TCP is proud to have participated in the rennovation of  one of Boston, Massachusetts’, most notable landmarks - the Paragon Carousel.  TCP supplied the light bulbs for this project.  According to the Partners in Preservation web site,

“The Carousel, built in 1928 as part of Paragon Park, is one of just 150 hand-carved historic carousels left in the U.S. Now the centerpiece of Nantasket Beach, the carousel is the only ride from the Park left in Massachusetts”.

Web site visitors have from now, until May 18, 2009, to cast their vote for the landmark they think should be the recipient of a grant.  As of this date - the paragon Carousel is in 1st place!  So cast your vote today!

Last week, a TCP delegation was proud to travel to Washington, DC, to accept the 2009 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Lighting Product Manufacturer.

Presenting the award (left) is Richard H. Karney, DOE ENERGY STAR Program Manager.  Accepting the award on behalf of TCP is CEO, Ellis Yan (center), and Melissa Obradovic, TCP Energy Star Program Manager (right).

TCP, Inc has been an ENERGY STAR partner since 1999 and will be honored for its leadership in manufacturing CFL’s, Residential Light Fixtures and LED’s that earn the ENERGY STAR, the government backed symbol of energy efficiency. In 2008, TCP introduced over 140 new ENERGY STAR qualified CFL’s and 25 new ENERGY STAR qualified LED Decorative Light Strings.

Ohio Department of Health (ODH) Director Alvin D. Jackson, M.D., and Healthy Ohio Business Council Chair Joelyn Ridder presented the fifth-annual Healthy Ohio-Healthy Worksite awards last month in Columbus.

The Office of Healthy Ohio (OHO) recognized 27 Ohio businesses, including TCP, for healthy worksite practices.

“Out of all the companies that applied for this recognition, TCP is thrilled to have been chosen among the winners,”  exclaimed Christine Reda, TCP’s Human Resources Manager.

More than 70 companies, cities and townships applied for the 2008 awards which recognize Ohio employers that demonstrate a commitment to employee health through comprehensive worksite health promotion and wellness programs.

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.

The October issue of Small Business Magazine - Akron/Canton, features the Cascade Capital Corporation’s 14th Annual Business Growth Awards.  The award recognizes 48 companies throughout northeast Ohio that “fortify the strength of our regional economy.”

This is the fifth time TCP has won a Cascade Capital Growth award. 

Click here to read the complete article on TCP. 

As I have mentioned before in this blog, TCP is excited to be teaming up with EcoZone Media and CBS to launch a new program entitled the EcoZone Green Schools Initiave.  Earlier this week, Ellis Yan, CEO of TCP, was in Miami, Florida, to officially kick off the program.

One winning school in each targeted city will receive a green makeover valued at approximately $250,000 in products and services and overseen by a professional “green schools coach.”   Miami is the Initiative’s first market.

Interested students, teachers and administrators can enter the Green Schools Initiative by submitting a creative response that expresses what “being green” means to them, as well as filling out an application at http://www.ecozonemedia.com/greenmyschool/. Winners will be chosen by a committee consisting of members of EcoMedia’s Advisory Board and members of the CBS Corporation, and will be announced in January 2009. In addition to the grand prize, a sustainable environmental program will be provided to all participating schools through Miami non-profit Dream In Green.

Click here for a list of participating cities.

Today, October 1, marks the 4th annual ENERGY STAR Change a Light Day.  Since it’s inception, the Change-A-Light campaign is responsible for 1.9 million Americans having taken the pledge or for participating as one of the nearly 2,000 organizations that have driven pledges since 2006. Together we have collectively saved more than $220 million and prevented the release of more than 3 billion pounds of greenhouse gases with lighting alone.

TCP is proud to be one of the ENERGY STAR partners sponsoring Change a Light Day events and other activities. Click here for a more complete list of events on the ENERGY STAR web site.

To view a brief, but informative, video on CFLs featuring the n:vision brand visit HowStuffWorks.com.  

There’s a new web site - loseyourexcuse.gov - aimed at getting tweens and teens to actively look for ways to help save energy around their homes.  It’s cute, check it out.

We found another fun web site on Planet Green - part of the Discovery Channel’s network - called Battleground Earth.  Battleground Earth is an online game - the objective is to shoot as many incandescent lightbulbs as possible.  Good luck - it’s kind of addictive! 

TCP was recently featured in a Residential Lighting Magazine article on TCP’s energy efficient lighting sponsorship of MTV’s The Real World:Hollywood house.

And finally, for those of you old enough to remember Schoolhouse Rock, you’ll enjoy this :60 second video for Gulf Power.  This nostalgic piece encourages viewers to switch to CFLs.  Enjoy!

Find more videos like this on AdGabber

TCP founder, Ellis Yan, was recently named to Forbes Magazine’s List of 25 Notable Chinese-Americans. 

This is the first time Forbes has highlighted top Chinese-Americans in it’s publication.  This special Asian issue is available on newsstands now.