Furthermore, Consumer Reports found in its recent nationally representative telephone survey of 1,008 adults, that more than half of Americans who grill are doing so more than once a week in season.  Our Home Intel experts feel confident that with the anticipated trend in stimulating flavor boosts and experimental concoctions and the high number of Americans expected to be grilling, it is likely that consumers will be in search of the perfect accompanying BBQ supplies to get the job done.

With Father’s Day just around the corner, our team came across numerous holiday gift guides that highlight some of the latest and greatest gadgets for Dad this summer.  One of the most popular gift categories is outdoor supplies.  Many gift guides highlight tools for activities that Dads love most – one of these happens to be grilling.  In a few holiday gift guides, the Brookstone Heritage Professional Stainless Steel BBQ Tools Set was one product package mentioned as the essential grilling tool set that retails for a reasonable price.

Epicurious.com, an online news source for food enthusiasts that covers cooking, dining, drinking, entertaining and restaurant information posted an “ultimate,” guide for grilling gear this season.  Within the “ultimate list,” was a set of recommendations on the best brushes for basting, saucing and mopping food.  The website’s experts suggested that a brush with a long, angled handle is the best for getting into the nooks and crannies of food and that silicone bristles are the better choice because they are heat resistant, dishwasher safe and less likely to shed the way that synthetic bristles do.  Epicurious.com picked the “Grill Friends Super Silicone Angled BBQ Brush,” bbqproshop.com, as one of their “favorite,” picks this season.

No matter what kind of grilling you take on this summer, from traditional grilling to intense marinating and flavor pairings, our Home Intel experts recommend taking proper safety precautions at all times.  But, also remember to have fun, and don’t be afraid to spice things up a bit.  Bon Appétit!

• 2010 Outdoor Living Trends

This morning, we came across the idea of “Zero  Energy” again, so we thought we would share what the hype is all about. According to Consumer Reports’ Buzzword series, both residential and commercial buildings account for roughly 40% of the energy used each year in the U.S. Understandably then, there is a need to make existing buildings and new construction more energy efficient. Consumer Report points out that McKinsey & Company projects that “building and appliance efficiencies in new construction could reduce total annual carbon emissions by 710 to 870 million metric tons by 2030.”

You will be hearing more about Zero energy homes from Home Intel in the coming weeks, but for more information check this article out.

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Most consumers have heard the phrase, “There’s an App for that,” as it relates to the variety of Apps that iPhone makes available to its owners. In the home and building industry, that statement remains true for many home improvement needs. Our experts researched iPhone Applications that relate to this industry, and came up with a list of five top home improvement Apps for the year.

Handyman Sidekick

• Functions as a calculator for gardening, wallpapering, painting and flooring
• Converts and saves units of measurement for easy reference
• Eliminates the need for a contractor on small jobs and saves a few dollars by figuring the amount of needed materials for a project

ConsumerReports.org

• Serves as a trusted resource for consumer product testing
• Offers information on products for the home, and ways to get the best bang for your buck
• Great to reference before starting any home improvement project

Drywall Calculator

• Adds up the square footage of a room so you can quickly assess how much dry walling is needed for any room in the house

Home Sizer

• Calculates the square footage of a room or your home
• Can be used when designing a new home
• Offers a file manager to save data
• Offers a mortgage calculator to estimate monthly payments

Goal Tender

• Designed to keep home improvement goals and projects on track
• Allows you to write down and review your goals
• Allows you to track your success rates

The Fixer Upper Blog mentions these Apps and more in a list of 20 Apps that relate to home ownership, home maintenance, energy and technology. As the iPhone App trend continues to increase, our experts have begun research to find out what new tools will be available in 2010. We imagine that no matter what the job is, eventually there will be an App for that too! Check back in 2010 for new Apps that apply to the home and building industry.

• New iPhone Apps Save Time and Money on Home and Garden Projects

Courtesy of Brand New

Courtesy of Brand New

Courtesy of Brand New

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Due to the fact that traditionally male-dominated jobs in construction and manufacturing fields have contracted at a rapid rate over the past several months, more men are finding themselves staying at home and taking over household chores such as cleaning, laundry and cooking as they actively look for new professional opportunities.

According to the Consumer Reports Home & Garden Blog, the term “he-cession” can be used to describe the circumstances outlined above. According to the blog, a he-cession is “an economic downturn in which men are disproportionately impacted by unemployment.”

As marketers, it is important for us to keep this in mind when launching new products or simply trying to reach end users through advertising campaigns, in-store promotions, etc. With more men taking over household responsibilities, including shopping, we will need to consider what appeals to American men and how to best reach them. 

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