The editorial staff of The House Designers has spent several months working with their architects, designers and builders to find out what green building products they would recommend to consumers looking to build their dream home. Here is our list of Top 10 Green Home Building Products for 2009 based on performance, innovation and design:

1. GE Hybrid Water Heater

The new GE® Hybrid Water Heater is the first water heater to be ENERGY STAR® rated and the first to be listed on the U.S. Department of Energy‘s website. This new energy efficient heat pump electric water heater can reduce energy expenses up to 62%, saving as much as $320 annually on energy bills.

2. ALNO Kitchen Cabinet

The ALNOCLASS kitchen cabinet collection lowers the carbon footprint, while delivering high style and cutting-edge technology. The door fronts are constructed of 100 percent sustainable oak from FSC-certified forests and its matte lacquer finish is free of VOCs. Those looking to spice it up a bit can add a mobile multifunctional niche unit that keeps your most important kitchen utensils within arm’s reach. The best part is that the glass cover, which is used to conceal the components when not in use, can be outfitted with your choice of colored LED light fittings.

3. Benjamin Moore’s Green Promise® products

Benjamin Moore continues to grow its portfolio of Green Promise® products, which includes Aura, high–performance low–VOC paint; Natura Zero-VOC interior paint, which is considered one of the greenest and safest paints available in the residential market. The Green Promise® designation is Benjamin Moore’s assurance that its environmentally friendly coatings meet and exceed the strictest industry standards, while also delivering the premium levels of performance and color you would expect from Benjamin Moore. But how did they get to be so green? The reason is the combination of both the base paint and the colorant. In addition to Aura and Natura, the Green Promise line also includes Aura Bath & Spa, Waterborne Ceiling Paint and ben.

4. Brizo faucets and showers

Brizo®, the luxury brand of Delta Faucet Company (DFC), brings eco-friendly elegance into the home with a line of products that are both environmentally responsible and aesthetically pleasing. Showcased at the 2009 Kitchen and Bath Industry Show, the new Brizo green platform includes a range of water-efficient products with luxurious and sustainable design. Many Brizo lavatory faucets, such as the Vesi® Channel and Vesi Curve design, flow at 1.5 gallons per minute (gpm) at 60 pounds per square inch (psi), saving approximately 30% of water. In the kitchen you’ll find many product lines featuring its new SmartTouch technology, which allows the user to turn the water on and off with just a tap anywhere on the spout or handle. The faucet’s hands-free functionality allows users to easily wash hands, dishes or food without ever touching the faucet. With this new technology, homeowners are able to conserve water and energy by activating water only when needed, saving an average of 0.3 gallons of water per minute.

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Designing a small bathroom in a small house plan can be tricky, but I found lots of ideas in this great article.

I only have eight foot ceilings, but I ordered a mirror that goes from the sink all the way to the ceiling and painted vertical wide four inch stripes on the walls in off white and light tan and my small bathroom looks amazing. Thanks House Designers for helping make my small space look great and with a minimum budget.

I recommend checking out their Product Ideas section for great articles on everything related to building your new home.

Even though 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, less than 1% is suitable for drinking. It is important to conserve this natural resource by practicing moderation and installing water-efficient products in your home. Here are some helpful tips and practices so you can save water and live green:

1. Using toilets with High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) can save up to 22,000 gallons of water a year. Don’t use your toilet as trashcan, this only inhibits efficiency and uses more water.
2. Cutting a minute off your shower every day will save more than 900 gallons of water annually (based on a taking a seven minute shower). Purchasing WaterSense labeled 1.75 gpm showerheads can save your more than 7,500 gallons of water annually.
3. Using efficient faucets and installing low-flow aerators on kitchen and bath faucets will save hundreds of gallons of water each month without requiring any additional effort.
4. Use the appropriate water level and load size when doing laundry in your washing machine. For the most savings, purchase a frontload washing machine.
5. Use a broom rather than a hose to clean off driveways, steps and sidewalks.

