LED Christmas Lights by LED Holiday Lighting

New LED Technology Offers Bright Future

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 07 Jan 2009 04:22:00 +0000

Jordan, MN -- (January 7, 2009) - Over the past several years, many Christmas light displays have gone from static to animated, using LED-based technology. As the trend continues to shift towards LED lighting, a Minnesota-based company has launched new LED retrofit bulbs that will give commercial and recreational users ultimate flexibility in their lighting displays.

Also known as replacement bulbs, the new LED retrofit "retro" bulbs are designed to be used with traditional LED Stringers also be used for many secondary lighting applications.

"These are the light bulbs of the future," says Travis Fremming, founder and president of Seasonal Impressions and LEDHolidayLighting.com.

He adds, "We've completed an extensive field test this past fall at commercial and residential locations across the United States and realize this retrofit technology has multiple applications. In fact, the lights can be used above and beyond holiday displays in venues such as casinos, stadiums, theme parks and everything in between."

The new retrofit bulbs take LED technology a step further and have the ability to dim anywhere from 0% to 100%, allowing users to create animated displays using lighting control products such as Light-O-Rama.

"We are very excited about this new retro LED technology," notes Dan Baldwin, president of New York-based Light-O-Rama.

"This is the first screw-in LED replacement we have encountered that will support all computerized lighting effects. We are extremely pleased to see a product that allows our customers to fully and transparently incorporate retrofit LEDs into their projects," he adds.

Widely known for being environmentally friendly, LED lights are favored by many commercial businesses and lighting enthusiasts because of their ability to cut electric bills by up to 90% compared to incandescent or fluorescent lights. Additionally, LEDs don't contain harmful toxins that can be found in other types of bulbs.

Seasonal Impressions is expecting brisk demand for its new retrofit bulbs in the coming year and expects the technology to further evolve.

"We've only scratched the surface on this technology," says Fremming. "We expect great thing to come from these retrofit bulbs and we also foresee a shift towards other types of LED technology such as solar powered displays. The possibilities are really limitless."

The bulbs are available in a variety of popular sizes and colors, including traditional C7 and C9. For more information, visit http://www.ledretros.com, the product will be available for pre-sale at http://www.ledholidaylighting.com or please call 952-292-4870.

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Source: Seasonal Impressions
Contact: Travis Fremming
travis@seasonalimpressions.com
952-292-4870

Holiday lights going green

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 20:28:00 +0000

It turns out some Christmas trees are more green than others.

Communities seeking to conserve energy are increasingly switching their high-voltage holiday displays to more efficient LED lighting systems.

It costs a little extra to make the conversion, but officials say the payoff comes in dramatically lower electricity bills - and reduced energy consumption.

"Communities would be foolish not to embrace that," said Dale Lythjohan, general manager of Cedarburg's municipal utility.

Cedarburg's holiday tree is decorated entirely with LED lights, and about half of the city's other light displays have been converted, too.

"Without a doubt, there is a significant movement toward doing this," Lythjohan said. "We're not 100% there."

In Oconomowoc, the municipal utility this year celebrated the Christmas season by replacing all its old-fashioned incandescent lights in the city's holiday displays.

That involved purchasing more than 600 strands of LED lights, or some 15,000 individual bulbs.

Dennis Bednarski, general manager of the utility, said the $6,000 investment will pay for itself quickly, with projected energy savings of $2,600 a year.

"It's definitely worth it," he said. "They're just as noticeable, but they don't put out the heat that the old ones do."

The technology of LED, or light emitting diodes, has grown in popularity because it uses about 10% of the energy consumed by incandescent bulbs. Rather than heating a filament inside each bulb, LED lights use a chemical compound that requires much less electricity.

The newer lights also are more durable, lasting as much as 100,000 hours, compared with traditional bulbs that often burn out after just 1,000 hours.

The technological advancement, however, has not been entirely trouble-free.

Early versions of LED lights sometimes had a tendency to emit a blue-colored hue, which was problematic for holiday displays needing plain white lights.

But the color issue has been overcome, and the environmentally friendly lights are turning up in more and more Christmas trees and other displays organized by municipalities and businesses, said Laurie Reinders, product manager with Elm Grove-based supplier Reinders Inc.

In fact, with less electricity needed, some customers are seizing the opportunity to indulge their holiday spirit in bigger displays, Reinders said.

"With LED, you can just go on and on and on," she said. "The bigger, the better."

At Miller Valley's new Holiday Lites display on W. State St. in Milwaukee, a record 200,000 LED lights will twinkle, but the display uses the energy equivalent of just 150 standard bulbs.

The City of Wauwatosa has converted its community Christmas tree, a 25-foot spruce that is covered with energy-efficient lights.

Ken Walbrant, the city's superintendent of parks and forestry, said the old incandescent bulbs required so much power that the holiday display often blew out fuses. Along with such practical concerns, Walbrant said, he appreciates knowing that LED lights are helping the environment by conserving energy.

"It's just the responsible thing to do," he said.

The City of Milwaukee has discovered one other drawback since switching to LED lights three years ago: With relatively little electricity coursing through the strands, squirrels are more likely to chew the cords.

Cecilia Gilbert, speaking for the city's Department of Public Works, said officials have been forced to replace some of Milwaukee's new energy efficient lights.

"There's a price to pay for being environmentally friendly," she said. "We have this commitment to being green."

Tittabawassee Township, Michigan, home sports nearly 83,000 Christmas lights

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sun, 07 Dec 2008 03:30:00 +0000

Gary Shepard's lighting display causes people to stop and take a second look.

"Closer to Christmas, there are cars lined up and down the road," he said.
David A. Sommers | The Saginaw NewsGary A. Shepard has about 83,000 lights in the display at and next to his home at 7320 W. Freeland in Tittabawassee Township.

The residence at 7320 W. Freeland could serve as a runway for planes landing at nearby MBS International Airport. With nearly 83,000 lights, it dwarfs the 58,800 bulbs he used in 2007.

"I have always liked Christmas, and I'm an electrical engineer by profession," said Shepard, 34. "I have always liked displays. I started out small, and I've added something every year."

Readers called The Saginaw News' "Holiday Lighting Hotline" and reported their favorite regional lighting displays.

Shepard's display started in 1999 with a few strands. Now, his lights are coordinated to music.

"For each minute of music, it can take around five or six hours to match up with the lights," Shepard said of the Light-O-Rama system he purchased in 2005. "It's a software package, and you divide the song into twentieths of a second. I can tell the lights when to come on and turn off."

Shepard's home computer controls the show.

His display runs from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, with light shows starting at 5:30 p.m. and concluding at 10 p.m. each night.

Asked if his wife, Laura, helps put up the light display, Shepard gave a light-hearted response.

"She puts up with me," Shepard joked, saying a friend, Mike Dougherty, helps him with the task each year.

"I started planning in July," he said of this year's display. "I started putting up lights at the end of October, around Halloween."

Shepard said his electric bill doesn't suffer too much, with last year's display adding about $160.

"It's not all that bad," he said. "The lights are not all on at the same time."

