International Builders' Show Trend Alert: Soy Technology

Even if you favor traditional franks 'n' beans over tofu hot dogs and edamame, soybeans are still likely to find their way into your home as more companies develop construction and home products with soy-based adhesives, coatings, and plastics.

"Building Better With Soy" is a slogan of the United Soybean Board (USB), a group of farmers funding research into soy technology and promoting new uses for soybeans. "Soy replaces petroleum in products and it's greener; soy is self-sustaining and renewable," says Karen Fear, a farmer from Montpelier, Indiana, and director of the USB. She adds that soy is typically less expensive than petroleum, but soy-based products might be a bit more expensive at retail until they are more widely used.

Henry Ford used soy to make plastic auto panels in 1933 and soy has been used as an adhesive in wood products for more than 70 years. Today, Rust-Oleum, makes soy-based, Zinsser Graffiti Remover & Stripper that the company claims can quickly and easily remove spray paint and ink from surfaces. Sherwin-Williams uses soy-oil resin as the binder in some of its products, including ProClassic XP Alkyd interior semigloss paint and Wood Classics interior stain, and is working on the next generation of soy-based coatings.

At the International Builders' Show, a number of soy-based products are on display, including foam insulation, plywood, paints, stains, plastics, and foam for furniture and carpet backing.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Read "How to Go Green in the Kitchen" and look for our report on interior paints in the March 2009 issue, on newsstands and online in early February.

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Kenmore Elite Side-by-Side Refrigerators With Shaved-Ice Dispenser

Kenmore has introduced a line of Elite side-by-side refrigerators with an in-door dispenser that makes not only cubed and crushed ice but also shaved ice. These are the first refrigerators to make shaved ice, says Kenmore, which should appeal to ice chewers out there. The dispenser can crank out 8 ounces of shaved ice, enough for a smoothie or slushie, in only 20 seconds, according to Kenmore. Think of these refrigerators as supersized snow-cone machines with extras, including the Ultra Chill Zone, a compartment designed to keep beverages ice cold.

These models qualify for an Energy Star, meaning they use at least 20 percent less energy than required by current federal standard. A range of different finishes is available, including bisque, black, stainless steel, UltraSatin, and white. They are expected to cost $2,100 to $3,000 and should be in stores in March. If you're interested in a side-by-side refrigerator, note that on average, only 65 to 70 percent of this type's claimed capacity is usable space, according to our testing.—Kimberly Janeway

Essential information: Visit our refrigerator product page for details on buying a new model. And use our tips to keep food fresher longer.

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Blade Runner Drywall Cutter

Measuring, marking, and cutting drywall can be messy and labor intensive, but a new tool promises faster and cleaner results.

The Blade Runner consists of a two oval-shaped pieces held together by powerful magnets. According to the manufacturer, you insert the edge of a 1/2- or 5/8-inch-thick piece of drywall into the gap between the halves and then draw the tool along the desired cut line. A small tempered-steel blade extends from each half of the Blade Runner to score the paper covering of the drywall. Your precise tap then yields a clean break along the scored line. The Blade Runner can also handle moisture-resistant drywall but can't cut cement board (typically used in bathrooms and other damp environments) or some of the thicker sheets of drywall used to soundproof home theaters and other rooms.

If the tool works as designed, you should be able to avoid common drywall missteps, including torn paper and wandering cutlines, not to mention injuries. It should also eliminate the time wasted scoring both sides of a sheet of drywall and smoothing rough edges. The Blade Runner accepts the end of a tape measure (shown) so you can make straight cuts without marking them in advance.

The tool, made by Goldblatt Tools and CertainTeed, is expected to sell for $70, including a pair of blades rated to cut 3,700 linear feet before replacement. A three-pack of replacement blades cost $10.—Gian Trotta

Essential Information: If you're planning a project that requires hanging drywall, read our reports on cordless drills and tool kits and circular saws (handy for cutting the framing on which you'll hang drywall).

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: GE Hybrid Electric Water Heater

Heating water for showers, loads of laundry and dishes, and other household needs can account for up to 25 percent of the average home’s total energy cost, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. GE hopes that figure will persuade homeowners to upgrade from a conventional electric storage-tank water heater to its new heat-pump water heater, expected out in the fourth quarter of 2009. Heat-pump water heaters are common in Japan, but GE's 50-gallon Hybrid Electric Water Heater represents the only U.S. version from a major manufacturer.

In heat-pump technology, heat is transferred from the air to water stored in an insulated tank.(The GE unit will also retain some traditional electrical heating elements, which will kick in when needed.) GE claims this new appliance will use 2,300 kilowatt hours annually, about half that of a standard electric water heater. Those savings could help defray its cost, which at $1,200 to $1,500 is several times that of a storage-tank unit.

GE says the new water heater will use the same electrical and water connections as a standard electric storage-tank unit, though the unit is taller.—Daniel DiClerico

Essential information: Learn the proper way to size a water heater and read our report on tankless water heaters.

International Builders' Show Product Preview: Quadra-Fire Edge 60 Pellet-Burning Fireplace

Looking to stay warm without burning through piles of cash? We've offered lots of coverage, from basic tips to detailed reports on compact fluorescent lightbulbs, programmable thermostats, space heaters, tankless water heaters, and windows. Pellet- and wood-burning stoves have become extremely popular in recent years, and manufacturers have targeted consumers eager to lower their annual heating bills.

