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Commission honors TNDC and hears results of citywide LED giveaway
Summary
The commission presented an Environmental Service Award to the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation and heard staff describe a citywide LED giveaway that distributed about 100,000 LED bulbs, targeting low-income seniors, disabled and formerly homeless residents; TNDC reported receiving 3,000 bulbs across five buildings.
The San Francisco Commission on the Environment presented an Environmental Service Award March 14 to the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation (TNDC) and heard a staff report on the Department of the Environment’s LED giveaway campaign.
Ruchi Shah, sustainability manager at TNDC, accepted the award and described using 3,000 LED bulbs across five TNDC buildings; she said the new bulbs improved light quality and helped residents save on their electric bills. Director Deborah Raffel and commissioners praised TNDC’s partnership with the department.
Luke (senior marketing and communications strategist) and Becca Rabin (outreach associate) presented the LED giveaway design and results. Staff described securing approximately 100,000 LED bulbs through a partnership with a manufacturer (packaged as four‑packs with a five‑year warranty honored without a receipt), and a distribution network of more than 45 partner organizations and roughly 175 multifamily properties. Partners included affordable housing providers, in‑home support and home-visit organizations, the San Francisco Unified School District (which received about 20,000 LEDs for curriculum/distribution), and the San Francisco Public Library (about 20,000 LEDs for branches and the bookmobile). Staff emphasized that installation was a key focus: they worked with property maintenance staff and home‑visit volunteers and provided safety/disposal training and multi‑language materials; Recology will pick up replaced CFLs.
Staff estimated long-term benefits: LEDs last far longer than traditional bulbs (presenters said roughly 25 times longer), reduce energy use and can translate into meaningful utility-bill savings for low‑income residents. Presenters said the giveaway could save about $1 million annually in electricity costs for the residents reached. Commissioners asked about disposal of CFLs (which contain mercury); staff explained CFLs must be taken to hardware stores or appropriate drop-off points and said the state is still finalizing testing and disposal guidance.
The commission applauded the program and recognized outreach staff and partners. No formal action was required on the presentation.