Even the bedspread

Ron and Rebecca Morris are open to constructive criticism concerning their display in Fremont Township.
David A. Sommers | The Saginaw NewsRebecca Morris, 34, and her husband Ron Morris, 31, stand in along side their decorated home at 4625 S. Hemlock in Fremont Township. Ron said it took about a week to put up all of their decorations.

"We have every color you can think of," said Rebecca S. Morris, 34. "People will drive by and say, 'You don't have that much blue,' so I will go out and find some blue."

Their home at 4625 S. Hemlock boasts an estimated 5,000 colored, white, multi-colored and light-emitting diode or LED lights. They hang outside the home and garage, are embedded inside plastic snowmen, dangle from Christmas trees and grace reindeer placed around the yard.

"It's something we like to do together," said Ron "Skip" Morris, 31. She likes to make it nice, so people have something to look at."

"We do the whole inside of the house, too, right down to the bedspread" Rebecca Morris said. "It's just progressed. It started out very small with a couple of deer and a tree. Every year, I would get a new snowman.

"Once my husband moved in, he put on icicle lights and other things. This year, my mom gave me some things she doesn't use anymore."

She said the lighting display adds $50 to their December electricity bills.

"It costs us more to run the humidifiers in our house than it does to have the lights outside," Ron Morris laughed.

Too many to count

Sharon K. and James D. Cox have lit up their Saginaw neighborhood for the past 10 years.
Matthew Stephens | The Saginaw NewsJim, 62, and Sharon Cox, 62, of Bridgeport decorate their home, 3819 Peach Street, every year in lights. The couple started setting up their lights two weeks prior to Thanksgiving and still are putting them up.

"This year, we have a few new things, like Santa Claus and his car," said Sharon Cox, 63, of the display at 3819 Peach. "We also have a horse that lights up, instead of reindeer."

She said there are "too many" lights to count.

Cox scours stores after Christmas for decorations on sale, and said their four children have periodically provided decorations.

The couple has had only one problem with their display.

"It was a boy who was new in the neighborhood. He messed up some candy cane lights," she said. "Some of his friends came up and told us. I talked to him and his friends, who were peeved at him because they like the lights."

Cox said the couple used to put up lights for their nine grandchildren but now continue the tradition for their neighbors.

"We do it for the neighborhood kids, so they have something pretty to look at when they are walking around," she said. "They enjoy it."

LED lights shine way for the holidays in Oklahoma City

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sat, 06 Dec 2008 13:06:00 +0000

A tree of brilliant colors lights the intersection of NW 150 and Western Avenue, brightly strung with tens of thousands of bulbs spreading holiday cheer to drivers. This red oak has glimmered brightly in the backyard of Mark and Betsy Rowland’s home for the past four holiday seasons.

Tall twig trees are garnished with tiny white lights and gold-toned, unbreakable plastic ornaments. Photo provided

The Rowlands hire a crew from Total Environment to light the red oak and several other trees in their yard, an enormous project that takes weeks to complete. The colorful culture of Mexico and New Mexico inspired the Rowlands’ display.

"We’ve just always enjoyed Christmas,” Marc Rowland said. "The whole point of it is to have people enjoy Christmas.”

Theirs is an extravagant lighting display with at least 1,000 strands of lights. But if you’re like thousands of Oklahomans, your holiday lighting dreams are big, but your lighting budget may be significantly tighter than the Rowlands’.

To save on outdoor decorations, many experts recommend switching from the old-style incandescent bulbs to new LED (light-emitting diodes) lights this season. While the initial investment is more expensive than incandescent lights, LED lights can last years longer and save you many holiday headaches.

Dan Dunham, owner of 1-800-Lawn-Care and Holiday Lights, said he recommends LED lights for several reasons. They can burn up to 100,000 hours, and they use less electricity than incandescents. LEDs are 80 percent more efficient than traditional Christmas miniature light sets, he said.

According to Christmas Decor of Oklahoma City, if consumers replaced their conventional holiday lights with eco-friendly LEDs, at least 2 billion kilowatt hours of electricity could be saved each month. This energy savings could power 200,000 homes for one year.

"With LEDs, you can take 30 100-foot strings and put them end to end, and it will only draw 2 amps of electricity,” Dunham said. A typical power outlet is usually rated for 10 to 15 amps, he said, and plugging in only a few incandescent strings can cause an outlet to blow. According to Home Depot, you can safely connect up to 80 strands of LED lights.

Additionally, LED lights are harder to break than traditional glass incandescent lights.

"I can drive over one of them with my pickup, and it won’t break it,” Dunham said.

He usually installs photosensitive timers to turn the lights on at dusk and turn them off after a set amount of hours.

If you’re using traditional lights instead of LED bulbs, switch from large bulbs to miniatures. They’re 70 percent more energy-efficient.

210,000 Christmas lights. Computer animated and synchronized to music

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:57:00 +0000

http://www.steelcitychristmas.com/

Christmas tree lights up the Green

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 15:49:00 +0000

Two-year-old Alexandrea Overkamp was supposed to wait 10 seconds before pressing the button to light the New Haven Christmas tree. She lasted seven.

“I like pressing buttons,” she said simply.

The annual New Haven Tree Lighting Celebration, presented by the City of New Haven Office of Cultural Affairs and the Department of Parks, Recreation and Trees, drew an estimated 3,000 people to the New Haven Green last night. Through the tree itself, decorated with 20,000 energy-efficient LED lights, may have been the main draw, a slew of family-friendly activities and entertainment began at 4 p.m and kept attendees milling about for hours. While some people complained about the rainy weather, most interviewed said they enjoyed the event, which was free to the public.

“It’s a great way to kick off the Christmas season,” said local Arthur McCormack. He added: “I think I’d prefer that it snowed rather than rained though.”

Deputy Director of Parks and Squares Christy Hass said the ceremony drew a larger crowd than in previous years, noting the importance of this event to the New Haven community.

Said Hass: “It makes people feel very comfortable and at home on the Green.”

The festivities included choir performances, a mechanical-animal safari ride, a carousel and the opportunity to talk to Santa Claus, as well as numerous arts and crafts and free apple cider and hot chocolate. Twenty minutes before the tree, donated by St. Augustine’s Roman Catholic Church, was lit, the cast of “A Civil War Christmas,” a play currently showing at the Long Wharf Theatre, performed a repertoire of carols, while children scribbled letters to Santa and glued buttons on paper snowman ornaments.

A highlight for many attendees was the arrival of Santa on the back of a New Haven fire truck. Children and adults alike cheered at the man’s entrance and many moved to meet the truck on Temple Street.

“Welcome!” said Santa bellowed. “How is everybody doing tonight?” He was, however, unable to continue greeting the crowd because of a sound system malfunction. He resorted to a good standby: jolly waves and big smiles.

But Santa was not the only attraction. Anja Nikkel, 3, who said Christmas was her favorite time of year, was more excited by an appearance by Frosty the Snowman. “Snowman! Mommy, take me to the snowman!” she squealed, tugging her mother Sarah, a New Haven resident, by the arm.

After an enthusiastic meeting with Frosty, the young girl made a beeline for the carousel on the other side of the Green, leaving her mother running after her. (At least one call was made over the loudspeaker for missing children over the course of the evening.)

