Impressions of the 2008 International Builders' Show

My three daughters gave me a hard time about attending the 2008 International Builders’ Show (IBS). To them, Orlando means theme parks, not work. They figured that my trip would be a respite from winter weather and some nice meals, despite my explanation that my job was to coordinate the online show coverage for Consumer Reports and also report on the new products and themes I’d see while hoofing it around the cavernous exhibition halls.

I enjoyed my time in Florida, but it had a lot more to do with what I saw—the NextGen house and other leading-edge technologies, the glistening displays of the latest appliances—than what I did. Even the occasionally corny opening ceremonies featured some interesting banter from keynote speakers Mary Matalin and James Carville. (Full disclosure: I caught a couple of rides at Disney’s Hollywood Studios after the show let out one afternoon. The Tower of Terror is awesome.)

I was just one of 13 Consumer Reports staffers to attend the IBS. You can check out our coverage from the show here. What follows below are our postshow impressions of what’s happening in the American home now and what we’ll be seeing in years to come.—Steven H. Saltzman

“Conservation Without Sacrifice”
What do a new dimmer switch, bathroom faucet, and toilet have in common? They all represent  conservation without sacrifice, an obvious theme at the IBS.

My first encounter with this trend was at Lutron Electronics, where a rep from the lighting-controls manufacturer made the point that dimmers save electricity only when homeowners use them. So Lutron has developed a switch that automatically dims a bulb’s output by 20 percent, a drop in illumination that is not only undetectable by the human eye but also results in energy savings.

Over at the Kohler booth, I saw a bathroom faucet with an aerator that reduces water flow from 2.2 gallons per minute to 1.5. That flow rate, says Kohler, delivers savings without any perceivable drop in water pressure. (Learn more about Kohler's water-conserving faucets.)

The American Standard display featured the FloWise toilet, which uses 1.28 gallons per flush—down from the 1.6-gallon federal standard—and meets California’s new residential-toilet standard. Despite the drop, the toilet can still deliver a forceful flush, claims American Standard. (See the toilet in action in our video.)

I was encouraged by this conservation-without-sacrifice trend. To me, it seems to mark the decline of the McMansion mentality as some manufacturers have abandoned conspicuous consumption for inconspicuous conservation. That approach should bode well for the planet and consumers too.—Daniel DiClerico

“Embracing Energy Efficiency”
After spending two days scoping out numerous new green products at the IBS, what resonated with me most wasn’t a new soy-based insulation or a bamboo countertop or any other product I checked out.

The highlight of the show for me was the good old-fashioned concept of energy efficiency, perhaps summed up best by the “You Can’t Spell Green Without EE” presentation I saw. (“EE” equals energy efficiency.) Because until the day when renewable technologies like solar and wind become more widely available and affordable, energy consumption arguably takes the cake when it comes to the environmental impact of buildings.—Kristi Wiedemann, Science and Policy Analyst, GreenerChoices.org

Ed Begley Jr. promotes energy efficiency

Many Hollywood types have hopped on the green bandwagon in recent years, but Ed Begley Jr. gets credit for having been on board for decades. I caught up with the 58-year-old actor and environmental activist at the International Builders’ Show on Friday, February 15, to talk about things green and a product he was pitching. (Celebs rarely show up at trade shows unless their hawking something.)

“Growing up in smoggy L.A., by 1970 I’d had a bellyful, and I wanted to do something about it,” says Begley, perhaps best known for his role as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on the 1980s TV show St. Elsewhere, about his initial interest in green matters.

His first move was the purchase of a Taylor-Dunn electric car in 1970s. The vehicle, recalls Begley, “was little more than a golf cart with windshield wipers and a horn.” These days, Begley walks and bikes to his destinations and also drives a fully electric Toyota RAV4, which he charges using solar power at his home in Studio City, California.

His house is equipped with all kinds of eco-friendly gear, including solar roof panels that can track the sun, a solar oven, and a rainwater-collection system. (See just how green Begley is at the Web site of his HGTV show, Living With Ed.)

