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With the second day of the 2008 International Builders’ Show here in Orlando, FL dedicated to all things eco-friendly, the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association took the opportunity to unveil www.greencabinetsource.org, the new companion microsite to its successful Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP).

I sat down with Dick Titus, executive v.p. of the Reston, VA-based association on that day, dubbed “Green Day,” to talk about the new microsite, the ESP and its future direction in light of the emphasis on all things green at the show, in the media and across the country.

Click here to listen.

For more 2008 IBS news, and upcoming K/BIS Chicago news, go to www.KitchenBathDesign.com. Be sure to sign up for the site’s annual trio of K/BIS eNewsletters.

For more breaking news also visit the Top Headlines and Live Events sections.

Dick Titus, the executive v.p. of the Reston, VA-based Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, stands in the association’s booth next to the Environmental Stewardship Program (ESP) logo.

The U.S. Department of Energy is challenging home builders across the country to build 220,000 homes that use 30% less energy than typical homes by 2012. U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman issued this challenge to U.S. home builders and other design professionals on Green Day, the second day of the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL. He urged them to build these “new high-performance homes” by 2012 as part of the Builders’ Challenge, a new national energy savings program from the DOE.

Under the new program’s terms a high-performance home is one using at least 30% less energy overall than a typical new home meeting the criteria of the latest model building codes, Bodman explained to the crowd gathered just outside in the Show Village at the 2008 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL. Thirty-eight home builders already accepted the challenge. Twenty-two were honored following his announcement.

“We expect these partners will build at least 6,000 homes across the country this year. As the challenge expands and more builders sign on, we hope to spur the construction of 1.3 million high-energy performance homes by 2030. If we reach that level, [then] we will have helped Americans achieve cumulative savings of $1.7 million in energy costs and have taken the carbon equivalent of 600,000 cars off the road,” said Bodman.

“These new energy-efficient homes will have to meet DOE’s Building America Program performance criteria for comfort, health and quality. And they will all be rated according to the DOE’s new Energy Smart Home Scale, or E Scale. The E Scale will help consumers make better informed, more energy-efficient choices when buying a new home.”

Homes today typically average 100 on this scale. Builders in this challenge will build homes rating 70 or lower, making them approximately 30% more efficient, Bodman added. (To hear more of what Bodman said, click here.)

For more 2008 IBS news, and upcoming K/BIS Chicago news, go to www.KitchenBathDesign.com. Be sure to sign up for the site’s annual trio of K/BIS eNewsletters.

For more breaking news also visit the Top Headlines and Live Events sections.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Samuel W. Bodman issues the Builders’ Challenge at the 2008 IBS in Orlando, FL.

Despite lower attendance numbers than the previous year’s show, the 2008 International Builders’ Show marked another successful year in Orlando, FL with its highly attended education sessions and extensive product showcase attracting more than 92,000 attendees, according to IBS sponsor, The National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB).

This dip in attendance in its final year in sunny Orlando was felt by an industry that has been rallying against the effects of the meltdown in the subprime mortgage market since the market unraveled late last summer.

However, many of the more than 1,900 exhibitors reported having quality traffic. And speakers such as Chief Economists David Seiders (NAHB), Frank Nothaft (Freddie Mac) and David Berson (PMI Group) were predicting cautious optimism about recovery and the economy. The trio forecast more vigorous economic growth following tax rebates by mid-year that will set up a recovery beginning in 2009. “The vast bulk of the housing contraction is behind us,” Seiders asserted.

The trio also presented housing and economic forecasts that project no recession at all, despite numerous reports of one. However, Seiders did say one could be likely, and things could spiral downward from this point, but the stabilization process is the key to recovery in the housing sector.

“We’re happy that the economic stimulus package is being signed into law, happy with what the Federal Reserve is doing, but we may need even more strenuous legislation to help the housing situation,” Seiders added.

To that end, following President Bush’s signing of H.R. 5140, the Economic Stimulus Package of 2008 during a press conference on February 13, the NAHB continues to work around the clock on Capitol Hill to encourage Congress to enact housing incentives, broad GSE reform and FHA modernization. The association has even taken out ads in support of these steps in all DC and Capitol Hill newspapers.

Even President Bush called on Congress during the press conference to do the same: “Congress can also help by passing legislation to reform the regulation of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, to modernize the Federal Housing Administration, and to allow state housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to help homeowners refinance their mortgages. I hope that Congress can act on these matters quickly.”

In addition, others with a stake in the housing market also stepped up to put pressure on the federal government to aid the industry while thousands of building and design professionals were at the IBS.

For example, keynote speaker Mary Matalin announced to the crowd at the grand opening ceremony of the 2008 IBS in Orlando, FL that in support of the housing industry Camp Hill, PA-based PA Partners’ “leadership has declined to give any further contributions to any politicians at the Federal level until they do something on behalf of your industry… This is a first because the way to a politician’s heart had been to up the ante, but to pull it back should have some interesting effects.” (To listen to Mary Matalin and James Carville’s comments at the IBS 2008 Grand Opening Ceremony, click here. Editor’s Note: This audio file is no longer available for listening.)

Also read KBDN’s 2008 Forecast. In addition, read Eliot Sefrin’s 1/08 editorial, The Sky is Far from Falling in ’08.

For more 2008 IBS news, and upcoming K/BIS Chicago news, go to www.KitchenBathDesign.com. Be sure to sign up for the site’s annual trio of K/BIS eNewsletters.

For more breaking news also visit the Top Headlines and Live Events sections.