Resident Jacqueline Robinson said she anticipated having a hard time convincing her daughter, Onjya, to leave.

“Her eyes lit up,” Robinson said, noting that her daughter was too awed by the lights and people to pass by the festivities.

A favorite of most children interviewed was the animal safari, an attraction that allowed them to ride around a circuit on the back of a mechanical bear, tiger or reindeer. In one family, there was some contention as to which animal was the “coolest,” but four out of five children in the line said they hoped to ride the bear.

A few parents said they appreciated that the event was free of charge, saying that in light of the recent financial downturn it was nice, for a change, to entertain their families without spending money.

“I’m glad to have something on the Green for families to attend without having to worry about the cost,” New Haven resident Vivian Dildy said.

And as evidenced by the smile of her 8-year-old daughter, Kayla, the event was priceless.

Energy-saving LED lights keep holiday displays' bills in check

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:48:00 +0000

EL PASO -- Fred Loya enjoys putting smiles on children's faces during the holidays.

And you can bet his East Side home, trimmed with about 140,000 Christmas lights and flashing in sync to the sounds of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, does that well.

But Loya is also putting smiles on proponents of eco-friendly holiday decor -- because most of those festive lights are LED (light-emitting diodes), which are energy-efficient.

"Two years ago, we replaced more than half of the bulbs with LED Lights with the purpose of going green," which also means more green has stayed in his wallet, Loya said.

The switch to more LED lighting led to a savings of $350 in December last year.

In El Paso and elsewhere around the country, more homeowners
are looking into energy-saving lighting as they look for ways to cut costs during this difficult economic season.

Retailers such as Home Depot report that they are doubling their selections of LED string lights, LED yard decor items and artificial trees with LED lighting.

Last year, Home Depot sold more than 40,000 miles of light sets, and the demand continues to rise, experts say.

Craig Fishel, public relations manager for Home Depot, said lollipop walkway lights, multicolored icicle lights, and a variety of yard decor, including a 52-inch crystal bead doe and a soldier sculpture, are among the festive eco-friendly choices.

Loya, who this year has already bought some new lighting features that are energy-efficient, said LED lights work better than incandescent options.

"The lighting is sharper and brighter," he said.

According to Home Depot officials, energy-efficient bulbs use 90 percent less electricity than incandescent bulbs and can last up to 10 times longer than traditional Christmas lights.

In addition, they do not produce the same amount of heat that incandescent lights do, meaning there is less risk of trees with LED lighting catching on fire because the lights do not dry out the tree.

Henry Quintana, public relations manager for El Paso Electric Co., recommends people consider buying LED lighting when they need new light strings. But he also has other tips that will help homeowners save money and energy on their holiday lighting this month.

"The amount of time you leave them on also matters," he said. "You can turn them on as it gets dark, around 5:30 or 6 p.m. and then leave them on until midnight."

Quintana said it's also a good idea to put lights on a timer, which also helps prevent leaving the lights on all night unintentionally.

"You also want to turn them off when you leave the house, which is more of a safety issue," he said.

Rockefeller Center lights tree in annual ceremony

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:47:00 +0000

NEW YORK (AP) — A family of Hurricane Katrina survivors whose new house was partly built with lumber from last year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree were among thousands who attended this year's lighting ceremony Wednesday.

The eight-ton, 72-foot Norway spruce was illuminated Wednesday night in the Manhattan plaza after performances by entertainers including Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr., Jamie Foxx and Beyonce.

"It's been an awesome experience," said Tracey Davison, 40, a teacher's assistant from Pascagoula, Miss. "I have a famous living room because of the tree from last year, and my girls and I have had a spectacular trip to New York for the first time."

This year's tree was decorated with 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights on five miles of wire, topped with a massive crystal star. It was donated by the Varanyak family in Hamilton Township, N.J.

Among the thousands of onlookers who gathered to watch the annual tradition were Davison and her four daughters: Ashunti, 10; Nylah, 9; Majsa, 8; and Karly, 4.

The family, who fled Katrina with just a few suitcases, recently moved into a new three-bedroom house built by Habitat for Humanity. Parts of the walls and floors in their living room were made with lumber from last year's tree.

"It's kinda like Christmas before Christmas," said Davison. "It was a dream come true. We're very, very excited to be in the house."

Others who lined the streets to watch the celebrity performers and the ceremony were Anita McLean, 71, her son and her two grandchildren, ages 14 and 11.

"It's my fourth year, and I'm not cold," she said, adding that she stood for more than three hours to secure a viewing spot for the lights. "Just being together, the excitement of the day, it's keeping with the spirit of Christmas."

In past years, the Rockefeller Center tree has been recycled after the holiday season, being made into toys for animals at the Bronx Zoo and mulched for hiking trails.

The tree lighting ceremony started in 1933, but workers building the Art Deco complex began putting up Christmas trees in 1931 during the Great Depression.

Professional Holiday Decorating Eliminates Frustrations on Many, Many Levels

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 16:45:00 +0000

LUBBOCK, Texas, Dec 03, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- There's nothing like the sight of a beautifully decorated home with dazzling lights to signal the holidays. And nothing can be more aggravating than that annual chore of hanging the lights, wrestling that old ladder and untangling strand after tangled strand of lights. Not to mention the frustrating task of inspecting which lights operate and which ones have lost their glow. But, there is a better way - hire a professional.

"We love to see our communities sparkling with magnificent light and festive displays," said Blake Smith, president of Christmas Decor, Inc. "What can be more joyous this time of year with the holidays coming alive with the magic of glittering lights?"

Crafting a winter wonderland with lights, garlands and wreaths, takes time and hard work and expertise to produce that perfect touch of holiday cheer for your home.
With the help a professional, your home could be the envy of the neighborhood. According to Smith, the designers at Christmas Decor will evaluate and map your property, listen to your desires and create a LUBBOCK, Texas, Dec 03, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- There's nothing like the sight of a beautifully decorated home with dazzling lights to signal the holidays. And nothing can be more aggravating than that annual chore of hanging the lights, wrestling that old ladder and untangling strand after tangled strand of lights. Not to mention the frustrating task of inspecting which lights operate and which ones have lost their glow. But, there is a better way - hire a professional.
"We love to see our communities sparkling with magnificent light and festive displays," said Blake Smith, president of Christmas Decor, Inc. "What can be more joyous this time of year with the holidays coming alive with the magic of glittering lights?"
Crafting a winter wonderland with lights, garlands and wreaths, takes time and hard work and expertise to produce that perfect touch of holiday cheer for your home.
With the help a professional, your home could be the envy of the neighborhood. According to Smith, the designers at Christmas Decor will evaluate and map your property, listen to your desires and create a holiday lighting and decorating plan that accentuates the unique features of your home and its landscaping. Providing a comprehensive array of decorating options - including energy efficient LED lights, supplies, decorations and manpower, Christmas Decor can transform your home into a spectacular wonderland for you to capture the spirit of the holidays, Smith said.
"Each one of our installations is a reflection of the homeowner's personality and love for the holidays," Smith said. "Whether you want a creative theme with lights bordering your windowsills and front door, or have your trees the focal point, it's best to have a consistent design theme for your decorations to prevent the decorations from looking disorganized," Smith continued.
Smith says it is important to keep in mind that quality holiday decorating, especially lighting, takes time, design skills and knowledge of electrical capabilities - things that many people do not have.
Christmas Decor employees are well-trained and insured professionals who take preventive measures against accidents, via safety training and the use of proper tools and procedures. and decorating plan that accentuates the unique features of your home and its landscaping. Providing a comprehensive array of decorating options - including energy efficient LED lights, supplies, decorations and manpower, Christmas Decor can transform your home into a spectacular wonderland for you to capture the spirit of the holidays, Smith said.
"Each one of our installations is a reflection of the homeowner's personality and love for the holidays," Smith said. "Whether you want a creative theme with lights bordering your windowsills and front door, or have your trees the focal point, it's best to have a consistent design theme for your decorations to prevent the decorations from looking disorganized," Smith continued.

