Latest news with #lighting
Hans India
42 minutes ago
- Business
- Hans India
GHMC calls for fresh tenders on street light maintenance
Hyderabad: The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) standing committee, on Wednesday, has unanimously approved calling for fresh tenders for the comprehensive maintenance of LED street lights across the city. The decision was taken during a special committee meeting held at the GHMC head office. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi. With the expiry of the existing contract with Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), the GHMC electrical department presented two proposals before the committee – either to renew the contract with EESL under revised terms or to call for new tenders through a transparent bidding process for the comprehensive operation and maintenance contract. After detailed discussions, including a presentation by electrical engineer Venugopal Reddy outlining the shortcomings in EESL's previous service and the improvements proposed in the new tender, the committee opted for the latter. The new proposed tender will cover all the terms and condition which covers all the drawbacks and include phased replacement of existing lights, installation of new LED street lights, CCMS (Centralized Control and Monitoring System) boxes, and comprehensive maintenance of the entire street lighting infrastructure. Mayor Vijayalakshmi emphasised the need to ensure uninterrupted street lighting services in the interim and directed zonal commissioners to oversee maintenance until the new agency is on-boarded.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
City of Terre Haute announces new energy savings program
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)— The City of Terre Haute has announced the Indiana Energy Saver Program to help low to moderate-income households. This will be a statewide initiative aimed at helping residents reduce their energy costs and upgrade their homes with energy efficiency in mind. The program will be administered by the Indiana Office of Energy Development and will be supported by nearly $182,000,000 in federal funding. One part of the program available to all Indiana households is the Home Efficiency Rebate (HOME). This will offer rebates for whole-home energy efficiency upgrades that achieve at least 20% energy savings. Eligible improvements include insulation, air sealing, ENERGY STAR-certified HVAC systems, water heaters, appliances, and lighting. Households that earn less than 80% of the area median income may even qualify for rebates covering up to 100% of project costs with up to $18,000 in rebates. Another main part of the initiative is the Home Appliance Rebate (HEAR). This program targets low- and moderate-income households that make less than 150% of the area median income. It provides rebates for purchasing and installing energy-efficient appliances and necessary electrical upgrades. Eligible items include heat pump water heaters, heat pump HVAC systems, heat pump clothes dryers, electric stoves, cooktops, ranges, ovens, and electrical system enhancements. Maximum rebates for this program can reach up to $14,000. Homeowners and renters in single-family or multifamily homes are eligible to apply. Those who do must provide proof of income and residency. Households that participate in certain federal assistance programs such as LIHEAP, Medicaid, SNAP, and SSI may automatically qualify. 'This is about more than saving money—it's about dignity, opportunity, and long-term sustainability,' said Mayor Brandon Sakbun. 'The Indiana Office of Energy Development has played a critical role in keeping this funding alive and helping local governments like ours ensure that every eligible household can access it. We're proud to work alongside them to put these resources to work in Terre Haute and beyond.' To apply, residents can click this link and complete the pre-screening process. A representative with the program will then conduct an energy assessment to identify improvements and develop a plan for you. Rebates will be provided as upfront discounts applied to the cost of eligible products and installation services performed by qualified contractors. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Scoop
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
More Than 60 Landmarks In 22 Locations Across Aotearoa To Light Up Orange For World Vision 40 Hour Challenge
Press Release – World Vision An orange glow will light up across Aotearoa on the evening of 13 June, as 63 iconic Kiwi landmarks show their support for the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, the nation's largest youth fundraising event. This is the fifth year that a multitude of New Zealand's most recognisable monuments will shine orange to raise awareness for the fundraising campaign, which helps to make a life-changing difference to children around the world. This year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge is encouraging rangatahi to give up technology and go 'offline for 40 Hours' to unplug, disconnect, and get together with their friends and whānau while completing a challenge to raise funds for children who struggle to get enough to eat each day due to climate change in Solomon Islands. World Vision Associate National Director, TJ Grant, says young people today live very 'online' lives and that means going offline for 40 hours is the ultimate challenge. He says World Vision New Zealand surveyed participants who did the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge last year and half of the survey participants said a 'no tech' challenge would be the most difficult challenge for them. Some of the key monuments lighting up in Auckland during the World Vision 40 Hour Challenge Weekend (13-15 June) include Eden Park, Spark Arena, Vero Centre, Sylvia Park, and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre. Other key monuments lighting up across Aotearoa, include Christchurch Airport, Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin, The Michael Fowler Centre in Wellington, The Botanical Gardens in Christchurch, the Saxton Oval Pavilion in Nelson, and Queens Park in Invercargill. Unique and iconic landmarks lighting up orange this year include the tunnel at Wellington Cable Cars, the Big Carrot in Ohakune, the Big Fruit in Cromwell, the KZ1 boat at Auckland's Maritime Museum, and the corrugated iron Sheepdog in Tirau. Grant says he's overwhelmed at the number of landmarks supporting this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge. 