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Leviton has announced the purchase of Home Automation Inc. (HAI), a privately held company that provides controls for residential and light commercial applications. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. HAI will enhance Leviton’s current home automation offerings by offering homeowners solutions that combine security, energy management and entertainment controls in user-friendly applications.

Indianapolis-based Eco-Roofs, a producer of environmentally friendly roof systems, has completed a 1,300-sq.-ft. green roof installation atop the four-story, 67-year-old College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences Building on the campus of Butler University in Indianapolis.

This is the first green roof undertaking for the University and was installed entirely by an all-volunteer crew of students, faculty and university staff, led by Eco-Roofs' accredited Green Roof Professional and project coordinator Pat Maloney.

Portland, Maine-based Hunter Panels announced its new "Hunter Xci" product line for use in exterior commercial wall applications. The launch of the Xci product line boosts Hunter's offerings of insulation products for the commercial building envelope.

"With recent upgrades to the I-Codes calling for continuous insulation, Hunter Polyiso is a perfect fit for commercial wall assemblies," said Alma Garnett, VP of Hunter Panels. 

Ray Schlosser, founder and president of Aero-Tech Light Bulb Co., of Schaumburg, Ill., did not build his “Made in the U.S.A.” campaign because it was the fastest route to profitability.

Fiberon, manufacturer of composite and PVD decking, railing and fencing, will be a major sponsor of the 2012 Katz Roadshow, providing educational clinics for leading progressive lumberyards.

Jacuzzi Group Worldwide, a manufacturer of bath and spa products, announced that it has expanded its product portfolio to include a new collection of energy-efficient tankless water heaters, which will be available exclusively at select Lowe’s stores and Lowes.com. 

Powered by natural gas or propane, Jacuzzi tankless units heat water as it is needed. They use up to 30% less energy than a traditional tank-style water heater.

Owens Corning Roofing & Asphalt has introduced its next generation of shingles designed to offer maximum durability. The new TruDefinition Duration Series Shingles are engineered with patented SureNail Technology to withstand the elements.

Abbeville, Ala.-based Great Southern Wood Preserving, Incorporated, the nation’s leading producer of pressure treated pine lumber, acquired the assets of the Rocky Top Building Products companies. 

With the asset acquisition of Rocky Top and other wholly owned subsidiaries of Rocky Mount, Va.-based The Franklin Group, Inc., Great Southern Wood Preserving’s distribution coverage now stretches from the Florida Keys to Texas to Canada including all or parts of 27 states and the District of Columbia.

Is that a small village near the banks of the Provo River? Actually, it's the HGTV Dream Home 2012.

The latest in the series of HGTV Dream Homes is in Park City, Utah, near the Provo River.

Lumber Liquidators and Sherwin-Williams are among the sponsors of the HGTV Dream Home 2012. Bissell vacuums and Delta Faucet Co. are also co-sponsors of the Dream Home, which serves as the grand prize in an HGTV promotional sweepstakes.

West Chester, Pa.-based Air King added the do-it-yourself, snap-in BFQ80 exhaust fan to its line of ventilation fans. 

The BFQ80 is an 80 CFM, 2.0 sone exhaust fan offering an Energy Star-qualified solution for residential ventilation needs, the company said.

“What makes the BFQ Series unique is the simple, one-person installation system,” said Jeff Kenkelen, president, Air King. “Most ‘traditional’ fans utilize either a hanger bar or mounting tab system, while the BFQ is installed using a convenient mounting bracket.”

Tax credits for energy efficiency home improvements like insulation, replacement windows, and upgraded HVAC systems will end on Dec. 31, and Congress has not yet renewed them for 2012.

This warning from the Alliance to Save Energy gives homeowners less than a month to take advantage of as much as $500 in tax credits on their 2011 federal tax returns.

Demand in the U.S. for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment is projected to increase 5.1 percent annually to $16.8 billion in 2015, according to a study just released by The Freedonia Group, a Cleveland-based market research firm.