Smith says it is important to keep in mind that quality holiday decorating, especially lighting, takes time, design skills and knowledge of electrical capabilities - things that many people do not have.

Christmas Decor employees are well-trained and insured professionals who take preventive measures against accidents, via safety training and the use of proper tools and procedures.

Christmas tree from N.J. will light up Rockefeller

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 12:10:00 +0000

Ledger Live - 11-14-08

The 76th Christmas tree-lighting ceremony will be held tonight at Rockefeller Center in midtown Manhattan.

The eight-ton 72-foot Norway spruce will be illuminated at 8:58 p.m. in the center's plaza near the skating rink and the gilded statue depicting Prometheus bringing fire to mankind. The tree, which is 40 feet round, has been decorated with 30,000 energy-efficient LED lights on 5 miles of wire, topped with a massive crystal star.

It was donated by the Varanyak family in Hamilton Township.
APA worker waits for his colleagues after secureing a guy-wire to the top of the 72-foot tall Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, still surrounded by scaffolding that allowed the placement of lights and a Swarovski crystal star atop the famous tree in New York.

Tony Bennett, Harry Connick, Jr., Jamie Foxx and Beyonce are among the entertainers scheduled to perform.

While the first official lighting was in 1933, the first Rockefeller Center Christmas tree was put up two years earlier during the Depression in the mud by workers building the Art Deco complex.

Among those expected to attend the ceremony is a Pascagoula, Miss., family whose home was built in part with lumber from last year's Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, an 84-foot-tall Norway spruce. Lumber from last year's Rockefeller Center tree was used to build two-by-fours that were placed in the walls and floors in the home's living room.

Surviving the recession with LED holiday lights

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:38:00 +0000

From the home of Congress to your home, holiday spirit is probably taking over.

And with cash tight for many of us this year, surviving the recession could mean less of an investment in decorating our homes.

Surviving the Recession on KSBY.com
Features, videos, and discussion
To help you through the economic crisis

Take Marty Henderson. For the past 25 years, he has been putting up conventional Christmas lights. And a lot of them. For years, Marty chalked up his $700 power bill to Christmas cheer.

Not this year.

"We changed to all LED lights," said Henderson.

But Marty didn't jump into the bulbs for the reason you might think. It wasn't to save green, nor to be green. It was for power and his inner need to light up his home.

"I kind of just wanted to be able to put more up," said Henderson.

The move cut the amount of circuits needed in half. But saving circuits is one thing, and saving money is another. After spending around $5,000 on all new lights, when this season's power bill comes, Henderson said LED lights may be Christmas music to his ears.

"I can only assume it is going to be less because again, I'm using the same amount of lights and half the amount of circuits," said Henderson.

Ken Hayek of Pacific Coast Home and Garden said though they are more expensive, LED lights give you more bang for your buck.

"It's an energy efficient trend. It's a longer lasting product, it is cooler to the touch," said Hayek.

And because LEDs are making more of an impact on supply, Hayek said the price is coming down.

"What we're seeing is a gradual reduction in price," said Hayek.

"It's a balancing act, buying new lights against savings, so it'll take a couple years to recoup that," added Henderson.

LED Christmas lights popular this season

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 04:36:00 +0000

This is the time of the year when your inner Rudolph knickers for attention.

And why not?

The last two weeks of November are prime light-buying time. While Ace Hardware carries white and rope lights all year long for people to decorate their patios and homes, they gear up for Christmas early, too.
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"We stock Christmas lights in late August," says Cheri Haight, general manager of the four Nyberg Ace stores in Sioux Falls. "People start purchasing the week before Thanksgiving. They like to get their lights up outdoors before the weather turns really nasty."

Icicle lights, mini-lights, C-7 and C-9 lights appeal to traditionalists, but a careful look through the light aisles at hardware stores reveals a plethora of choices.

The biggest change in lights is the introduction of LED bulbs; people began buying them last year. LEDS are found in rope lights, pearl lights, lit up Christmas bulbs and even solar lights.

LED bulbs are energy-efficient and can burn 20,000 hours before a bulb will burn out, says Grant Weberg, owner of G&J All Season Lighting.

LED, or light emitting diodes, use about 7 percent of the power that incandescent bulbs do, says Rod Hunter, owner of Christmas Decor, a Sioux Falls lighting company.

The light runs cooler than older string lights. "They're cleaner, crisper more intense lights," Haight says. They're brighter, almost like a neon light.

Traditional Christmas colors of red, green and gold are back in vogue, after being displaced in recent years by hot pink and lime green.

Incandescents are cheaper to buy but more expensive to light.

For LED lights, the cost varies by color because different materials are used to create the different colors. White LEDs are the most expensive because red, green and blue are combined together to make a white LED, according to an LED Web site.

Thanksgiving weekend typically is busy for do-it-yourself light hangers. But Oct. 1 is the date professionals began putting up lights.

Whether you plan to do it yourself or hire it done, "Christmas lights are kind of an addiction," Hunter says.

Save energy by swapping Christmas lights

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:42:00 +0000

Before you start decorating this holiday season, think about exchanging your old Christmas lights for new energy-efficient ones.

DAILY BREEZE BLOG» Green Around the Edges

Before you start decorating this holiday season, think about exchanging your old Christmas lights for new energy-efficient ones.

The South Bay Environmental Services Center is sponsoring an exchange through Friday that allows households to swap two strands of old lights for a pair of miniature, white LED ones.

Drop by the center from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday at 3868 Carson St., No. 110, Torrance.

Supplies are limited, so lights are being offered first-come, first-served.

For more, link to the Environmental Services Center's Web page or call 310-543-3022.

Storybook Island flips the switch on holiday tradition

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 14:39:00 +0000

The Storybook Island Christmas premiere night's illumination took a cue from downtown's Christmas lights and went green -- not in color, but in energy-saving lights.

The light-emitting diode style of lights will keep costs down, last longer and remain cool to the touch, avoiding scorching or possible fires, organizers said.

With more than 70 miles of holiday lights wrapped around more than 140 play sets scattered over an eight-acre family theme park, that's important, Connie LeZotte, executive director of Storybook Island, said.

"We did turn toward the LED lights to stay updated and green," LeZotte said.

