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]

It makes sense. Without the housing boom engine powering sales, builders all over the country have to re-tool their plans. Of course, we’re not saying that a few years ago, only shoddily built homes were going up. Let’s face it — this recession has mostly kicked those sorts of builders out of the sphere.

But maybe other builders — good, honest builders — who had to focus on maximizing sales, sometimes to the detriment of quality and service. It’s important to make hay while the sun shines after all.

So maybe we should attempt to see the (very slight) silver lining of this recession: maybe it is bringing homebuilders back to high quality building and products, and allowing them to focus on giving customers the best service possible.

What do you think? Has the housing market helped you maximize value for your customers? Do you think this trend (if that is what it is) will stick around when the market recovers?

Check out WSJ’s post for more.

Solar cells from jellyfish? Inhabitat covered this emerging idea. Basically, it works like so: “The green fluorescent protein (GFP) that makes the Aequorea victoria glow is simply dripped onto a silicon dioxide substrate between two electrodes. The protein works itself into strands between the electrodes. When ultraviolet light is shined on the circuit, voila, the GFP absorbs photons and emits electrons, generating a current.” And don’t worry: jellyfish aren’t endangered. As a matter of fact, their overpresence can throw off an ocean’s ecosystem.

DIY Life asks “Are Mushrooms the Hot New Building Product?” We have to know too: are they? Mycelia, a fungus is apparently durable and easy to produce, might just be. A California artist recently built a structure from it and, who knows, someday you might, too. According the DIY Life, what makes mycelia so green is that it is “incredibly strong, water-resistant, non-toxic, hypoallergenic and 100% biodegradable.” Oh, and it has superior insulation qualities than most materials on the market today.

It’s not exactly a building product, but it is inspired by a product we all need to have around: the toilet plunger lamp. Perfect for bathroom decor and a fun project if you are so inclined.

All images are from linked blogs.

It’s the Superconductor from Avanti and it contains a fridge, sink, two electric burners and two drawers. It even has a nice backsplash. In one tiny bit of space, you can store perishables and other food, cook on a stovetop and even wash dishes. Add in a microwave and a toaster oven, and you could have a complete kitchen that could go in a corner of your house.

The Superconductor could work for a variety of situations: dorm rooms, apartments with roommates, offices, even regular homes that need a little more kitchen power.

Is this compact wonder something your customers might go for? Would it be something useful for very small apartments? Or is it just a cool toy?

Consider these findings from a recent study of older Americans (age 55 and up) by the Mature Market Institute:

• Nearly two-thirds (63%) plan to stay in their current home as long as they can. That number rises to 78 percent for those aged 75 and older
• Eight in 10 prefer a single-story home to a two-story or split-level, with 75 percent preferring to have the master bedroom on the main floor
• Windows that open easily rank among the top features that consumers said would help them remain in their homes longer, with 81 percent of consumers citing them as important. Other key desired features include a washer/dryer (90%), ample storage space (84%), and an easily operated thermostat (73%)
• Energy efficiency also ranked high on the list of desired features, with 73 percent of consumers saying that features such as windows with low-emissivity glass and EnergyStar-rated appliances are important to them

Those findings highlight why more than 80 percent of the builders surveyed in the same study indicated that they included Universal Design features in their 55+ community homes.

These features include:

• Wider doors and hallways
• Lever door handles
• Lower kitchen cabinets
• Larger medicine cabinets
• Attached garages with garage door openers
• Non-slip floors
• Larger medicine cabinets
• Easy opening windows

Recent census data shows that more than 29% of Americans aged 64 and over suffer some form of physical disability that makes it difficult for them to climb stairs, open doors and windows, or use a historically designed bathroom. That number reinforces the need for Universal Design when it comes to home building and remodeling for an aging – yet still independent – population.

For more information on Universal Design, visit the Center for Universal Design.

Photo courtesy of Susan Serra Associates via Flickr.

In today’s first video report, Lou shows us:

• DuPont’s new roof liner, a replacement for tar paper
• Corian countertops, available in several new styles
• Leviton’s new dimmer that actually works for dimming compact fluorescent light bulbs
• Marvin’s gorgeous wall of glass, the new Ultimate Lift and Slide Door

Stay tuned this week for more video reports from Lou and other updates from Marvin’s team at the show.