The house also has the new A.O. Smith Vertex 100 power-vent gas water heater, the product Begley was promoting at the Builders’ Show. The Vertex uses an unusual helix configuration, basically 30 feet of coil that transfers gas-fired heat to the water (shown). This 100,000-Btu unit operates at 95 percent efficiency, according to the manufacturer, besting the 80 percent level of the most-efficient traditional water heaters. It is supposed to produce as much hot water as a typical 75-gallon model.

With a suggested retail price of around $2,000, the Vertex 100 (available only through wholesalers) isn’t cheap, though the manufacturer says it’s comparable in cost to premium water heaters. That price tag puts it above what Begley calls the “low-hanging fruit” of household energy conservation, products like compact fluorescent lightbulbs and thermostats. But, Begley reasons, the money people save using those products can eventually go toward more-expensive items.

“We’re heading in the right direction,” Begley says about making homes greener. “We haven’t completed all the tasks [toward building truly energy-efficient homes], but we’ve proved we can get there.”—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: If you’re in the market for a new water heater, use our free buying advice. Read our expert advice for 10 easy ways to save hundreds of dollars on energy costs at your house, and visit our Energy-Saving Guide for expert advice on saving energy—and money—everyday.

2008 International Builders' Show Coverage

The Consumer Reports Home & Garden team recently returned from Orlando, where we attended the International Builders' Show, the housing industry’s largest trade event. From Feburary 13-16 we checked out the latest products and gear from more than 1,900 exhibitors and attended industry conferences, all in an effort to keep you informed of the latest happenings in the American home.

We won't have tested any products featured here . . . yet. So consider our previews a chance to see what’s headed your way. We've also included some stories on the trends we spotted at the show. Bookmark this page so you can come back to read the postings we'll add in the coming days.—Steven H. Saltzman

PRODUCT PREVIEWS

Amana Jot Refrigerator

American Standard FloWise Low-Flow Toilet, with video 

Best by Broan IP29 Vent Hood

DeWalt Nano Cordless Tools, with video 

Electrolux's New U.S. Appliances

Flo n Stop Household Flood-Prevention System

GE Profile WPDH8800J Washer With SmartDispense, with video 

Gem-Loc Premiere Edge Countertop Edging

Kenmore Pro Built-in Refrigerator, with video 

Kohler Express Vanities, with video 

Kwikset SmartKey, with video

Lithium-Ion Tools Move Into the Mainstream

QuietRock Soundproof Drywall

State-of-the-Art Measuring: Bosch DLR165 Laser Rangefinder

Storm-A-Rest Hurricane-Protection System, with video 

Trex Escapes Decking 

Vinotemp Walk-In Wine Vault

Whirlpool SteamClean Electric Ranges

 
SHOW NEWS AND INDUSTRY TRENDS

Ed Begley Jr.promotes energy efficiency

Green is big at the Builders' Show

Home storage is a must

Opening ceremonies at the International Builders' Show

Postshow impressions by the Consumer Reports team

 

 

In search of green at the 2008 International Builders' Show

From a 10-cent metal drywall clip to a $1,200 tankless water heater, the green offerings at this year’s International Builders’ Show ran the gamut: old-school gear to leading-edge technology; inexpensive wares to pricey equipment; simple tools to complex gadgets. Products with an eco-friendly profile were everywhere at IBS—there was even a Green Day on February 14, when show staff encouraged attendees to wear something green. (Note to IBS organizers: The one color you might convince people to wear on Valentine’s Day is red, not green.)

In my quest to understand how manufacturers and builders are now defining green, I spoke with many of the nearly 2,000 exhibitors at the show in Orlando. Their eyes lit up when I asked why a particular product was being marketed as green. Were those dollar signs I saw? From the sheer number of so-called green products on display even to the signage I came across—including the National Association of Home Builders’ declaration that the “future of residential construction is green”—it’s apparent that the housing industry has embraced green.

