The Integrity app includes instant reference materials like product catalogs, brochures, presentations, case studies, videos and a feed of posts from this very blog, as well as an extensive photo gallery you can explore for inspiration.

A growing number of building professionals have found mobile devices can be an important tool in everyday business. Scott Sevon, a partner at MAW Chicago, was recently featured in a video on HousingZone.com demonstrating how he’s integrated the iPad into his practice:

Have you purchased a smartphone or tablet for work purposes? If so, how are you using it? If not, what’s holding you back?

The successful builder understands adding new elements to home designs over time is about more than evolving or shaking boredom. Year after year, new products, whether major appliances, smaller accessories or building materials, enhance livability and re-shape the way owners interact with their home.

Per tradition, Nigel F. Maynard at Builder Magazine has created a list of 10 products builders should add to their homes in 2012. Maynard writes, “Our list this year has no particular theme, except to help you and your buyers consider some new ideas. It includes products that are merely about aesthetics and design, some that are practical, and some that will help improve the energy efficiency of your homes.”

I encourage you to view Builder’s list for yourself, but here’s some of the highlights:

Energy Monitor
Within five years, these may become a standard feature in most homes. While monitors won’t magically improve a home’s energy efficiency, Maynard writes, “The idea is that if people know exactly how much energy they are consuming, they are more likely to change their habits and reduce consumption.”

Blow-in Insulation
With so much emphasis on improving insulation, blow-in insulation not only trumps roll form in terms of performance – it’s much easier to use, as well. “Blown-in insulation, on the other hand, gives you a better fit, better coverage, and a better seal—and is hard to install incorrectly,” Maynard writes. “It also can be installed more effectively around junction boxes and wires.”

Insulated Vinyl Siding
Vinyl siding usually gets picked for its durability, but with new insulation options, vinyl siding can bolstered as the first line of defense against the elements. Maynard writes, “Not only do you get an air and moisture infiltration barrier, but you also get a thermal break that stops heat transmission. Moreover, boards can be installed straighter, so walls look better.”

[Photo Credit: Courtesy Johns Mansville]

The Nest Living Thermostat, like Apple’s aforementioned wonder gadgets, features an easy-to-use interface that allows homeowners to, in one week, program the thermostat to adjust to their schedule. Like other smart home gadgets and appliances, the Living Thermostat utilizes a WiFi connection so it can be controlled remotely by computer, smartphone or tablet. It also collects data based on home usage to self-regulate and kick in when heat or air-conditioning is most needed.

The Living Thermostat falls into the “smart home tech” category of appliances and devices, which by loose definition means it has the ability to collect data and adjust output based on user habits and remote control to help increase energy efficiency.

Earlier this month, Farhod Manjoo of the New York Times wrote about smart home tech slowly gaining mainstream momentum:

“…While much of the necessary technology exists, easy-to-use smart-home systems have always been the province of the ultra-wealthy. Economical D.I.Y. alternatives for the rest of us, including partial home-automation devices like universal remotes for entertainment systems and devices that control appliances remotely, have largely fallen short of the home-automation dream.

“The good news is that the prices on that other route to a smart home, customized systems installed by professionals, are slowly starting to fall. Some upper-middle-class people may already be able to afford a professionally designed setup that controls at least a complete entertainment system, or maybe one that controls a few items, like the TV, the lights, the thermostat, the door locks and, say, the coffee maker, while others may be able to afford them soon.”

What does that mean for builders? Prepare for a new wave of tech that will positively re-shape the homeowner experience. It should be a lot of fun.

The summer building season may be  winding to a close, but builders and remodelers should know there’s still plenty of incentive for consumers to pursue new projects through autumn.

The federal tax credit for consumer energy efficiency, which doesn’t expire until Dec. 31, offers a 10 percent return of up to $500 on qualifying ENERGY STAR products, including insulation, HVAC systems, water heaters, roofing systems, windows and doors.

Integrity has created an online guide featuring  its energy efficient windows and doors that qualify for the tax credit. However, there’s some additional considerations beyond finding the right products:

• To qualify, windows and doors need to be installed by Dec. 31, not just purchased.
• Homeowners do not have to replace all the windows/doors/skylights in the home to qualify.
• New home construction does not qualify.
• No vacation homes or rentals — it must be the owner’s principal residence.
• It doesn’t need to be a replacement, either. The tax credit would include the installation of a new window or door where there wasn’t one previously, as would be the case with an addition.
• The tax credit does not include cost of installation.

Whether its replacing a stubborn patio door with the Wood-Ultrex Sliding Patio Door or swapping out leaky bedroom windows for Wood-Ultrex Casement windows, Integrity offers an entire lineup of windows and doors that not only qualify for the federal tax credit, but also meet homeowners’ standards for style and function. With winter drawing closer and energy bills inching upward, this is a great opportunity for homeowners to upgrade their home’s energy efficiency.

