Mansfield Plumbing says that many of its high-efficiency toilets have 100% of their tanks and bowls manufactured in the U.S. Pictured, the WaterSense-certified Prestigio - 4 features a contemporary low profile, a pressure-assist flushing system that uses only 1.1 gallons per flush, glazed 2-inch trapway, one-piece construction and a SmartClose toilet seat. It qualifies for many water district rebate programs.

Delta Faucet Co. said more than 50% of its Delta bath suites feature showerheads and handshowers that meet the latest specification introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program, with a flow rate of 2 gallons per minute or less. By summer 2010, the company expects that 80% of its bath suites will feature an option to meet WaterSense requirements.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSense program released its final specification for showerheads on March 4, 2010, and manufacturers can now submit their showerheads for testing to earn the WaterSense label. Read more.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Home Design Trends Survey for the fourth quarter of 2009 found that residential architects continue to report declining business conditions, indicating that the housing market is not yet entering a full recovery phase. Without the rapid appreciation in home values seen between 1995 and 2005, design of kitchens and bathrooms has recently been somewhat more modest. Functionality is now preferred to more and larger kitchens and bathrooms within U.S. homes. Households are placing a premium on products and features that promote energy efficiency, and adaptability in the use of space for seniors and those with accessibility concerns. Here are index scores on kitchen products and features computed as % of respondents who reported increasing minus those reporting decreasing popularity.
 

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DCS by Fisher & Paykel launched its 36-inch side-by-side refrigerator with a beverage chiller and a tri-sensor control system that supports a three thermostat system to ensure more accurate regulation of temperatures for the freezer and fresh food compartments. ENERGY STAR approved, it uses 20% less energy than required by current federal standards. Other features include: hidden hinges, counter-depth design to install flush with cabinetry, 13.5 cubic feet of refrigerator space and 8 cubic feet of freezer space.

California Faucets offers a collection of multifunction handheld showers in four finishes: polished chrome, polished nickel, satin nickel, and oil-rubbed bronze, all with matte black shower faces. They are available in designs from traditional to contemporary. The traditional style has the option of adjusting for jetted, massage and a champagne spray, which delivers a lighter, more soothing experience. The contemporary style has jetted and massage-spray settings.

Meyda Custom Lighting creates the Quadrato family of fused and art glass pendants with blown glass cylinders surrounded by decorative art glass or fused glass in rectangular shapes. These lights can be suspended above a kitchen counter or table. Pictured are 5-inch square pendants in (L-R, top to bottom) Noir, Branches, Times Square and Amber. Other colors and styles include:  Cabernet; Red; Purple Swirl; Cinnamon Swirl; Blue; Green; Magma; Parade; Mist; Raindrop; Window Pane; Reeded; and Fluted.

Tile Redi, a manufacturer of pre-formed, one piece shower pans, has designed Redi-Flash to protect the small area between the top of the Tile Redi shower pan splash wall and the shower's backerboard substrate. This aluminum guard sits on top of the shower pan and rests flush against the substrate, eliminating the potential threat of shower water overflowing the splash wall or penetrating down behind the finished tile work.

Greening Steam: How to Bring 19th-Century Heating Systems

into the 21st Century (and save lots of green!)  -  $30

Author: Dan Holohan

This book walks you through your old steam heating system and shows how to get the most out of it without investing a lot of money. Learn how small changes can make a big difference. More on this.
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