Creating energy efficient upscale homes is the focus in an article by Fine Homebuilding Magazine.  In a special publication titled Energy-Smart Homes, the magazine addresses many home products that can be used for the home building trade.

The magazine has an article focused on energy efficient lighting, in particular the CFL.  The article addresses three concerns of the homeowner about the use of fluorescent lighting in their homes.  Using industry information, they have a great summary about the dangers of mercury that is needed to use the fluorescent lighting.  They state that there is mercury in many products used in the home, besides fluorescent lights and that the CFL has the mercury contained in the bulb.  Also that the mercury in the bulb is less than what is emitted into the atmosphere when energy inefficient lighting is used.  Secondly, the article also reports the steps to follow if a bulb is broken, without the need for a hazmat team to arrive.  And finally it addresses the range of color of the light that is emitted by the modern fluorescent lights.

Modern fluorescent lighting has come a long way from the flickering harsh light that were first introduced in the mid 50s.  The industry has worked hard to reduce the hazards and produced a variety of light colors to enhance our indoor environment.  It also has created more efficiencies by creating more variety and pleasing replacements for our standard incandescent lights.

It has reached an age of maturity that even the finest of homes are using them to reduce cost and save the environment.

This past weekend was all abuzz in Washington DC.  Not just getting ready for the inauguration, but it was also time for the 77th Winter Meeting of the United States Conference of Mayors.  TCP has attended these meetings since 2007, as a member of the Business Council.

We were able to see a lot of mayors there.  All working hard to come up with solutions to the problems facing cities today.  Their main concern is the economy that the country and its citizens are facing today.  They also have shrinking budget concerns, due to lowered home values and lay-offs by the companies in their respective areas.

They are the first line of action within the community.  The city staff is the first to come to the homeowners and businesses with aid and advice.  If they can.  Many times the crisis occurs and they are left trying to pick up the pieces.  Including the closing of businesses and banks that supported the lives of their neighbors.

During this meeting, the mayors exchanged support and ideas.  They also visited Congress and the administration to give advice and information about the needs of their communities. 

In particular, the mayors have submitted many proposals for projects in their communities.  These projects, along with county, state and federal proposals have been wrapped together into the American Recovery and Reinvestment Bill of 2009.  This is the bill before Congress now.  It is the bill that President Obama wants to have passed.  

 As part of the bill, the mayors want to have the money flow direct to the cities and not filter through their states.  Their thought is that working though the states will reduce the amount of money that the cities can receive and delay timing of the projects they want to proceed with, while the states work through the process of directing the money to the cities.   They all agree that this is a swift and efficient way to utilize the funding of the bill and jumpstart the changes within their communities. 

Go to www.usmayors.org for a look at the mayor’s Mainstreet Economic Recovery Plan.  Then stay and look at their blog http://usmayors.blogspot.com/, to understand their position with the stimulus package.

We at TCP have supported the Conference through sponsorship and information about the savings of energy efficient practices.  Of course our expertise is in lighting, but we also talk about what we as an energy efficient company has done or has heard about other products and/or practices.