The challenge will be for us consumers to sift through the hype and avoid throwing away money by trying to buy our way to a cleaner environment. Remember, despite what some marketing mavens want you to believe, you don’t always have to shell out greenbacks to be green.—Kristi Wiedemann, Science and Policy Analyst, GreenerChoices.org

Essential information: Cut through some of the green hype by learning about greenwashing and visit GreenerChoices.org for the latest news on environmental issues and expert advice on ways to save energy and money everyday. 

State-of-the-art measuring: Bosch DLR165 Laser Rangefinder

The Bosch DLR165 Laser Rangefinder I checked out at the 2008 International Builders' Show isn’t your grandfather’s tape measure—and not just because of its $169 price.

This laser-equipped 4-inch-tall x 2¼-inch-wide tool can calculate distance, area, volume, and even indirect length—say, when a heavy object stands between you and the wall at the other end of the room. The DLR165 automatically figures the distance based on the space above and below that immovable object. It also measures from the top, bottom, and middle of the tool, and includes a swing-out pin that, claims Bosch, will measure into grooves and other tight spots where other laser tools won’t fit.

The DLR165, powered by four AAA batteries, also allows you to step off distances while you walk and boasts an accuracy of within one-sixteenth of an inch up to 165 feet, touts the company. The Laser Rangefinder is available now at Lowe’s and specialty stores that sell Bosch tools.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: Visit our Tools & Power Equipment page for expert advice on circular saws, cordless drills, miter and table saws, and a wide range of power equipment.

International Builders’ Show Preview: Electrolux’s New U.S. Appliances

You might think of Electrolux only for its vacuums, but the company actually is one of the biggest appliance brands throughout Europe and makes full lines of kitchen and laundry appliances. The company will be launching the Wave-Touch line and the IQ-Touch series of appliances in the U.S. this spring, with a wide range of kitchen gear.

Based on what I saw in Orlando, these new lines are all about luxury, with features like glide racks and lighting that gradually increases in intensity when you open a door. The display on the Wave-Touch appliances, like the dual-oven model shown, are blacked out except for the clock until you pass your hand in front of them. They then light up, at which point you can set them.

One compelling feature on the ovens is the “perfect turkey” function. Electrolux claims that you just put a turkey or any other poultry into the oven, insert the included probe, and press a button. The oven automatically roasts the bird at the optimum temperature; it also displays how much time is remaining until the cooking is done.

These appliances include many bells and whistles. One of the freestanding ranges, for example, has 11 different cooking modes, including slow cook, convection bake and broil, dehydrate, and bread proof (for baking bread), and the aforementioned turkey setting.

The new lines will be available at Lowe's and other retailers nationwide.—Michael DiLauro

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Amana Jot Refrigerator

If your kid tends to scribble or doodle on everything in reach, you might find yourself reading—literally—the writing on the wall . . . or the floor, counter, and other household surfaces. But what if you could strike a deal so that your burgeoning Picasso or aspiring Austen were to confine his or her assaults to only one front: the refrigerator?

A 28-inch-wide top-freezer fridge from Whirlpool’s Amana brand could be the answer. The new Jot, $549, features refrigerator and freezer door panels that are covered from top to bottom with a white dry-erase surface. (Thank the savvy folks at Whirlpool’s Brastemp brand for this idea; that Brazilian appliance maker first offered this fridge with wipe-clean front panels.)

While there’s no guarantee your kids won’t use crayons, markers, or other weapons of mass messiness on the Jot, you can wipe away anything applied with dry-erase markers to make room for the next masterpiece. Try to get your children not to use red and green dry-erase markers. The documentation for the Jot indicates you’ll need to use a bit more elbow grease to remove works done in those colors.

The Jot (model ATF1822MRE) comes in white only and offers a very basic design, with rounded edges and corners, hidden hinges, and an integrated door handle. Other features inside include dual up-front temperature controls and SpillSaver glass shelves.

