[vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]This weekend the 14th annual Lackawanna Home Builders Association (LHBA) Home Showcase was held at the Steam Town Mall in Scranton, Pa. This regional show has grown in popularity over the years, attracting thousands interested in remodeling or building fresh. Over 100 different vendors, displaying everything from cabinets to decorative blue stone were present, making this show the biggest to date.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]State Senator John Blake, joined the executive board of directors to officially open the show at noon on Saturday. Senator Blake addressed the crowd on the importance of the housing industry for our regional and local economies before sawing the ceremonial 2×4 to officially start the event.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Cabot sponsored this event to educate patrons about the benefits of domestic natural gas. Each showcase visitor received this pamphlet highlighting some of the things you don’t see about domestic natural gas. In particular:
- Natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel. Increased utilization has decreased the nation’s carbon footprint to early 1990 levels. This significant drop is reducing smog, acid rain and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Produce regionally; the cost of natural gas for consumers is really low. In fact, over the last 3 years the average consumer in the Wilkes-Barre Scranton area has experienced a reduction of 40%.
- For the first time ever, more electricity is being generated with natural gas instead of coal.
Cabot also sponsored “It’s a Snap” a Lego building contest for children held Saturday afternoon. This competition gave 40 children one hour to build a creative house. Each participant had an identical box of legos and architects and engineers present for the show were brought in as guest judges for the competition.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_single_image css_animation=”” image=”3302″ border_color=”” img_link_large=”” link=”https://wellsaidcabot.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/LHBA.png” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”large”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]The top three houses in each age group received prizes to stores in the mall, while every participant received a well designed certificate of participation. All of the homes built during the competition were displayed throughout the show. Visit the LHBA Facebook Page for great photos from the day.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Interesting fact, the famous legos used in this competition are more connected to natural gas than you may realize. Today’s Legos are made of acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). This plastic is revered for its moldable flexibility and durability, among other things. ABS is derived from acrylonitrile, butadiene, and styrene all of which are derivates of oil and natural gas:
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]Acrylonitrile is a synthetic monomer produced from propylene and ammonia; butadiene is a petroleum hydrocarbon obtained from the C4 fraction of steam cracking; styrene monomer is made by dehydrogenation of ethyl benzene — a hydrocarbon obtained in the reaction of ethylene and benzene.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]In case you were wondering, ABS is also widely used in musical instruments, golf clubs, medical devices for blood access, luggage and automotive applications.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row animation=””][vc_column width=”1/1″][vc_column_text]To see more photos from the event, please visit our Flickr site.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]
