The International Builders Show was held in Orlando once again this year. Next year the show will be moving to Vegas. I spent 4 days there and the following are just a few of the NEW hot items that were displayed. Also for the first time, there are a few video clips from GE's ecomagination Homebuilder Program and a quick look at the people and sounds of the houses built out in the parking lot.

Armstrong

Armstrong is providing more green options in cabinets. Kalpesh Nanji explained the advantages of this new renewable Lyptus veneer cabinet made with Weyerhaeuser wood, on a 100 percent recycled particleboard base. Check out www.armstrong.com for more info.

Rinnai

In addition to the tankless hot water heaters that Rinnai is famous for, the company was announcing its new Outdoor Fireplace at the show. This can be a standard or custom opening and as shown here; see through. To learn more about Rinnai products, check out www.rinnai.us.

Weather Shield

Dave Koester from Weather Shield showed me a proto-type of a new window that is coming soon. It is zo-e shield glass, for amazing energy savings, in a fiberglass-clad wood window. It’s for residential, multifamily and light commercial use, and will also be available in hurricane glass. The target date for this NEW product is a March/April timeframe. Find out more about this and other products at www.weathershield.com.

Panasonic

A new addition to the Whisper line of products from Panasonic is WhisperComfort. According to the company, this product is perfect for the very tight built green home to ensure the perfect balance of ventilation and balance of air pressure. Standing right next to it, I could hardly hear it. Panasonic also had its WhisperGreen product used in one of the houses in the parking lot display. This is a great booth to stop by the next time your at a show, or visit www.panasonic.com.

Dow

Karel Williams from Dow showed me his company’s latest product SIS — Structural Insulated Sheathing. It’s designed to provide significant insulation performance, structural shear bracing and awater-resistive barrier. It can be used as braced wall panels or as a continuous SIS over the entire braced wall line. Check it out at www.dow.com.