TCP, the leader in compact fluorescent lighting products, is the proud recipient of the North American Retail Hardware Association’s (NRHA) Gold and Silver Awards for their new promotional packaging. The promotional packaging is part of a larger branding initiative across all of TCP’s energy efficient product lines.

Extensive consumer research and testing was conducted as part of the project. “Having the most innovative technology and the highest quality is not enough. We focused on listening to the customer and designed packaging to fit their needs.” said Jim Connolly, Sr. Vice President – Retail Division at TCP. “This includes everything from how they choose the lamp to how they store it.”

“The idea was to make energy efficient lighting fun,” says Connolly. “The central element throughout both core and promotional items is the presentation of product features in the first person. Add in packaging configurations that are not traditionally used in lighting, and colorful, unexpected graphics and you have TCP’s new packaging.”

The NRHA Gold Award winner is TCP’s 13 watt T2 spiral. The callout “I fit everywhere” brings attention to the lamp’s exceptionally small size and universal fit and the unusual shape of the clamshell brings some fun to a traditionally conservative category.

The NRHA Silver Award winner is TCP’s 13 watt T2 spiral in a 4 pack clear cube. The clear cube allows customers to view the lamps before purchase to confirm they have the correct lamp size, base type and that there is no damage before purchase. The cube is easily re-sealable and can be conveniently stored or stacked unlike traditional clamshell products.

TCP’s new packaging was launched at this year’s Hardware Show in Las Vegas, NV and will be available at retail summer 2010. Promotional packaging is available now in select stores.

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 Episcopal Diocese of Ohio has implemented a unique program this summer entitled, “How Many Light Bulbs Does it Take to Change an Episcopalian?” The goal is to encourage energy efficient lighting at homes, offices and churches throughout the Diocese. TCP is proud to be collaborating with the Church on this endeavor.

Each church in the Ohio Diocese received 50 TCP compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) to give to members of the congregation to use in their homes. Members participating in the program are encouraged to switch more of their incandescent bulbs to CFLs. Each CFL saves $55 in electricity costs over the 9-year life of the bulb.

The churches are also replacing their own light bulbs in the sanctuary, common areas and offices. According to a recent article by the Youngstown Vindicator, sixty of the 95 churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio have already changed light bulbs.

Yesterday, EcoAlign released the results from their fourth EcoPinion study. Among the major finding were:

The “Energy Star” label is extremely important to 31 percent of consumers and is very important to another 37 percent, for a total of 68 percent of consumers indicating that the “Energy Star” label has value in regard to their purchasing decisions.

TCP knows the value of the ENERGY STAR label, too. That’s why we have over 400 ENERGY STAR rated CFLs, and residential fixtures. Visit our ENERGY STAR page to get the complete listing of TCPs ENERGY STAR items.

“This is the true story… of seven strangers… picked to live in a house…work together and have their lives taped… to find out what happens when people stop being polite… and start getting real…The Real World.”

The 20th season of MTV’s “The Real World” has decided to get real green by featuring environmentally friendly household and lifestyle choices and TCP, Inc. was there to light the way!

“Switching incandescent light bulbs to more energy efficient options is one of the easiest ways to help the environment,” said Chuck Aubrey, Real World: Hollywood production designer. “TCP understood our lighting needs and rose to the challenge by providing the lighting products needed to make this season’s Real World home, more energy-efficient.”

In addition to energy efficient lighting, “The Real World” house will boast other energy efficient elements, including bamboo flooring, solar energy panels, recycled glass counters, recycled, vintage décor, sustainable furniture, energy star appliances and a solar-heated swimming pool.

Last year, TCP was part of a team that re-lamped the main branch of the New York Public Library.  This success story is featured in the July issue of American City and County Magazine.

Click here to read more on how TCP helped this landmark building become more energy efficient.  We are so proud of this project, we used a photo of this endeavor in the header of our blog!

The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) is playing an integral part in helping cities implement climate protection programs by providing a purchasing alliance for cities that will make green products more accessible and affordable.  The partnership will enable an additional eleven hundred cities to gain access to volume discounts on energy-efficient and clean-energy products and technologies through CCI’s purchasing consortium. Previously, these benefits were available only to the , a group of forty of the world’s largest cities working in concert to fight climate change.

In 2007, efforts by The U. S. Conference of Mayors were critical to Congress passing the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG), which will allocate as much as $2 billion to cities every year for five years.  The funds would be used on climate protection initiatives, including energy efficient lighting in residential, commercial and industrial applications.  Once the funding is appropriated, cities can work with groups like the CCI to purchase products that will help reduce their carbon footprint.

TCP is proud to be working with the CCI on their new program for U.S. mayors by offering a variety of energy efficient lighting products to cities looking to retrofit existing buildings, or install new energy efficient lighting in new construction.

Although the U.S. Conference of Mayors labeled their annual meeting in Miami, June 20-24, as their first “green” annual meeting, the issue of climate protection is not a new topic for this group.  They’ve been on the front lines, more than 850 strong, pledging to make climate protection a priority in cities from coast to coast.

There is a new angle to how mayors are discussing climate protection.  Unlike previous annual meetings, when it was one item on the agenda, this year, the issue weaved its way through the entire conference.  Task force committees shared best practices for energy, sustainable freight, community trees, and water quality.

Beyond “greening” the meeting with hybrid transportation and green lodging, mayors were quick to discuss how climate protection is impacting other aspects of city government.  For example, when reviewing the economy, mayors shared how the emergence of “green” collar jobs and environmental technologies are helping cities offer new employment opportunities to residents and attract new companies.

Energy efficient practices, such as fluorescent lighting and solar panels, which were once only addressed around the topic of climate protection, are now being discussed as a way for cities to cut costs amid rising fuel prices.

The mayors are working with the business community to find innovative solutions that will benefit their residents and help our planet too.   TCP is a member of the USCM business council and a charter member of the climate protection council.  In this role, TCP can advise the mayors as they navigate the unchartered waters of making cities more sustainable.

It’s very clear – climate protection is no longer an issue that stands alone.  Its impact can be felt in nearly every aspect of city government.  This annual meeting is a strong testament to the progress they’ve made and a promise for greener, healthier, more livable cities and TCP is committed to helping their efforts.