11 Sustainable Products We Saw at Design & Construction Week 2026

Story at a glance:

• More than 110,000 people attended KBIS and IBS as part of the 2026 Design & Construction Week (DCW) in Orlando.
• DCW is the largest annual gathering of residential construction and design industry professionals.
• This in-person event spotlights new products, industry experts and numerous networking opportunities.

The largest annual residential construction industry show combined with North America’s largest trade show dedicated to kitchen and bath Feb. 17 to 19, 2026. This year’s expos took place in Orlando as part of the 2026 Design & Construction Week (DCW). The events drew more than 117,000 attendees from all over.

The year 2026 marked the 13th year that the NAHB International Builders’ Show (IBS) and the NKBA Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) shared a location as part of the excitement at DCW.

Sustainability was a key talking point across many of the 2,250 exhibitors at this year’s DCW. These are just a few of this year’s standouts from Design & Construction Week 2026.

1. Thermo Pre-Finished Wood by Maximo Wood

Maximo Wood, a GMX Group brand, debuted its Thermo Pre-Finished Wood product at this year’s IBS. Customizable wood innovations can now take architects and designers even further as their factory-applied finishing system offers up greater control over color, texture, and performance while still being real wood.

Maximo Pre-Finished combines thermal modification with advanced finishing technology to deliver a fully customizable solution for cladding, walls, and ceilings. Each board is processed under tightly controlled factory conditions, ensuring consistent color, refined texture, and long-term surface protection—eliminating the variability and limitations of onsite finishing.

The pre-finished wood benefits from automotive-grade polymer technology and refined coating systems that enhance durability while significantly reducing maintenance requirements. Water-based, low-VOC finishes meet California and international environmental standards.

The collection is available in four thermally modified species—Thermo Ayous, Scandinavian Thermo, Thermo Clear Radiata, and Thermo Ash and a number of diverse textures and transparent finishes.

2. CLiC On-Demand Privacy Glass by Cardinal Glass

CLiC On-Demand Privacy Glass continued to wow attendees as it attracted crowds across three days of the show. Excitement around the new CLiC advancements, including larger sizes and increased availability, was evident as attendees reported amazement over what would come next for the innovative, switchable privacy glass.

An increased desire for natural light combined with a continuing need for thermal protection and privacy led to Cardinal’s development of CLiC switchable privacy glass. “One of the more advanced subsystems in the smart home realm is lighting control. With products like CLiC you’re controlling not only the light you’re creating inside your house but also the light coming in from outside,” Pete Whaley, project manager of product integration and stakeholder experience at Cardinal Glass, previously told gb&d.

For years Cardinal researched the advantages of existing products and evaluated many different material sets before ultimately finding a chemistry that allows them to make CLiC switchable privacy glass that is clear at all viewing angles. “We developed our own formulation of a liquid crystal that gets applied directly to the glass with no film in between—just a piece of glass, the liquid crystal, and then another piece of glass,” Whaley told gb&d. “It’s much clearer than any other switchable glass on the market.

3. 10-Foot OSB Panel by Arclin

Arclin unveiled its latest fire-resistant building solutions, including a new 10-foot Firepoint OSB panel. The proprietary fire-resistant sheathing provides up to 90 minutes of protection—exceeding code by 53%—for tall-wall and multifamily construction, according to Arclin. The solution helps to slow fire spread and give people critical time to protect lives and property. New panel sizes, including 4-by-9 feet and 4-by-10 feet, make it ideal for tall-wall and multifamily construction.

“We spend a lot of time listening to what builders are telling us, about taller walls, tighter schedules, and the need for solutions that fit naturally into the way they already build,” Bradley Bolduc, Arclin’s CEO, said in a press release. “What we’re showcasing this year reflects that feedback.”

4. HercuWall by Nudura

Built for long-term comfort and occupant safety, HercuWall has wind ratings up to 235 miles per hour and is three times stronger than traditional building materials.

“HercuWall is an innovative Insulated Concrete Panel system designed to streamline construction by eliminating costly, time-consuming steps. Pre-fabricated offsite and delivered ready to assemble and integrate concrete, HercuWall ensures faster, more efficient builds. With an impressive R31 insulation rating, it delivers up to 40% energy savings while offering exceptional strength, durability, and comfort,” says Gregory Garrison, business development specialist at Tremco CPG.