More than 92,000 building professionals gathered at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL to visit more than 1,900 exhibitors at the 2008 International Builder’s Show.

Political analysts Mary Matalin (left) and James Carville (right) spoke to the crowd during the 2008 IBS Grand Opening Ceremony.

Chief Economists David Seiders (NAHB), Frank Nothaft (Freddie Mac) and David Berson (PMI Group) were predicting cautious optimism about recovery and the economy during the 2008 IBS.

The Kitchen & Bath Confidential blog will feature live reports from the 2008 International Builders’ Show (IBS) Feb. 13-16 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL.

Starting the week of Feb. 13 and throughout the show and educational conference, we’ll be posting audio, pictures and text, live from the show floor. Check back here each day for show sights and sounds and analysis of the latest IBS product and design trends. And don’t forget to check out our Live Events and Top Headlines sections for up-to-the-minute news and event details, all live from the show floor.

For instance, the blog, along with the Live Events and Top Headlines sections, will contain details about the show’s emphasis on green design and building this year, which will culminate in the National Association of Home Builders’ (NAHB) recognition of the phenomenal growth of green building as it celebrates Green Day on Thursday, Feb. 14. On that day the association, which hosts the show, will officially launch the NAHB National Green Building Program, and will unveil the new Certified Green Professional educational designation for home builders, remodelers, kitchen and bath designers and other industry professionals.

The day will also include a full slate of green educational seminars on topics ranging from market trends and consumer research to innovative design and new products. Information about the 10th annual NAHB National Green Building Conference will also be available. Noted green architect and educator William McDonough is the featured speaker Thursday morning, and will also conduct an in-depth session on “Cradle to Grave” environmentally and ecologically efficient building practices.

Four press conferences will highlight the new NAHB National Green Building Program, the National Green Building Standard and green trends, and will also offer a detailed look at The New American Home, NAHB’s official showcase home, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. It’s also the first show home certified by the NAHB National Green Building Program.

With all of that going on and more at this year’s IBS, we hope you’ll join us online – it’s the next best thing to being there!

The new color of design was ‘green’ at the 2007 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS) in Las Vegas. From manufacturers who are introducing environmentally friendly appliances whose parts are almost all recyclable and those who are unveiling countertop lines that are made from up to 12% recycled materials to those manufacturers who are touting sinks that are made out of recycled copper, those presenting low-VOC cabinetry in warm woods and those offering flooring made from easily grown bamboo, the emphasis is definitely on protecting the environment through great product design.

Manufacturers and designers in the kitchen and bath industry at the show were recognizing that there’s a growing movement among consumers who want to help the environment, but don’t want to sacrifice great design.

To read more about green design, click here. To read about Healthy Kitchens, click here.

Look for more information about this in the upcoming 6/07 and 7/07 issue of Kitchen & Bath Design News. And log onto Live Events, as well.

(Be sure to log onto KitchenBathDesign.com for Kitchen & Bath Design News’ coverage of the 2007 Kitchen/Bath Industry Show & Conference (K/BIS) in Las Vegas. Log onto the home page to visit the Live Events, Top Headlines, Project Spotlight and Consumer Resources sections, and Product Gallery. And don’t forget to sign up for our eNewsletters that will cover other upcoming industry shows.)

Orlando, FL — The 2007 International Builders’ Show gives attendees craving for new building and design ideas two for the price of one. For the first time in 24 years, not one, but two official showcase homes made their debut at the show here.
The New American Home (TNAH) has always been designed to serve as a real-life laboratory to introduce the latest theories and concepts in architectural design, product development construction techniques and lifestyles trends. This year, together TNAH and The Renewed American Home (TRAH) sat on adjacent lots in the Lake Eola Heights Historic District in nearby downtown Orlando to offer double the inspiration for builders, remodelers, architects and kitchen and bath designers attending the show at the Orange County Convention Center on International Drive.
Both are sponsored by the National Council of the Housing Industry (NCHI) and Builder magazine.
With a national movement toward urban revitalization, downtown Orlando was chosen as the site for the show homes in an effort to demonstrate how designers, builders, and other allied professionals could revitalize an older neighborhood. Both homes are built on an urban infill site overlooking Lake Eola. While TNAH adds a contemporary flair to the historic neighborhood, TRAH – which was moved from its original site in to be restored and updated here – shows what can be done with today’s technologies and building advances to update older homes.
Both homes offer the latest in Universal Design, energy efficiency and cutting-edge technology, including extensive integration of various low-voltage systems such as home-run structured wiring and whole-house lighting control, entertainment and security. Built with an eye toward the environment, both homes, have been certified “green” by the Florida Green Building Coalition and are ENERGY STAR rated.
For more news from the IBS, go to the Live Events section.

The kitchen in The Renewed American Home
	The kitchen in The New American Home.

 Two Show Homes Inspire Design Ideas at 2007 IBS: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1549)

K/BIS 2006 got off to a great start with plenty of action both on and off the show floor. Barbara was there to record her first impressions - click the play button to listen.

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Here are some of the highlights:

Induction cooktops were introduced at both the Bosch and Electrolux events.

Bosch announced their sponsorship of the Green House Exhibition at the National Building Museum.

The ‘W’ Network’s Candice Olson announced a $150,000 contest for designers and architects who use the new Thermador Freedom Line products in their kitchen designs.

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On display at the Electrolux booth was a kitchen by Carter Oosterhouse from TLC’s Trading Spaces.

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A view of the show floor from the central cafe.