Many communities along the U.S. East Coast have started to evacuate in anticipation of Hurricane Irene, which is expected to gain Category 4 strength this afternoon. Major cities like Washington, Philadelphia, New York and Boston are located right in storm’s projected path,  leaving millions of Americans concerned about hurricane insurance, disaster preparedness and what they just might come home to should they choose to evacuate.

Fortunately, now more than ever, homeowners have access to building products and materials created to withstand extreme weather conditions, giving them a fighting chance against unforeseen catastrophes like Hurricane Irene.

Storms like Irene are why Integrity Windows and Doors offers its IMPACT products, which offer all the quality and style Integrity is known for but the brute strength to take on hurricane winds upwards of 140 miles per hour. For instance, the Impact Zone 3 products were created for coastal areas along the Gulf of Mexico and the East Coast. All IZ3 products are tested to endure wind-borne debris and intense changes in pressure. As a show of strength, IZ3 products must endure an 8-foot 2 x 4 stud shot at 50 feet per second.

To better understand the importance of a fortified home and disaster preparedness, we recommend visiting disastersafety.org for tips on weathering Hurricane Irene and future storms to come. Among other things, they have created this video that shows what hurricane-force winds can do to a home whose windows break compared with a home whose windows stay intact.

We sure hope everyone out there is safe!

According to the Wall Street Journal, citing the Producer Price Index, some of the most notable year-over-year price hikes for building materials include:

Copper (+23%) - used in many tools, interior design accessories and plumbing
Insulation (+6.25%) - a critical element to an energy efficient home
Asphalt (+4.5%) - used in foundation, driveways and landscaping

Price hikes put the onus on builders, architects and designers to be value-minded without compromising quality. We’re curious – even with building materials becoming more costly, how do you improve margins among difficult economic conditions?

According to the Energy Conservation Enhancement Project at Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, 20 percent of all electricity produced in the U.S. is used for lighting, but 50 percent of that electricity is wasted by inefficient lighting sources or careless consumers. Lighting-control systems, which long have been utilized in commercial buildings, have become affordable for the average homeowner. And today’s wireless lighting-control systems make installation easy and practical for renovators.

Easy-to-use lighting control systems make homeowners more likely to use only as much light as they need, only when they need it. Like most other energy-efficiency efforts, a single home deploying this technology won’t make much of an impact at a global level. But as these technologies become more affordable and more commonplace, it’s sure to make a dent in overall energy usage and all that comes with it.

Wired systems are better-suited for new construction because of the intricate wiring system that would be rather invasive where walls already exist. Wireless control systems are, obviously, less invasive, avoiding damage to walls. But they require batteries or some other power source and can cost more, which is the trade-off made for ease of installation.

The article from Qualified Remodeler offers more details about this family of products, including an introduction to several specific models you can choose from.

photo courtesy of LiteTouch Inc.

Via the New York Times, we found this cool product: it’s a bathroom in a box! From Bath Simple, it’s designed to take  the guesswork out of designing for bathroom building and remodeling.

Mr. Crowley’s answer is a “bathroom in a box,” with every item needed for the job — paint, tile, fixtures, tub — arriving in one crate, ready to install. Customers of Mr. Crowley’s new online company, Bath Simple, answer a few questions about style and budget, enter measurements, then choose all items needed for anything from a simple powder room to an elaborate master bath.

Almost everything you need is in the box, from appliances to paint. What do you think? Is this something you would take advantage of or recommend to your clients?

You’ve had a few days now to digest IBS. How was this year different from years past?
The show is clearly smaller. Theoretically, people attending are surviving and want information. They seem to have a thirst for new products and new ways to build better. More manufacturers are also embracing sustainability, but there is some suspicious messaging.

Were you able to speak with any builders or architects? How would you gauge industry morale?
I did some quick video interviews on the show floor and people were cautiously optimistic. They realize the boom will not be back, but they want to see continued health in the market.

What was the coolest home tech product you saw at IBS?
The coolest tech products would have to be the Q Motion remote control screen, and the two electric vehicle charging stations by Eaton and Leviton. No brainers! The Q Motion product is more like a window shade rather than a screen though.

On the same note, which green product(s) were you most impressed by?
Quite frankly, nothing really blew me away. I only saw some mildly interesting green things — an R5 window, an LED dimmer.

Any new tools or products that every builder should have?
Every builder needs a thermal imaging gun. It allows them to see air infiltration issues instantly. Plus, the imaging guns are a lot cheaper than they used to be.

Which home products are making the biggest strides in energy efficiency?
I think lighting technology and window glazing are two that are moving pretty fast. Companies can make windows almost as energy efficient as a wall from the ’60s, which is pretty amazing. The trick for manufacturers is making those super-efficient windows more affordable.

It’s fun to focus on the new home products, but conversely, what’s dying out?
That’s a good question. To me, not enough is dying out. We need to dump appliances with too many electronics and faux products that look nothing like the real thing.

Note: We conducted this interview via Twitter during the Builders’ Show, using the tag #buildchat to label and track the discussion. Follow @integritywindow on Twitter for information about upcoming #buildchat interviews we conduct. We hope to make a habit of this!