The new lights line the park fences as well as the interior pathways to the various play sets throughout the park. She said that a sea of volunteers from the community, Ellsworth Air Force Base and Rapid City Stevens High School started decorating during the second weekend of October and just finished with final touches before the gates opened Friday.

Because different sponsors and people decorated the sets, every one of them will be different, LeZotte said.

"You might find a new interpretation of the Three Little Pigs or of Winnie the Pooh," she said.

With 30,000 to 40,000 people expected to walk through the gates this holiday season, LeZotte said Storybook Island Christmas is very important for the park. "It's become part of Rapid City's Christmas tradition," she said.

It also has proven a good fundraiser for the family-friendly attraction, keeping the park open for Rapid City families and tourists alike. The park operates on $1,400 a day but doesn't charge admission during the summer. Since 1958, the park has relied on these sorts of special events to keep its gates open during the summer.

Kimberly Haaland definitely relates to those Christmas and summer traditions. On Friday night, she brought her two nieces, Anna, 5, and Rachel, 3, to enjoy the Christmas lights wrapped around their favorite play scene.

The Billings, Mont., woman said that she had grown up here and came back to take in the lighted park with her extended family. It was an irresistible draw, she said.

Before the 1972 Rapid City flood, Haaland and her brother had posed for pictures in front of the wishing well.

"It brings back memories," she said.

If You Go

What: Storybook Island Christmas

When: 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, until Dec. 19, when it will be open every night until New Year's Eve

Where: Storybook Island, 1301 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City

Admission: $1

Other: Train rides and photo sessions with Santa available each day at the eight-acre family theme park. Reindeer will be on the grounds Dec. 6 and 7. Bring your camera.

LED Lights Becoming a Trend

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 05:18:00 +0000

(Springfield, MO)--Even though the economy is down many consumers are turning to a more expensive Christmas decoration: LED lights.

Sales are up 50 percent from last year for that form of Christmas lights. We wanted to know why LED is tripping so many people's switch.

"We're going to have the best looking house in town, Russ," said Chevy Chase playing the character of Clark Griswold in the movie National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Many people can quote that movie.

"Come on, help me unravel these," Clark says to his son Russ as he hands him a huge ball of Christmas lights. "We got a little knot here. You'll have to unravel that."

But most of us hope to never know Clark's decorating debacles, not to mention his high energy bill because of all the lights he put on his home.

"Oh yes," confirms Neashya Wright, a manager at the Sonic on West Commercial Street. Wright wanted the same effect as the highly-decorated Griswold home but noticed her bills lighting up.

"It was a lot higher in the past," said Wright.

That's when the business decided to go green with its multi-colored lights.

"The LED lights I believe are more bright, attention grabbing and that's what the customers like the most," explained Wright.

And Wright likes that the LED lights are energy efficient.

"It makes our energy bill go down a little," she said.

"It's at least 85% more efficient," added Tony Dixon who runs a Christmas lighting business. He says even though LEDs are more expensive, it's the growing trend.

"Eventually they'll phase out normal Christmas lights anyway, it'll be a little while but that's going to happen," explained Dixon.

Experts say the higher cost of the bulbs is usually regained in just a couple of years in lower electricity use. Plus, the bulbs last longer.

"The difference in LED is it's a 30,000 hour light bulb compared to a normal incandescent which is 3000 hours," said Dixon.

Here's another major difference: traditional incandescent Christmas bulbs are pretty easy to break. But LED lights are almost indestructible.

"I had to beat on it with a hammer to get the cover off to show you. I can actually glue this back together and still use it. They're much brighter than a normal light bulb," said Dixon.

It's for all of those reasons Wright says she'll never use incandescent bulbs again.

"Definitely not," she said. "We would be crazy to go back to something like that especially when you're saving money."

Department of Energy statistics show that if all homes in the country used LED holiday lights, the energy savings would equal two billion kilowatt hours. That's enough to power 200,000 homes for one year.

Tony Dixon's number one lighting tip is to avoid a Clark Griswold kind of Christmas light knot. Roll the lights up beginning with the female end of the strand, and make it into a ball. When you're putting the lights up you can plug the male end in and unroll as you go. He says that's the best method he's come up with in his ten years in the business.

LED Holiday Lighting Thanksgiving LED Christmas Light Sale

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:47:00 +0000

Greetings Friends!

LED Holiday Lighting is have a 4 day sale beginning on Thanksgiving and ending on Sunday November 30th. We have a wide variety of products that are available at the special pricing.

This is a great opportunity to get some deep discounts for our 2008 LED Christmas Light products! Pricing is only good while supplies last! Please feel free to call or email me with any questions!

On Sale Items include:

* LED Icicle Lights
* LED M5 50L Full Wave
* LED C6 50L/70L Full Wave
* LED 5mm Net Lights Full Wave
* LED 5mm 50L Full Wave
* LED C7/C9 Commercial Grade Stringers Full Wave

We just got a slew of new products in late this week that are included at the above pricing. Take advantage during this great sale!!!

http://www.ledholidaylighting.com/th...ngweekend.aspx

* 15% off select products
* Additional 5% off Case Quantities
* No Minimum QTY necessary to qualify for 10% or 15% discount
* Available Inventory will be listed on product page when you select color
* Provide a online customer review after your purchase and receive 5% off your next order! Example Customer Review
* 1 Person at Random will win a $100 LED Holiday Lighting Gift Certificate
__________________
Travis Fremming
http://www.ledholidaylighting.com

Rhema Lights On grows energy-savvy

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 11:58:00 +0000

BROKEN ARROW — Less power won't mean any less shine for a holiday lights show that draws 200,000 visitors annually, organizers say.

In the wake of last year's destructive ice storm, Rhema Lights On organizers, who will bring back the event Wednesday for its 26th year, began replacing their 1.5 million Christmas lights with energy-efficient LED lights.

"The ice did extensive damage to our trees, and we lost many lights," event spokesman David Wildman said. "We decided it would be a good opportunity to invest in this new technology."

The display, on the Rhema Bible College campus at 1025 W. Kenosha St. (71st Street), will kick off at 6 p.m. Wednesday with the annual "flip-the-switch" ceremony.

Wildman said that so far, about 500,000 lights have been replaced with LED lights, which use less than one-tenth of the energy of regular bulbs, and plans are to replace all of the lights eventually.

The event, which features hundreds of holiday-themed lights displays, will shine from dusk to 11:30 p.m. through December.

Admission is free. For more information, call 258-1588.

Fake Christmas trees can be money-savers

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 15:16:00 +0000

Faux trees could close the sales gap on their live counterparts this year.

Local artificial tree retailers, hoping to capitalize on the tight economy, say fake trees save money in the long run.

Last year, sales of artificial Christmas trees increased 46.6 percent from the previous year, according to the Chesterfield, Mo.-based National Christmas Tree Association. Fake trees were purchased in 17.4 million households last year, compared with 31 million households buying real trees.

Fake trees are selling well so far at Hobby Lobby, said William Smith, assistant manager of the chain's store at 5130 S. Harvard Ave.

