in the Media Release file.)

Our Message-on-Hold system includes numerous messages that educates callers on the benefits of ENERGY STAR and lists the qualified door products ProVia offers. Each day dozens of callers listen to our scripted messages while on hold. (Samples are included in the Message On Hold Scripts file.)

ProVia includes ENERGY STAR messaging in many other high visibility areas. All thirty-seven of our fleet trailers carry ENERGY STAR messaging across the roads of the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Southeast, and Midwest. Additional items displaying the ENERGY STAR log to the world around us include toy trucks, a billboard along a major interstate, banners hanging in our manufacturing plant, and more. (See page 5 & 6 to in the photo file to view images.)

Additional Efforts

As a leading door manufacturer, ProVia continued its active involvement with ENERGY STAR for Window, Door and Skylights criteria revision process. We have answered questionnaires, provided data, and provided verbal and written feedback to assist ENERGY STAR in establishing the revised criteria. We applaud the successful completion of the 2010 ENERGY STAR Qualification Criteria for Residential Windows, Doors and Skylights. Thanks to the DOE, EPA, D&R International and all other participants whose hard efforts made this revision successful.

ProVia is committed to getting energy efficient doors and windows into buildings around the country to save energy and reduce green house gas emissions. That is why we are participating in the Department of Energy’s Volume Purchase Program. ProVia manufactures doors and windows and actively participates in conference calls, provides feedback and offers solutions to assist the Volume Purchase Program.

ProVia is also reaching out to communities in need through regular donations of ENERGY STAR qualified doors to World Vision’s Appalachia Division – an organization dedicated to assisting the under-resourced neighborhoods in the Appalachia Region.

Conclusion

ProVia Door is committed to protecting our environment and offering homeowners energy saving and cost reducing door products. That is why we are devoted to manufacturing superior energy efficient doors and dedicated to promoting ENERGY STAR and educating consumers on the benefits of ENERGY STAR qualified products. Please consider ProVia Door as an ENERGY STAR Product Manufacturer Partner of the Year.