For more top water saving tips and practices visit our Green Building section. For inspiring green kitchen and bath home designs visit our Green House Plans, which are all ENERGY STAR approved.

Affordable green house plan

These days, with all of the television programs available with great remodeling content showing you how to design and build the home you want to have, it really is a mistake not to fully consider doing the work yourself.

Now you may not be able to build a home from the ground up, but if you are looking toward redecorating, you certainly should think about becoming your own expert. The volumes of books you can purchase that are packed full of remodeling content will show you everything you need to know.

Designing small bathrooms is one of the areas for which many people desire information. You’re working with a small space, so using that space in the best possible way is the means of getting the most for your dollar. By all means, research the material and first consider your sinks and lavatories. Will you want a double sink or just one? Will you have bathroom counter tops that just cover the vanity, or will it stretch across the room?

You’ll want to decide these questions before you begin. Another main point to consider in your remodeling content is your bathroom flooring. Will you use ceramic tile, or will you use a laminate, or linoleum? While ceramic tile requires a great deal more work, the results can be stunning.

You may never have done ceramic tile bathroom flooring before in your life, but it is really not that difficult. The first thing you’ll need to do is consider whether the old flooring will have to be removed. If the floor is level, then you can probably leave it. Sub-floor material will be fastened to it.

You will then lay out your tile to get an idea where to begin and what the cutting requirements will be. Some people start in the middle and work to the walls, others start in corners and work out. Which ever you choose, work slowly and carefully and your floor will look great when you’re finished. The reading material you use with all of the remodeling content will help a great deal.

Put down the recommended amount of mortar and place your tiles, spacing them with plastic spacers you can purchase. Allow the mortar to dry completely before attempting to begin working in the grout. Follow the instructions in your remodeling content manuals.

There are many bathroom tips and trends that will help you on your way.

You can work like a professional if you just take a few tips from the pros. There are lots of horror stories about hanging wall paper, but it is not difficult at all if you follow the instructions provided in your remodeling content materials.

Above all, be patient and don’t try to do too much in a hurry. To do bathroom wall covering properly, it is going to require diligence and careful work. When you’re finished you will be proud of the work you have done and it will be admired by everyone who sees it.

When you look for bathroom wall covering, make sure you buy a quality paper. It will not serve you well to cut corners when it comes to buying your wall paper.

Your remodeling content materials will show you lots of choices so be sure to do a little research before you buy.

It is always best to get all of your materials together before you begin. If there is old bathroom wall covering to remove, take it off completely and be sure there is no remaining residue. Clean the walls thoroughly before attempting to put up the new paper.

Carefully measure the length of your walls and picture how the bathroom wall covering is going to be hung. It is always best to begin in an inconspicuous corner, for example, the corner closest to the bathroom door. It will be out of sight when you enter the bathroom, so any mistakes will be hidden there.

Consult your remodeling content materials for any tips they might offer. Cut the paper leaving an inch above the ceiling, and an inch at the floor. You may want to mark a vertical line on the wall using a level so that you will know the paper is straight. Leave about an inch of paper beyond the corner and then proceed. You’ll be finished before you know it.

Another important item to consider is toilets. Will yours be a round or an oblong model? How tall will it be? Will you use a water-conserving model? What color will you want for your new bathroom? Another important element is your bathroom countertops.

The color and style of this remodeling content offers many choices. You may want to consult a book of bathroom design tips and trends that can offer a great deal of help with its remodeling content. Help is all around you.

When you are going to take on the big task of remodeling your home, it is an excellent idea to read first. There are many books and magazines available with great remodeling content that will give you step by step instructions on everything from flooring to ceiling fans, from faucets to wall coverings.

If you have conquered your own fear of doing the remodeling yourself, you are already half the way home. There is no reason with all of the help available that you cannot create the home of your dreams all by yourself.