"People are buying them quicker now than last year," Smith said. "A lot of them are saying it's just time for a new tree."

At Seasonal Concepts, the pace of winter holiday sales is up about 10 percent from last year, said store manager David Marchewka, adding that he tells customers about the benefits of artificial trees, including long-term savings.

The store offers a 7-foot-6-inch artificial tree starting at about $100.

With the prices of some real trees in the neighborhood of $100 a pop, the main advantage of an artificial tree is that it will save money
and last," Marchewka said. "You don't have to keep replacing the tree every year."

Artificial trees are easy to care for, he said, noting, "You don't have to worry about the tree having water all the time."

Seasonal Concepts tries to keep artificial trees out of the landfills, Marchewka said. The store reuses old trees and gives donated ones to low-income families.

Those who miss the real-tree scent can buy a spray to apply on fake trees, he said.

For a more lavish celebration, artificial trees sell for as much as $800 at Seasonal Concepts, Marchewka said.

"The upper-end trees are so pretty, you don't even have to decorate them," he said, adding that some come with pine cones.

There are even purple, gold and upside-down trees, Marchewka said. One replaces the tree's pole with a bubble-filled tank that changes colors. It sells for $399. A 2-foot tree made of feathers is aimed at children.

At the Holiday Lights store, LED lights for artificial trees are hot sellers, store manager Christina Walton said. The lights are more efficient and last longer than incandescent bulbs.

"It takes 80 percent less electricity, so you don't have to worry about blowing any breakers," Walton said.

Making it look like Christmas

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 12:58:00 +0000

For the Cawaling family, it’s a tradition: Every year they show up to help set up the thousands of lights on the Watsonville Plaza. So Saturday the family was at it again, stringing up lights around the cannon while about 50 other people joined them.

Decorating for Christmas is a family activity for Clara and Loren Cawaling and their two daughters. Their home practically lights up their neighborhood.

“Oh yeah, oh yeah — everybody always calls us the Griswalds,” said Loren, referring to Chevy Chase’s decorating-crazed family in the film “Christmas Vacation.”

In all, about 50,000 lights are set up on the plaza, turning it into a winter wonderland, or as close you can come to it in Watsonville without a hint of snow. The lights will be turned on for the first time in a special ceremony Dec. 5.

Doug Mattos, senior administrative analyst for the City of Watsonville, was leading the volunteer effort along with his wife, children and father. The cold morning nearly delayed the event, which started at 9 a.m. with instructions for the volunteers, because the truck that both stores and hauls the lights wouldn’t start.

“I thought we might have to call Santa for a tow,” said Mattos. “This is a lighter crowd than in the past, but they are really focused.”

About a dozen members of the new Interact Club at Pajaro Valley High School came to help out.

“We’re very involved in helping the community,” said club member and 17-year-old senior Alfredo Ramirez as he carefully strung a line of lights around a bush as instructed by a little yellow tag that hung on it. “It’s a new club and we’re trying to set an example, especially for the underclassmen.”

The tags were placed by Parks Services Manager Ernest Contreras and his crew. Contreras has been in charge of the plaza’s lights for more than 20 years. He said it started out with just some lights on the center podium area, but dedication and technology have led to more and more.

“We put up about 50,000 lights now,” said Contreras. “It’s gone crazy.”

The new LED lights that the city bought several years ago made the difference, he said. In the past, he couldn’t have plugged in more than a couple of thousand, but the LED lights use so little energy that he can use 10 times as many lights and still use less energy.

“We’ve got it all mapped out now where all the lights go and in which color,” said Contreras, who, unlike the Cawalings, does not decorate at home.

“I do all my Christmas decorating here,” Contreras said. “We start testing and getting ready about two months in advance and then start setting them up in some of the trees about a month ahead of time. … It’s all the enjoyment I need from (Christmas decorating).”

Wiregrass Ready For Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:24:00 +0000

WESLEY CHAPEL - With Black Friday still a week away, the Shops at Wiregrass will kick off holiday shopping this weekend with its "Symphony in Lights" display. The program begins tonight and runs until Dec. 31. Designers have coordinated more than 250,000 LED Christmas lights with recorded holiday music performed by the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

The program was created by Carson Williams, who gained national fame for the similar light-and-sound show he created at his Mason, Ohio, home in 2004. Williams' display was featured on YouTube and in a commercial for Miller Lite Beer. The music will be broadcast on a 2,000-watt sound system.

The centerpiece of the holiday display will be three Christmas trees - one of them 50 feet tall - in the mall's center court in front of Macy's. In all, the holiday display will include 3,800 ornaments, mall officials said.

The Shops at Wiregrass is at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

A Festive Downtown Monroe at Christmas!

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 14:21:00 +0000

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and Christmas will quickly follow. Downtown Monroe is preparing for the Christmas shopping rush with the trees already lit down Broad Street and special activities being planned so families can visit Santa and shop for Christmas gifts locally this year.

Downtown Monroe’s Christmas activities will kick-off on Thursday, December 4 with the Annual Downtown Monroe Christmas Parade, and will end on Friday, December 19 with the Lighthouse World Outreach Center live nativity production in front of the Walton County Historic Courthouse.

“Our Christmas events are an example of the downtown community working together to bring renewed interest in shopping locally,” said Downtown Development Authority Director Ansley Holder. “We also hope this event will help to raise awareness of the retail businesses that are close to home and open for shopping all year long.”
The Christmas parade begins at 6:30 p.m. on December 4 and will proceed down Broad Street from Monroe First United Methodist Church to the City Hall, with Monroe historian Larry Witcher serving as the Grand Marshall. This year’s theme for the parade is “A Historic Christmas.” The parade committee expects to see many creative entries and interpretations of this year’s theme.

“We are over halfway full and we have a great variety of floats already signed up,” said Cari Bailey, Christmas Parade event chair. “The parade went well on Thursday night last year and we are excited to carry on the start of this new tradition with the parade being the kick-off to the Thursday and Friday night Candlelight Shopping. The time change of the parade to 6:30 p.m. should also give families a little extra time to get downtown for the parade.”

The Christmas parade is only the beginning of a series of Thursday and Friday night activities in downtown Monroe, leading up to Christmas. Following the parade, the downtown retail shops and restaurants will remain open until 9 p.m. as part of the downtown “Candlelight Shopping” experience. The Candlelight Shopping occurs every Thursday and Friday night, for the three weeks, between Thanksgiving and Christmas. On each of those nights, the downtown businesses will remain open from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m. to allow for extended Christmas shopping hours.

“Many of the downtown merchants will be offering special holiday merchandise and prices,” said Sheryl McHugh, Candlelight Shopping Event Chair. “You don’t want to miss this opportunity to save some gas money and get your Christmas shopping done close to home.”

Each Thursday and Friday night during Candlelight Shopping, Santa will be hosted by one of our downtown merchants. Hosts for this year include Buckles Hardware and Wild Child Arts, to name a few. Santa’s schedule will be posted on the DDA website and printed in the e-newsletter closer to the start of Candlelight Shopping. Families are welcome to come and share their wish list with Santa and snap photos with him.
The Historic Courthouse in the middle of downtown will be the host-site for a featured musical group each evening of Candlelight Shopping. In the past they have had the Bryan Hoover Band, A Tuba Christmas, local school bands and choruses, and other various performing groups. In addition to the stage performers there will be musical groups caroling through the shops to provide Christmas spirit throughout downtown. At any given moment you might find Santa being serenaded in a shop by a local choral group.