5. Modern Classic 7500 by Hörmann

Hörmann showed a representation of its full line of contemporary, traditional, and carriage model doors at this year’s IBS. The Modern Classic 7500 is a perfect fit not just for contemporary design; it offers up almost endless customization, with 30 panel designs, nine modern colors, and 10 glass options to choose from.

The industrial strength, modern aluminum garage door is one of Hörmann’s top models for enclosing outdoor living areas or for a new garage door to complement the architecture of a modern home. With its completely clear panel, this modern and architecturally refined garage door instantly boosts a residential project’s curb appeal.

6. Old Town Traditions by General Shale

Old Town Traditions are fired clay thin brick designed for modern aesthetic needs. The new colors and textures are at home in any application—commercial or residential, interior or exterior.

“The Old Town Tradition thin brick collection is a new thin brick lineup introduced for the design community, serving up an aged finish with its tumbled texture,” says Nick Forsberg, digital marketing and sustainability manager at General Shale.

Forsberg says the diversity of products that continues to be offered from General Shale builds upon the company’s longstanding commitment as an industry leader for sustainable building materials in design. “We had great conversations on this at the show and look forward to continuing our activation of our solutions in 2026,” he says.

7. AeroBarrier by Aeroseal

AeroBarrier from Aeroseal works like a pressurized building; air inside a balloon is at higher pressure than outside. If there are leaks in the balloon, the air inside will find the leaks and escape outside. AeroBarrier’s atomized sealant uses the same principle. It follows the pressurized air escaping the building to the outside and seals the leaks.

The proven system offers up automatic air leak sealing solutions for residential new construction single and multifamily homes for building envelopes and Aeroseal duct sealing product for HVAC ductwork.

8. Intelli-Balance Elite+ Series by Panasonic

The Intelli-Balance Elite and Elite Plus+ efficiently exchange heat in temperatures as low as -22 degrees Fahrenheit, achieving an impressive 90% sensible recovery efficiency (SRE) rating and reduced cubic feet per minute (CFM) loss at static pressure. Built for year-round performance regardless of climate, these advanced ERVs continuously exchange stale indoor air with fresh, filtered air while recovering energy to cut heating and cooling loads.

Each unit is engineered to meet ASHRAE Standard 62.2 and current building standards, supporting code compliance, healthier indoor environments, and long-term energy savings.

9. Rinnai Electric Heat Pump Water Heater (REHP) by Rinnai

Rinnai now offers one of the most efficient and sustainable residential water heating solutions available. The Rinnai Electric Heat Pump Water Heater (REHP) delivers consistent hot water by extracting heat from the surrounding air and converting it to hot water while producing zero emissions.

Designed for simple, flexible installation, REHP is duct-ready for indoor use, requiring zero clearance for tight indoor spaces and boasts an industry-leading variable speed fan for whisper-quiet operation. REHP is available in 50-, 65-, and 80-gallon models. The eco-friendly solution also qualifies for numerous rebates.

10. 24-Inch Top Control Dishwasher by Midea

Available in May 2026, this premium dishwasher from Midea is a game-changer, with STRAWash and SENSOR TruDry technology.

The innovative dishwasher is thoughtfully designed to thoroughly clean a reusable bottle, with dedicated jets to clean inside reusable straws and tall tumblers, plus a dedicated zone for lids. It also features a cycle that gets dishes fully clean and dry in just one hour. The SENSOR TruDry intelligent drying system detects moisture and removes it for cabinet-ready dishes with minimal condensation. A three-level washing system includes an adjustable middle rack to ensure full-coverage cleaning across every level.

11. Bonacci Bath Collection by Delta Faucet Company

The Bonacci Bath Collection was among several new kitchen and bath collections on display from Delta Faucet Company at KBIS this year.

“At Delta Faucet we don’t just make fixtures; we create the centerpiece of some of the home’s most meaningful moments, from that first cup of coffee to unforgettable entertaining to everything in between,” says Melissa Tate, director of Delta Brand Marketing at Delta Faucet. “Our latest collections merge thoughtful technology with timeless design and intuitive functionality, creating products that inspire and solve problems in daily routines.”

Available in spring 2026, the Bonacci Bath Collection was inspired by nature and retro revival, bringing the tranquility of nature into the built environment with soft lines and elegant curves.