Quadra-Fire has introduced the Edge 60 pellet-burning fireplace, which it says can burn wood, grass, corn, or wheat pellets. Its hopper will hold 120 pounds of pellets, enough for about 7 days of operation, according to the manufacturer. It's equipped with a programmable thermostat that's designed to regulate heat output. Likewise, an automatic self-cleaning feature is supposed to relieve you of some maintenance chores. At $6,000 to $7,200 without installation, the Edge 60 is pricey for a supplemental heat source.

Look for our report and wood and pellet stoves next fall.—Celia Kuperszmid Lehrman

Appliance trends for 2008 . . . and beyond

Michael DiLauro, a product-information specialist who covers a wide range of home products for Consumer Reports, recently attended the 2008 International Builders’ Show. Here, Michael, who knows a thing or two about the appliance industry, provides his insight into the appliance trends you’ll see in the coming months and years:

• New lines and brands emerge. You’ll have three new full lines of appliance to consider when shopping this year. Samsung and LG will round out their offerings in 2008, as both will offer a complete line of major appliances; Samsung has added a dishwasher while LG has come out with a wall oven and a cooktop. Also debuting in the U.S. market this spring is Electrolux, which will have 130 new products in stores. Take a look at the new Electrolux appliances. The GE Café line, introduced last fall, has been a big success. Look for GE to increase the number of Café line products this year.

Also, after years of major changes and consolidation in the appliance industry—including Whirlpool’s acquisition of Maytag, Jenn-Air, and Amana—some brands are now being repositioned. Amana is being morphed into the brand for the practical style seeker. (Read about the company’s Jot dry-erase refrigerator, shown.)

• Appliances go high-tech. Sophisticated electronics continue to make their way into the appliance world. For cooking appliances, the gadgetry allows for easier-to-clean glass touch controls and more one-touch functions that control cooking time and temperature. Behind these one-touch settings are algorithms designed to bring the ovens up to the correct temperature and cook to the proper doneness, adjusting and providing visual feedback along the way. One range I checked out features 11 different cooking modes, many of which would not be possible without state-of-the-art electronics and algorithms. Ranges and wall ovens from several brands have electronic controls that are completely blacked out until you touch the surface. The electronic controls on some Bosch gear lights up when you bring your hand to within six inches of the controls.

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Best by Broan IP29 Vent Hood

When you’re shopping for an undercabinet range hood, you’ll find a large variety of styles, sizes, and performance abilities as well as a number of very good $500 and under models. (See our latest report, “Over the Range.”)

Downdraft models are another venting option. These are designed to reverse the direction of rising smoke and fumes and exhaust them through ducts running beneath the floor. But our testing has shown downdrafts to be among the least effective venting systems at removing smoke and steam.

But if you cook at a kitchen island, venting can be more complicated—and expensive. Many overhead vent hoods cost $2,000 and up, without installation and ducting.

The stylish stainless-steel Best IP29 from Broan costs $3,300 to $4,800, might be a good choice if you need a vent hood. Sensor technology detects what you’re cooking and can turn on the hood automatically, at whatever speed and duration are needed, according to the manufacturer.

The IP29 features pushbutton LCD controls for speed and light settings and an Americans With Disabilities Act–compliant remote control, says Broan. The hood comes in 42- and 54-inch lengths and is 32 inches deep.—Ed Perratore

Essential information: See our Ratings of range hoods (available to subscribers) and tips for proper venting. To help you make your dream kitchen a reality, refer to our kitchen-planning guide.

International Builders’ Show Product Preview: Lithium-Ion Tools Move Into the Mainstream

It wasn’t all that long ago that you had to pay a premium for cordless tools with lighter, longer-life lithium-ion (Li-Ion) batteries. But during my visits to the booths of several big tool manufacturers at the International Builders’ Show, I noticed that several big companies are now offering higher-tech Li-Ion cells for less.

Much of the action is happening with lower-volt batteries. Ryobi’s new 12-volt Li-Ion drill-driver ($79) weighs less than 2 pounds and comes with some big claims: Its battery is 30 percent smaller, 33 percent lighter, and offers four times more recharge cycles than the company’s 12-volt NiCad cell, says the manufacturer of this Home Depot exclusive. Ryobi is also offering a new 18-volt Li-Ion four-piece cordless kit (shown), with a drill, circular and reciprocating saws, flashlight, two batteries, and charger ($179). The battery fits Ryobi’s earlier One+ NiCad tools. You can also buy an 18-volt battery and one-hour charger alone for $99 to upgrade earlier Ryobi NiCad tools.

Ridgid’s 12-volt Li-Ion drill-driver joins the company’s other lithium-powered tools debuting this spring. A major talking point for the $129 drill is that you get free replacement batteries, parts, and service for as long as you own the drill. This tool features 30-minute recharging instead of the typical hour or more. Also new from Ridgid is a four-piece kit with an 18-volt hammer drill, reciprocating and circular saws, and impact driver ($499). Ridgid tools are sold at Home Depot.

The new Li-Ion battery on the new Craftsman (Sears) 16-volt drill ($119 with a flashlight) features inline cells for flatness and, like other Li-Ion batteries, has built-in protection against overheating and overcharging. A cushioned chuck is another perk. If you’re too tough for a “homeowner” drill, check out Craftsman’s two new Professional Li-Ion-ion drills with beefier, all-cast-aluminum gearboxes. The 12-volt drill runs $180; the 16-volt version (shown), $200. Both kits include a charger, second battery, and utility bag.—Bob Markovich

Essential information: Read our latest report on cordless drills to find the right tool for your workshop. For more information on cordless tools, click here. And see how we test cordless drills in our new video hub. Click on Home & Garden and scroll down to Cordless Drill Testing.

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.