Monday, January 30, 2012

CFLs Suck Update

There is quite a bit of anecdotal evidence that CFLs can cause seizures, rashes and cancer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fluorescent_lamps_and_health

I know some people who "hate the light" from CFLs.   Since the color problems have been mostly solved, I think the subliminal flickering is what they object to.

Unfortunately, these problems are also shared with high performance T5 & T8 fluorescent tubes, which are very efficient and economical.  Affordable and long lasting LED tube replacement bulbs are coming eventually, so I'd still recommend tube fixtures where appropriate.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Single Family REITs

If you have been following this blog, you know that I'm advocating the rebuilding of "inner ring suburbs" vs. new subdivision development.

A new report from Morgan-Stanley picks up on a trend I've noticed in the past few years in Southwest Denver:
That rents are now much higher than ownership costs.

Right now is a rare time in history that institutional investors can make an exceptional return by investing in single family homes.

When it's time for the REITs to sell their assets, the idled large homebuilders are the logical buyers.