A great place to start with your books packed full of remodeling content is the bathroom. You will first want to read about bath tub basics. You will probably want to remove the old bathtub. If you are lucky, you will be able to remove the tub without too many problems, provided there is enough room to do it. If you find the space is too small, you may be forced to demolish the tub where it is and then remove it.

If it is fiberglass, it won’t be too bad. If it is cast iron, that is a little more tricky. It is possible, believe it or not, to break the tub apart by using a sledge hammer. Keep in mind, however, that the energy you create by swinging a large hammer is going to go somewhere. Be sure you will not damage adjoining walls with the force.

While replacing the tub, this is a perfect time to consider designing your bathroom faucets. There are plenty of designs to choose from, just consult your magazines with remodeling content and find the type that suits your needs. Before setting your new tub, inspect the plumbing, both the water lines and the drain pipes to be sure there is no signs of leaking. You’ll want to take care of that before going any farther.

Your remodeling content books will have lots of information about bathroom counter tops as well. The overall design elements will compliment one another, so you will want to choose a counter top that makes the design flow together.

Depending on the size of your space, you may want to consider a counter top that reaches from wall to wall. That will create a great deal of space for you. Bathroom wall covering is very important as you will want to be sure it matches your entire color scheme.

Luxury is really in the eyes of the beholder. You might look at one bathroom and not see the beauty, while the person who owns it couldn’t be more happy. Bathroom tips and trends are wide and varied. You will want to consider a lot of before you begin your remodeling project.

This is work that can be done by virtually any homeowner, depending only on the amount of money you have to work with, and how adventurous you are. Do you really want to make terrific or just subtle changes? You are the designer, you are the creator, the contractor and the builder.

When you are building your dream home, the books you use containing all of the help tools will be very important to you. They will become your dear friends as you work through each project. Don’t step back from the task. Though it may be daunting, you are fully capable of fulfilling your ultimate dream.

You may want to begin by making a simple list of all the things you want to do with your bathroom. Include in your list all of the important items such as: sinks and lavatories, showers, bathroom vanities, bathroom flooring and bathroom wall covering. Itemize each one listing your choices for each. It is better to have all the details worked out before you begin.

Lighting up your bathroom with the newest trends in lighting will cause your new bathroom to be an inviting oasis for you and your family. The only problem will be finding the bathroom empty so you can enjoy it. Designing small bathrooms does not have to be a problem if you only have a small space to work with. Once again, your magazines and Internet information will help you a great deal.

What you want most for your new bathroom is that the resulting project is exactly as you dreamed it would be. Have you ever considered putting a ceiling fan in the bathroom? If the space is large enough, a slow moving fan can be just the right touch for that feeling of relaxation you are looking for after a long tough day.

Every part of your new bathroom including designing your bathroom faucets around your design theme is very important. Each component in the bathroom adds to the final delight. You will begin to understand that remodeling is a job you can do, so go ahead and begin.

Since most bathroom countertops are custom made, you can be very creative with your specific bathroom decor. There plenty of different colors, patterns, and materials to pick from.

Plastic laminate is available in virtually any color and texture. It is the most commonly used and least expensive.

Ceramic and porcelain tile would be the most versatile material to use for your countertop. You can create specific looks, such as contemporary, retro, traditional, rustic, country, and more.

Corian and solid surfacing is made of either a pure acrylic product or a polyester-acrylic mix. The most common is Dupont’s Corian, which is 100% synthetic.

Granite slabs hold their weight and look great, but cost the most. If you truly want the look of granite, but can’t handle the cost, try opting for granite tiles.

Composite stone is a rival to granite and has become very fashionable. It is a synthetic stone composite made of 90% quartz particles and 10% acrylic or epoxy binder.

Finally, although wood is attractive and versatile, it is very vulnerable to water damage and is hard to clean – especially in the bathroom. If you really want a wood countertop in your bathroom be sure it’s well sealed with polyurethane or marine varnish.

Read the entire bathroom countertop article here