If the media you’re more interested in is of the “multi” not marker variety, check out the latest upgrades to the Centralpark Connection line of side-by-side refrigerators, which we first covered at the 2007 Builders’ Show. The latest electronic add-ons to these refrigerators include an iPod dock, a photo display, and centralized family scheduling. Look for our First Look review on some of these features in the coming weeks.—Ed Perratore

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Kenmore Pro Built-in Refrigerator

The new Kenmore side-by-side built-in refrigerator is the latest in the brand’s upscale Pro line of kitchen appliances and the first built-in from this Sears brand. Unlike lower-priced cabinet-depth models, which extend a tad past cabinets, the Kenmore Pro aligns with them for a sleek, flush look.

Highlights of this high-end cooler include 304 stainless steel instead of the cheaper 400-grade variety, oil-dampened doors designed to close without a thud, and, of course, the requisite on-the-door ice-and-water dispenser. This latest Pro brings a pro-style price—$6,500.

Sears labels the capacity of this 48-inch-wide refrigerator at nearly 30 cubic feet of storage. But remember that most refrigerators don’t have nearly the usable capacity that their makers claim, as we reported in “Refrigerator capacity claims don’t add up.”

Essential information: The next time you’re shopping for a new refrigerator, read our buying advice and also ignore the claimed-capacity numbers and rely instead on the more-accurate, real-world measurements in our Ratings of bottom-freezers, built-ins, side-by-sides, and top-freezers (available to subscribers).

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Flo n Stop Flood-Prevention System

If the hose on your washing machine were to burst while you and your family are of out of the house, thousands of gallons could flood your home. Think substantial water damage. Think potential mold problems. Think head-shaking claim adjusters.

The simplest solution would be to shut off the water supply to the appliance, but you probably don’t ever touch the shutoff valve. (Be honest.) Enter the Flo n Stop, a wireless, remote-controlled device that can prevent a nightmarish flooding scenario, claims Millennium International Development Corp.

The setup comprises a solenoid valve installed just after the main water valve in your home, a transceiver module plugged into a nearby electrical outlet, and a battery-powered wireless transmitter that goes near an entry door. When you leave the house, says the manufacturer, you press the off button on the transmitter, which tells the transceiver to cut off the water at the solenoid valve.

The Flo n Stop can’t prevent the damage that would occur if water pours out of a ruptured water heater, for example, but it is supposed to prevent your fresh-water supply from continuing to flow once a leak occurs.

The companion 24/7 Water Sentinel mat is designed to prevent floods even if you leave the Flo n Stop in the on position. If the mat gets wet when an appliance or pipe leaks, it is supposed to send a signal to the Flo n Stop transceiver to cut off water to the household.

The Flo n Stop is expected to cost under $200, without installation. It is available at www.improvementscatalog.com and in spring at Lowe’s stores in Florida.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: You can’t plan for every emergency, but you can minimize the likelihood that an old appliance will turn on you. Read our expert tips for maintaining your appliances.

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: DeWalt Nano Technology Cordless Tools

Nanotechnology refers to the control of matter sized as small as a nanometer—a billionth of a meter. But DeWalt hopes its new Nano Technology 18-volt DC927KL hammer drill and DC827KL impact driver will be a big hit on the shelves.

DeWalt’s nano-phosphate lithium-ion battery boosts power for its weight as well as life—2,000 recharge cycles, claims the manufacturer. The 18-volt cell fits every other 18-volt tool DeWalt has made since 1996, and the charger also works on the company’s earlier 18-volt or lower batteries.

The hammer drill costs $369, while the higher-torque for impact driver runs $349; each comes with two batteries and charger. Four- and six-tool 18-volt kits are also due this spring, and DeWalt also sells 28- and 36-volt Nano tools.

Our recent report on cordless drills found DeWalt’s 36-volt drill, $450, capable but pricier than several models that outscored it overall. We’ll see how the 18-volt Nano fares in our future tests.—Robert Markovich