“The Walton Music Guild will be coordinating musicians for the event,” McHugh said. “There will be music for all ages and provided by a variety of age groups.”
The music is a large part of the Christmas spirit, but it would not be Christmas in downtown Monroe without the lights. The downtown area is already lit up from end to end with LED Christmas lights, with Monroe ‘going green’ for Christmas again this year. These LED lights require 85 percent less energy consumption than normal incandescent bulbs.
“Come out and enjoy the beautiful lights that were such a hit in Downtown Monroe last year that they made national news headlines,” McHugh said.
In addition to Santa, lights and music, the Downtown Development Authority will also be hosting horse-drawn carriage rides on the Candlelight Shopping evenings from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be a cost for the carriage rides. An exact schedule and pricing information will be posted on the DDA website and listed in the e-newsletter closer to the start of Candlelight Shopping.

“Carriage rides were a big hit last year and we are looking forward to being able to offer those again this year,” said McHugh.

All in all, it sounds like Downtown Monroe is ready for the Christmas season with Santa, musicians, lights, carriage rides and a parade. Make sure that you are ready for Christmas too, by participating in this local shopping event.
For any questions, to sign up for the e-newsletter, or for further information about the Christmas activities offered in Downtown Monroe please visit the website at www.monroedowntown.com, call (770) 266-5331, or e-mail aholder@monroega.gov.

Christmas in the City expands its 2008 holiday offerings

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 13:20:00 +0000

The economy may be in a bah-humbug state but Knoxville’s Christmas in the City celebration aims for a feel-good mood with more lights, a longer parade route and an expanded celebration to welcome in 2009. In between, festivities include ice skating, music, visits with Santa Claus and traditional Knoxville holiday favorites.

Christmas in the City is the overall tag for some 100 events and attractions held by the city of Knoxville, community and art groups, churches and businesses from early November to New Year’s. Most holiday activities happen after Thanksgiving and get started with the Friday, Nov. 28, Regal Celebration of Lights. The 6 p.m. downtown Knoxville event includes caroling, outdoor Christmas Market shopping and carriage rides. Children can have photos taken with Santa Claus and decorate cookies with Mrs. Claus. Knoxville’s Holidays on Ice skating rink at Market Square opens for its fourth season.

New energy-saving LED lights will be turned on the 38-foot-tall Christmas tree at the Krutch Park extension on Gay Street. A 50-voice Knoxville Choral Society choir and the First Presbyterian Church handball choir will perform. The evening also is the official switch-flipping of the lights of some 439 “light trees” — forms shaped like trees and lined with lights — on downtown building roofs.

At 7 p.m., Market Square is the scene for the WDVX Holiday Ho-Ho-Ho Hoedown. The national champion clogging team from A Step Above Dance Studio will open up the hoedown. Jimbo Whaley & Greenbrier, 12-year-old singer Logan Murrell and 17-year-old singer/guitarist Trey Hensley perform.

December’s first Friday brings the WIVK/Fowler Christmas Parade. The parade is 7 p.m. Dec. 5; grand marshal is singer/“Dancing With the Stars” talent Julianne Hough. But the really big news is that this year’s parade covers more ground.

This year’s parade goes through Knoxville’s Old City. The route begins at the Knoxville Civic Coliseum to travel on Church Avenue before turning right on Gay Street. Instead of crossing Summit Hill and continuing on Gay, the parade will turn right onto Summit Hill and then left on Central Street. The route goes right on Jackson Avenue, ending just beyond Patton Street.

Traditionally the parade has gone down Gay to end at Depot Avenue. Planners changed the route because Gay Street’s 100 and 200 blocks were going to be ripped up for a major reconstruction. That work now won’t begin until January of 2009 so Gay Street remains open. The 100 block of South Gay will host a block party after the parade.

Christmas in the City celebrations continue at 6 p.m. Dec. 12 with Comcast Christmas at Chilhowee. The free event includes carriage rides, music, free photos with Santa and cookie-decorating with Mrs. Claus.

But the biggest Christmas in the City change may be its finale, the Dec. 31 First Night Knoxville. The alcohol-free, family-friendly event last year focused on outdoor entertainment and activities at Market Square. This year, First Night expands with outdoor and indoor entertainment at 10 to 12 venues.

First Night begins with a 3-6 p.m. Dec. 21 children’s festival at the East Tennessee History Center. Evening entertainment starts at 7 and spreads from Market Square to the Emporium Building for Arts & Culture, 100 S. Gay St,. to the Tennessee Theatre at 604 S. Gay. First Night ends with a New Year’s countdown and ball drop at Market Square.

Outdoor entertainment at Market Square will be free. Indoor entertainment will have a charge; admission buttons will be sold and are good to get in all venues. Buttons are $10 in advance and available at wwwfirstnightknoxville.com, Pilot stations and participating Market Square businesses. Buttons are $15 on Dec. 31. Children ages 6 and younger get in free.

Super Saver-Decking the Halls for Less

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:03:00 +0000

(WZZM) -- Consumers Energy estimates 6% of its December residential and commercial electrical load will be attributed to the holiday season. Did you ever wonder how much your Christmas lights actually cost you on your electric bill?

Thanks to Tim Pietryga of Consumers Energy and his handy-dandy energy meter, we checked out all of the most popular Christmas lights and decorations.

"One Kilowatt (or 1,000 watts) is equivalent to about 10 cents per hour," says Pietryga. Which means if you want the most bang for your buck, try a holiday flood light or spotlight. They only use about 99 watts and give off a large amount of light. That equates to about one penny per hour of usage. Four hours per day, times 30 days means that spotlight will only cost you about $1.20 to use for a whole month.

Mini-lights, the traditional ones we put on our tree, also use very little power. A string of 100 uses only about 40 watts, or less than half a penny per hour, per string. The problem here is hardly anyone only uses one string. Even a small Christmas tree will use at least three or four strings.

Inflatables certainly show-up in your yard, but don't show up much on your energy bill. At 85 watts, that too is less than one penny per hour which is kind of surprising considering these use a light and a constant fan.

So what does use a lot of power? C-7 and C-9 lights, those traditional roof-lining or gutter lights. C-7's use about 7 watts per bulb and C-9's use a little more. That means a string of 25 will use about 175 watts. Only about two cents per hour per string, but if you line your entire roof it can add up.

So what at LED lights? "Obviously, they're a lot more expensive for the investment up front, but they'll save you a lot of money in the long run with the electric consumption," says Pietryga. Not all LED's give you the same value. Mini-lights cost five times as much in LED and only come in strings of 60 or 70. They offer about an 85% savings on your energy usage when compared to traditional. But traditional minis only use about 40 watts of power for a string of 100 for $2, compared to 5 watts on the LED's so it'll take years before you make up the extra $10 per string.

