Hy-Lite^®, the leader in prefabricated privacy windows, showcased the company’s multipurpose acrylic block and decorative glass windows at the 2011 International Builders’ Show. The company explained that builders and remodelers looking to add more value, decorative appeal, and natural light to a home or apartment are increasingly turning to operable acrylic block and decorative glass products from Hy-Lite^®, a U.S. Block Windows Company. The fully customizable windows come in a broad range of sizes and styles, helping homeowners to add natural light and fresh air to a room without sacrificing privacy. Operable acrylic block windows are Energy Star-qualified in most areas of the country and make privacy a breeze in kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, hallways, and other living spaces. Hy-Lite’s windows are backed by a limited lifetime warranty. The windows, along with a free style and size guide, can be found at www.hy-lite.com.

James Hardie Building Products (NYSE: JHX) has been providing innovative, cement-based building products for more than 100 years. Today, James Hardie is recognized as the world leader in fiber cement technology and places a special emphasis on product quality and production efficiency to develop durable and low-maintenance building products that have a baked-on color finish and are engineered for your specific climate. Whether working with traditional or contemporary designs, homeowners rely on James Hardie® products to enhance homes’ beauty and style. The unique online design tool allows you to mix and match a variety of James Hardie siding products to create a customized combination of colors and textures.

With today’s tighter building envelopes, it is imperative that builders and contractors stay up to date on industry standards for ventilation systems in order to ensure good air quality inside the home. Longer duct runs and multiple elbows increase static pressure, which can reduce airflow. ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers) has set the industry standard for ventilation performance measurement at 0.25" water gauge for airflow. To meet this standard, Panasonic Home & Environment Company has introduced its third-generation WhisperGreen® line of premium ventilation fans.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, random air infiltration through gaps and cracks is a leading cause of energy loss in homes, accounting for 25–40% of energy loss in most residential structures. Fortunately, Dow Building Solutions (DBS) has been a leader in building envelope solutions, including air sealing and insulation, for over 60 years. Dow offers the broadest array of solutions for minimizing energy loss and moisture damage caused by air leaks, including FROTH-PAK™ Foam Insulation and Foam Sealant Kits, and GREAT STUFF PRO™ Insulating Foam Sealants and Adhesives. At the International Builders’ Show (IBS) 2011, the DBS booth featured a fun, fascinating, and interactive presentation about GREAT STUFF, which showed how the products work to fill gaps and cracks and how they can help to seal a home, increase energy efficiency, and save money.

Lutron Electronics Co., Inc., headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures lighting controls and automated window treatments for residential and commercial applications. Lutron products save energy and make light bulbs last longer, making them an eco-friendly addition to the home and office. Lutron estimates that the installed base of its products saves the nation nearly 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utility costs per year.

At the 2011 International Builders' Show, Kohler introduced a number of new products to meet the consumer demand for increased functionality, simplified aesthetics, and water conservation. Some of the product lines featured this year included Karbon, Loure, and Stance faucet collections. These collections are sleek and stylish and can reduce the water consumption by 30% without sacrificing performance. This year Kohler also featured a digital thermostatic showering system.  The DTV II uses a one-piece interface design that provides convenient control of the menu-based navigation system, allowing the user to program the shower's water temperature, spray settings, and lighting.

Therma-Tru Doors launched a variety of innovative advantages for building industry professionals at the International Builders’ Show. The energy-efficient fiberglass doors were matched up with decorative Fypon urethane millwork pieces to create stunning “entrance solutions” offering high style and low-maintenance appeal.

Merillat is committed to making life in the kitchen easier. Two of the latest innovative products from Merillat are the CoreGuard^TM Sink Base, which will keep undersink cabinetry dry and clean, and the CornerStore, which brings more storage and easy accessibility to the challenging corner cabinet area.

The ComfortLink™ II Thermostat from Trane is the company’s latest and most innovative offering. With its 7" interactive high-definition color touch screen, the product is the ultimate home comfort connection. Providing an intuitive user interface, the thermostat serves as an easy-to-use central planning center for the home, bringing year-round home comfort and control right to one’s fingertips. The ComfortLink II Thermostat will launch in early 2011 and, even before its official debut, has already been named a Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Best of Innovations 2011 Honoree and winner of the Popular Mechanics 2010 Breakthrough Award.

DaVinci Roofscapes®, the leader in synthetic roofing tiles, successfully showcased the company’s newest roofing colors and blends at the 2011 International Builders’ Show. The company exhibited its revolutionary Bellafortéline of interlocking and self-aligning slate tiles along with the company’s original polymer Slate and Shake roofing tiles.

In this gift buying guide, we look at innovative DIY tools that any DIYer or weekend warrior would love to have. The tools included range from a flooring saw that will allow you to make cuts in the same location you are installing your floor to a multifunctional sawhorse that has over one ton of clamping force. Each tool listed is a winner as a potential gift.