'The challenge young Kiwis are taking on during the campaign weekend will help to raise funds that will feed families in Solomon Islands who are on the frontlines of climate change. Funds will give families tools and seeds to farm climate-smart crops, plant mangroves to protect their land from rising sea levels and restore fish populations and provide sustainable food sources for future generations to ensure children can grow up healthy and strong in a changing climate.' Owner of Vero Centre, Kiwi Property, says, 'We are proud to support World Vision's 40 Hour Challenge by illuminating the iconic Vero Centre halo in orange this June, helping to raise awareness for this important cause.' The World Vision 40 Hour Challenge takes place from June 13 – June 15. Sign up to take part in this year's World Vision 40 Hour Challenge, or donate, at: The full list of landmarks lighting up orange on 13-15 June includes: Arrowtown: Lakes District Museum & Gallery Ashburton: Clocktower Auckland: Eden Park, Spark Arena, Maritime Museum KZ1 boat, PWC Tower, Vero Centre, The Aotea Centre, Sylvia Park, Dominion Road, St. Peters Church (Onehunga), and Mānawa Bay Premium Outlet Centre Christchurch: Christchurch Airport, The Botanical Gardens, The Bridge of Remembrance, New Brighton Pier, Captain Scott Plaza, The Bowker Fountain (Victoria Square), Vaka a Hina, Memorial Gateway Bridge, Christchurch Town Hall Ferrier Fountain, Fanfare Sculpture, Christchurch Art Gallery Te Puna o Waiwhetū Cromwell: Big Fruit Dunedin: Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Airport, Golden Centre Mall (digital screens), Tuhura Otago Museum, Wall Street Mall, Otago Boys High School Gisborne: Gisborne Clock Tower Invercargill: Queens Park (Feldwich Gates, Band Rotunda, and Gala Street Fountain) Napier: The Gold of the Kowhai Sculpture and Tom Parker Fountain Nelson: Saxton Oval Pavilion New Plymouth: New Plymouth Clock Tower Oamaru: Oamaru Opera House Ohakune: Big Carrot Palmerston North: Hopwood Clock Tower Tauranga: Wharf Street Lights, Beacon Wharf, Masonic Park, Waterfront- North and playground, Tunks Reserve Te Aroha: Clock Tower Tirau: The Big Sheep Dog Waitaki: Craig Fountain Waitoma: Tree of Light Wellington: Michael Fowler Centre, Wellington Cable Car tunnel, Wellington Airport, Kelburn Park Fountain, Hikitia, Nga Kina sculpture and Promenades, Queens Wharf sails shades
Forbes
4 days ago
- Business
- Forbes
Negative Customer Reviews: How To Turn Challenges Into Opportunities
Resolving poor customer reviews Customer reviews and ratings play a key role in the customer journey, with as many as 98% relying on them to inform their purchasing decisions. When you know that your products and services are of exceptional quality, you would expect the majority of customer reviews to be positive. And it can be disheartening and frustrating when they aren't. However, negative reviews shouldn't be something to fear. Instead, see them as valuable opportunities to demonstrate your commitment to customer satisfaction and to improve your services. Dealing with poor customer reviews is a challenge that all entrepreneurs face at some point and something that Matt Little, founder and managing director of lighting company Festoon House, has done many times. The key, he says, is to approach them with a calm, constructive mindset and always be proactive in finding a resolution. 'A customer once posted a review claiming that the outdoor lighting solutions we'd provided weren't as bright as they had hoped, which we knew was something that could be impacted by different installation setups,' he says. 'Instead of taking it personally, I contacted them directly, listened to their concerns, and offered to send a technician out to reassess their setup and offer a solution that better met their needs.' It's important not to shy away from negative reviews but to address them promptly, offering a clear explanation or an alternative solution. Not all negative reviews are fair, but it is important to be professional and factual in any response. 'Keeping a respectful tone is essential,' adds Little. 'Acknowledge their frustration, offer to make it right, and use it as an opportunity to showcase your commitment to customer satisfaction. I've found that handling negative reviews in this manner often turns dissatisfied customers into loyal ones, and the public sees your professionalism too.' The key to dealing with bad reviews is not to see them as an attack, but as feedback that wasn't given during the job. Adrian Iorga, founder and president of Boston-based Stairhopper Movers has overseen countless moves and has had some tough reviews. 'One customer said that we 'rushed through' a small apartment move and didn't explain the charges,' he says. 'I called her and asked how she felt about the situation. She opened up right away. We clarified everything, apologized, and followed up with a note and a small gesture. She edited the review and has since referred three friends.' Iorga also tracks the reviews that have been turned around and shares the data with new employees during training to enable them to understand that following up after a job is equally important as lifting boxes. 'Since we began doing this, our review score has increased by 12% in 18 months,' he adds. 