Kevin Surace reopens Serious Materials' Chicago plant with Vice President Joe Biden present, backed by stimulus funding. The company's super-insulating windows achieve R-5 to R-11 ratings, four times better than standard dual-pane windows, and could save homeowners up to $100,000 in energy costs over their lifetime.
Well, good morning and thank you all for coming. Thank you. I'm Kevin Surace, sometimes the janitor here, but also the CEO of the company. But really appreciate it. Vice President Biden, it's an honor to have you here with us. You're right, I couldn't remember when you walked all the way over here. It's an honor to have you here with us this morning. Thank you. You know, we've just had a chance to see some of the most energy-efficient windows in the world. That's a far cry from what you would have seen if you were just here just 4 months ago. That's because last December, the former owner of this plant told its employees with only 3 days' notice that it was closing shop. Over 200 people, some with 30-plus years of service, were left jobless. Mr. Vice President, I know that you're personally aware of how devastating it can be when a company shuts down. To a community when factories close and jobs leave. And that's why I'm so proud to lead Serious Materials, a company that is reopening factories and creating the green-collar jobs that are the key to our economic future. Highly skilled manufacturing work like this is a triple win. It will save families money by helping reduce their energy use, protect our environment by reducing carbon emissions, and create new paths for economic growth and energy independence. Your administration helped make it possible for us to make this investment. Because of the resources devoted to energy efficiency in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, we believe that thousands of Serious Windows made here will be installed in government buildings, businesses, and homes across the Midwest. You have given us the confidence to make bold moves and make them now. We couldn't be prouder to be making this impact in Chicago, where the local community has been so welcoming. Mayor Daley, Senator Burris, Senator Durbin, local union leaders, all the aldermen here, many others— I can't thank you all, there's so many people— but thank you all for being here today. Thank you for your support in bringing these jobs back to American workers. And I want to thank the United Electrical Workers Local 1110, who have been our partners. I think there are many of them over here. This union has been our partners— now let me say it again— our partners from day one in making this happen. This is a new era in worker relations because I consider each and every employee a member of our family, and I welcome them back home with open arms. Thank you for bringing back your skills, dedication, and experience. It wouldn't be possible without you. Thank you again. And while we are just in the earliest stages of restarting this plant, we can't wait to put a lot of folks back to work. Serious Materials is a force multiplier. For every job Serious Materials creates in our window plants, 2 more are created in installation by our partners. So over time, with the help of the Recovery Act, this one plant could be responsible for up to 2,000 local jobs making super-insulating windows and installing them in homes and businesses in the region. Serious Materials has an opportunity to be truly special because there is no one that does exactly what we do. We make windows that are as much as 4 times more energy-saving than anything else on the market today. While common dual-pane windows are rated at R-2 to R-3, And by the way, invented in 1865, to be clear. Ours are rated at R-5 to R-11, and they weren't invented in 1865, stopping substantial heat loss from buildings, the number one largest user of energy worldwide, and saving homes tens of thousands of dollars, in fact up to $100,000 in energy costs over the life of the windows. And more efficient windows aren't just going to save our customers money, they will be a key tool in America's fight for energy independence and against climate change. At Serious Materials, we are trying to do our part. We have the leading R&D team in the space working closely with the Department of Energy labs and other partners to develop the next generation of energy-saving technology for buildings right here in the USA. And in addition to Serious Windows, we make several other sustainable building products. And now with Chicago, we will have 5 plants in production right here in the USA. We invent, we manufacture, and install all in the US, all with American workers, all with a mission of saving energy and addressing climate change. And it doesn't get any better than that. We look forward to continuing to work with your administration to strengthen the market for more efficient building products, because with the right innovations and the right support, I am absolutely confident that we are going to get this economy back on track. And we are going to get serious about efficiency. And we are going to bring life back to American manufacturing. And that's exactly what we are doing here, all of us together today. Welcome to Congress. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Vice President, for your unwavering support for climate protection and American jobs. Without you and the Recovery Act, this would not have been possible. And now to the important part of this. Anyone want some energy-efficient, serious windows? Union-made in the USA? Ian, he's standing right there, would be happy to take your order after this event. Thank you so much. Thank you for coming. Thank you.
