Jun. 1--Demand for "green" products that protect the environment and save energy is coloring the way local builders and remodelers do business.

Some are responding with lower ceilings, dual-flush commodes, spray- on insulation that seals houses like envelopes and countertops made from glass rescued from trash containers.

"Our guys are very open-minded to building green," said Kay Vinzant, executive officer for the Heart of Texas Builders Association. She said green construction "will be a huge topic of conversation" at a meeting of the Texas Association of Builders she's attending in Austin this week.

"The upcoming trend is the green home. It may cost 10 to 20 percent more to build, but you benefit in the long run," said Mark Kettler, president of the Heart of Texas Builders Association and a homebuilder.