Mayor Bill White has announced that the City of Houston has embarked on a project expected to significantly improve the energy efficiency of 271 City buildings. Mayor White and the Houston City Council have signed a contract with Siemens and T.A.C. committing these 271 City facilities, totaling approximately 11 million square feet, to the Clinton Climate Initiative’s (CCI) Energy Efficiency Building Retrofit Program.

“Energy efficiency building retrofits provide cities with an opportunity to address the catastrophic effects of climate change in practical and significant ways, which is a key goal of the Clinton Climate Initiative” said President Clinton. “I am pleased to work with Mayor White and the City of Houston in this large-scale retrofit of the City’s municipal buildings. Houston is not only positioning itself as a leader in energy efficiency and urban CO2 reductions, but is helping to raise the benchmark for cities around the world, and is setting a practical example for other cities working with CCI.”

Town Center Park and Executive Offices
Kingwood, Texas

There are many reasons that residents love living in Kingwood,  however, one of the landmarks that gives the Kingwood community a flavor all its own is Town Center Park.

Located on the Southwest corner of Kingwood Dr and West Lake Houston Parkway, Town Center Park is truly the heart of Kingwood.  

Tucked within a retail and office strip, patrons stroll the park after dining at a Town Center restaurant, take some air while walking their dog, and chat with friends at one of the many community events held at the park throughout the year.

Taylor Alvarez glams up with boa and tiara at "Model for a Day" sponsored by 5th Avenue Bowtique.   Photo by Portrait Playland.

A bevy of beauties descended on Town Center Park in Kingwood on October 11th for a day of glamour and fun.  They came to participate in the "Model for a Day" sponsored by 5th Avenue Bowtique of North Houston.

Eden Grimm is the owner and principal designer of 5th Avenue Bowtique, a business specializing in custom children's clothing and accessories.

"The event began as a model search for product photos for my online store," Grimm explained.  There was such an overwhelming response from area families that the day was expanded to include mini photo sessions for all who wanted to participate.

While it may not be "looking a lot like Christmas," Kingwood residents make up for the lack of snow with plenty of Christmas cheer.

From full blown Christmas festivals, concerts, and nativity displays, there will be plenty of ways for everyone to get into the Christmas spirit.   Santa is scheduled to make appearances all around town, so get your Christmas lists ready.

Green Organizing

Reduce

We have a choice for conscious consumption by thinking through the purchases we make.  We can choose to reduce the volume of items coming into our home by having an awareness of the effects of our purchases.

These purchases can become clutter and create a log jam in the flow of items in our home.  With large quantity comes the need to find storage so that these do not become clutter.  In the Depression the saying “use it up, wear it out, make do or do without” was how each home was run.

Currently, we choose to focus on relationships and experiences rather than “stuff”.  With our economy, reducing means frugality as well.  “A penny saved, is a penny earned" and for many people that adds up to $1.33 earned dollars.  Think through your purchases on many levels to honor what is most important to you.