NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) — Lots of people, especially those trying to battle high utility bills, believe in energy-efficient homebuilding.

But there’s something holding green technology back: It simply costs more to include it than it adds to resale value.

Appraisals for newly built green homes do not fully reflect the cost of green technology, and the lower appraisal values mean buyers often cannot get the full financing they need from banks.

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I visited the Cincinnati Home and garden Show today at the Duke Energy Center. There were many great booths and new products this year, but the booth that really caught my attention was that of Jeff Mosby. Jeff is an artist and has done some incredible murals and portraits that everyone should see. Visit Jeff’s website for more information or visit his booth at the show.

Saturday we got this forecast from the Oracle of Omaha.

[Within] a year or so residential housing problems should largely be behind us, the exceptions being only high-value houses and those in certain localities where overbuilding was particularly egregious. Prices will remain far below “bubble” levels, of course, but for every seller (or lender) hurt by this there will be a buyer who benefits. Indeed, many families that couldn’t afford to buy an appropriate home a few years ago now find it well within their means because the bubble burst.

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Builders know from sales history which of their homes buyers prefer. They can access databases to find out which of their competitors’ homes buyers prefer. But that kind of analysis only reveals what buyers may choose from what’s available.

When consumers buy house plans, like Hanley Wood’s 10 best sellers shown on the following pages, they act out a dream. They betray a longing for timeless elevations, informal living, and luxurious master suites. They dream strongly enough that they pay money to buy the plan.

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Tampa, FL — According to a recent nationwide poll of Angie’s List members, 87 percent of respondents have plans for a home improvement project in 2010 and they plan to spend an average of 4.8 percent of their home’s value doing it.

“This optimism might surprise some given the state of the economy in the past year, but we’re encouraged by it and hope it’s a sign of better things to come in 2010,” said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List, the nation’s leading provider of consumer reviews on local service companies. “Clearly, homeowners plan to take steps this year to invest in their greatest asset, their home.”

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I would like to thank Troy Wolffis of Artisan Craft Homes for being a loyal customer. Troy has recently launched his new website and it looks great. Please visit his site and pass it along to friends and family that could benefit from his experience.

What Troy Designs and Builds:

• Casual Homes
• Rustic Homes
• Timber Homes
• Log Homes
• Natural Homes
• Hybrid Homes
• Green Homes
• Waterfront Homes

You can now purchase Great Lakes Superior Walls at ProBuild Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Research indicates that an uninsulated basement can account for over 33% of the total heat loss in your home.  That’s why Superior foundations feature insulation bonded directly to the concrete, resulting in high energy efficiency to help reduce energy costs.

Superior Walls add valuable living space with:

• Pre-insulated wall panels
• Concrete studs with holes for wiring and plumbing
• Galvanized stud facings for easy attachment of drywall
• Space for adding even more insulation

Trex Transcend Decking guarantees a fade and stain resistant finish. This product is going to be the hot seller this upcoming deck season and offers the end user the following.

• Unparalleled Beauty
• Hassle-Free Maintenance
• Fade, Stain, Scratch & Mold Resistant
• Earth-Friendly

As of January 4, 2010, ENERGY STAR qualified windows, doors, and skylights will meet new performance levels. It will still be easy to find high-efficiency products: just look for the ENERGY STAR label.

In the next few months, you will see two new labels to help you choose windows, doors, or skylights for your home:

Starting October 1, 2009, you might see the label shown on the right, in red or in black, in combination with ENERGY STAR product labels. This label identifies high-efficiency products that currently qualify for the ENERGY STAR but will not meet the more stringent requirements that go into full effect April 1, 2010.

The other new label helps you find products that are eligible for the federal tax credit of up to $1,500. The label to the left, already visible in stores today, tells you the product qualifies for ENERGY STAR and is also eligible for the tax credit.

Get information on the 2009-2010 tax credit for windows, doors, and skylights.

Fu-Tung Cheng is one the most sought after concrete designers on the planet. From countertop to fireplaces to water features and more, Cheng has made us all warm up to this once cold and passionless material.

If you want to experience the design of Cheng in your home you can now search for local contractors in your area that have been trained in the art of Cheng concrete manipulation. Just visit CHENG Concrete’s website and click on the “Find a Contractor” button.