'A poor review doesn't hurt your business but ignoring it does. People want to see how you react when things go wrong. That's when trust starts.' A growing problem in the online review space is false or fake reviews that misrepresent genuine customer experiences and mislead potential customers. Dealing with disingenuous reviews is a challenge for business owners. Some take the path of least resistance and apologize with offers of freebies in exchange for the removal of the offending review. Challenging false reviews Tim Roberts, owner of No. Twenty9, a bar and restaurant in Burnham Market, Norfolk, takes a different approach with his response to false negative reviews. He challenges them. Opened in 2018, the venue has enjoyed growing popularity among locals and tourists alike, reflected in its predominantly five-star Trip Advisor reviews. Roberts estimates that bad reviews make up less than 1% of the total. He says: 'We have as many as 1,000 people drinking, eating, or staying with us every week, and the vast majority are delighted with their experience. But when someone leaves a bad review, making claims that aren't true and badmouthing your business, you have to deal with it.' What unscrupulous reviewers are unaware of is that Roberts' internal CCTV security system allows him to see everything that takes place on the premises. He says: 'Someone might give us a terrible review, saying they didn't like their meal, but I can see that they cleared their plate, and I will point that out in my response. Others have complained about the service, claiming they had to wait 40 minutes between courses. But I know they didn't. I can tell them exactly how long they waited, to the second.' When someone does have a genuine complaint, Roberts asks the customer to message him privately to resolve it. 'If we've done something wrong, I'll be the first to admit it and sort it out,' he says. 'However, the customer isn't always right, and I refuse to let people get away with making false allegations in public. I can never understand restaurants that respond to false negative reviews with 'We are so sorry, please reach out to us.' My advice to them is to grow a pair and tell them what they really think.' As COO of Bates Electric, Andrew Bates has overseen hundreds of projects across the U.S. and experienced every type of review imaginable. He treats every negative review as a field report, providing free information from the ground. ' When a customer complains about something we technically did correctly, I do not dismiss it," he says. "I ask myself, what expectations did we fail to establish? That one mindset shift allowed us to cut follow-up calls on completed jobs in half because the issue was clarity, not quality.' Staff are also trained to identify patterns in honest complaints. 'When we discovered several reviews mentioning delays, all from jobs scheduled after 2 p.m. we restructured scheduling to prioritize high-touch appointments in the morning," says Bates. "No one tells you this on Yelp, but it's buried in the tone of the reviews if you read them as a builder rather than a marketer. Most of what you need to improve is already written in a frustrated customer's paragraph.' Every entrepreneur will face a bad review at some point. If you have dropped the ball and the review is genuine, the advice from serial entrepreneur Nigel Botterill is to act fast and over-deliver in your fix. He says: 'People love grand gestures, so correct whatever is wrong, and then have fun with it. A bouquet with a card, a box of chocolates delivered with a note; that will be what they tell their friends about, not the mistake that started it all.' Where a review isn't real or is riddled with errors, Botterill says it's important to remember that your reply isn't for the person leaving the review; it's for the countless people who are going to see that review and judge you on your response. 'Reply to those customer reviews swiftly, making it absolutely without doubt that what they're talking about is nonsense,' he says. 'A bad customer review isn't a disaster. It's a test. Pass it, and you emerge stronger, smarter, and more trusted. That's how entrepreneurs win, not by avoiding criticism, but by responding better than anyone else.'
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
CECOCECO to Unveil ArtMorph Innovation at AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2025
BOSTON, May 22, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CECOCECO, a leading innovator in the lighting and display industry, is excited to announce its participation in the AIA Conference on Architecture & Design 2025, taking place from June 4-7 in Boston. At Booth #1119, CECOCECO will present the latest edition of ArtMorph—an innovative luminous wall panel that seamlessly blends LED display technology with textures. Hosted by the American Institute of Architects (AIA), the conference is one of the industry's most influential events, drawing architects, designers, and manufacturers from around the world. CECOCECO's presence marks a bold step into the architectural space, showcasing how lighting and textures can become expressive design Echoes: Unveiling Hidden StoriesCECOCECO will present an ArtMorph wall installation under the booth theme 'Urban Echoes: Unveiling Hidden Stories,' featuring a stylized city map of Boston. The installation reinterprets the city's urban grid through ArtMorph's hidden-layer technology. A textured concrete surface conceals a rendering of the map, which is revealed only as light shifts. As illumination changes, layers of Boston's landscape gradually emerge—including its coastline and iconic landmarks such as universities and museums. This installation transforms static architecture into an interactive narrative, inviting visitors to explore how light, texture, and story can converge to activate culturally resonant spaces. A Vision for the Future'ArtMorph adapts seamlessly to culturally significant settings, enhancing spatial narratives through its dynamic integration,' said Henry, Product Director of CECOCECO. 'Beyond a functional surface, it serves as a bridge between historical context and contemporary design—transforming culturally rich spaces into interactive experiences.' Join CECOCECO at Booth #1119 to discover how ArtMorph reveals hidden layers of design, transforming static surfaces into dynamic storytelling canvases for cultural spaces. About CECOCECO Founded by the original creators of ROE Visual, CECOCECO brings decades of expertise in lighting and display technology. Building on this strong foundation, the company reimagines traditional systems as platforms for artistic expression—transforming offices, retail spaces, and public environments into immersive, visually dynamic experiences that blur the boundaries between technology, design, and storytelling. For more information about ArtMorph and CECOCECO, please visit Contact:Eva XiaMarketing Director at A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