C-7 and C-9 LED's offer the best value for two reasons. The cost is only about 50% more, $11.99 for a string of 25 compared to traditional C-7's and C-9's that cost about $7.99, so the time it takes to make up that extra investment is cut down significantly. Secondly, LED's use about 2.5 watts for a string of 25 compared to the traditional incandescent that use 175 watts for that same string of 25.

If you really want to take advantage of LED's energy savings, run out to your favorite story immediately after Christmas when they're marked down as stores look to clear off their shelves.

Christmas trees finding a theme

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 13:29:00 +0000

Christmas decorating trends have changed in the 30 years that Sharon Richards has been gift manager at Wilson’s Garden Center in Newark. Themed trees have gained in popularity, as well as using multiple trees.

Instead of fresh-cut trees with ball ornaments and multi-colored lights, the trend is moving toward artificial trees with mini-white lights.

In the past few years, artificial trees have come pre-lit with LED lights. A plus with these is their convenience in assembly and storage, although they lack that freshly cut scent. But that’s nothing air freshener or a scented candle can’t fix.

Richards credits the artificial variety with starting the trend of displaying multiple trees.

“You don’t have to worry about watering or disposal,” Richards says. “Some of them even come frosted.”

Decorating can run the gamut of one’s imagination. Owner Debby Smith, of the Old Crow in Newark, says she has experimented with a wildlife theme — last year, it was deer; this year, squirrels and acorns.

“This has a really pretty look to it and it fits into the cabin theme,” Smith says. “This can be left out all year long.”

Popular theme trees
• Americana: Red, white and blue ribbons/ornaments. “Especially popular with the war
going on,” Richards says.

• Remembrance: White lights and older, heirloom decorations, including small photos of
family.

• Primitive: Antique style with wagons, mittens, ice skates.

• Victorian: Crystal and lace ornaments with more white, neutral colors and mauve. “There are lace gloves, hearts and old-fashioned shoes,” Richards says. “We also have little lights that look like lampposts.”

• Ohio State: Scarlet-and-gray ornaments and garlands.

• Gingerbread: Many ornaments rolled out like gingerbread, fabric gingerbread boys and girls. Effective with silk flowers, berries, rolling pins and garland of candies. “That is really a cute tree for the kitchen,” Richards says.

• Wildlife: Deer, acorns and squirrels.

• Angel trees: Angel ornaments mix well with gold ribbons, dream background ribbons, trimmed in gold with white lights. “Makes an absolutely beautiful tree if you use cream and gold tones,” Richards says. “Snowflakes are really pretty mixed in with that.”

• Snowmen: Can be displayed through February.

• Santa Claus: Always a favorite, especially with kids.

Lights & music by Bob

noreply@blogger.com (Travis) — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 14:35:00 +0000

On the beach in Maryland and Florida this summer, the waves were lapping and the sun was shining.

But the 52-year-old Warwick Township man was thinking Christmas lights. "Silent Night." Mannheim Steamroller. "Carol of the Bells." Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

In fact, Smith was dreaming of Christmas all throughout June, July and August.
Now Smith stands — arms folded, grinning — and watches his months of planning and scheming and dreaming unfold before him in a light show set to holiday music at Dutch Wonderland.

Christmas trees light up one by one, marching from left to right across the park along Route 30. Behind them, bright blue stars flash off and on in a syncopated rhythm.

A huge ash tree wrapped in light flashes on and then morphs from red to white. Strobe lights flare high in its branches.

Standing in the darkness near him, a group of park employees, some of whom have brought their kids, burst into spontaneous applause at this informal preview of the "The Royal Light Show," the newest part of the park's Dutch Winter Wonderland experience.

It's like the Fourth of July in November, with icicle lights and garlands taking the place of the fireworks.

Designed by Smith, the park's assistant maintenance director, the show grew out of a smaller holiday display he put together at his Brunnerville area home last year.

That display featured about 3,500 lights that flashed off and on in time to music that viewers could listen to on a radio station that broadcast from Smith's home.

Smith was inspired by his wife, Lara, who is wild about Christmas, and stepdaughter Shelby Schreiber, who had seen a commercial that featured a decorated house with lights that flashed in time to music.

His display was a smash. Local retirement homes ferried busloads of residents out to see it. Cars lined up on his rural road and waited their turn to slowly drive past and see the lights and hear the music.

Smith's boss from Dutch Wonderland, general manager Rick Stammel, heard about the display and drove out to Smith's house during a snowstorm to see it.

"I was so amazed by it," Stammel said. "It was really neat seeing it in the snow."

That would be a fun thing for the park to try next year, Stammel told Smith.

Done, Smith said.

"He was all over it," Stammel said. "His excitement and enthusiasm made it happen."

Smith is both a tinkerer and a computer whiz, with a bit of a designer tossed in. He bought a lights-and-music system online, as he did for his home, but then upgraded and expanded it to suit the park's needs.

He started working on the show back in March, mapping the area, figuring out what he wanted to decorate and how the show should progress.

Smith designed three shows, each about 10 minutes. The shows will be put on about every 20 minutes during the Winter Wonderland evenings.

He ended up using 100,000 lights and three miles of wire. The show is green, Smith said, as the lights are all LED, and use a tenth of the electricity of normal incandescent bulbs.

Lights in hues of purple, red, blue, green, white and yellow are strung just about everywhere within sight of the viewing area, park benches set up in rows just inside the park entrance.

The lights are roped around fences and the bridges of the park's small railroad. They outline freestanding stars and cone-shaped wire trees. They drip off roofs and are draped on pine trees.

A 60-foot ash tree alone features more than 10,000 lights wrapped around its massive trunk and its many branches.

The 14-member maintenance staff worked hard to put together the show, Smith said. Many others lent a hand as well — 25 park employees in all helped out, including the office staff who donned jeans and sweatshirts to help hang lights.

Smith already has ideas for next year. He is thinking of having a star "shoot" out of a garden area. He's trying to figure out how to incorporate the park's train, as it chugs into sight on its track during the show.

And his ideas may take root elsewhere. Hersheypark, Dutch Wonderland's sister park, has expressed interest in having a similar show. Hershey Entertainment & Resorts Co. owns both parks.

And oh, by the way, while he was getting the 100,000 LED Christmas lights set up at the park, he also was getting his display ready at 505 Hackman Road home.

His family has been draping lights for a few weeks and mulling over which songs to feature in the display, which debuts on Thanksgiving.

So, after months of having lights and carols and trees and stars dancing through his head at work and at home, does Smith ever get sick of Christmas?

(C'mon. You can tell us.)

"Nope. Never," he says. "It's something I enjoy doing and now I got to do it on a very large scale. It's fun.

"The first night the display was up last year at my home and I got a note in the door thanking me for doing it; that makes it worth it.

"I love Christmas."

IF YOU GO TO DUTCH WINTER WONDERLAND
• The show runs weekends from Nov. 21 to Dec. 30. It also will run Monday and Tuesday, Dec. 29 and 30.
• Cost is $9.95 per person for age 3 and up. Children age 2 and younger are free.
• New feature this year is "The Royal Light Show."
• About a dozen rides, a Santa's workshop, a ventriloquist's act, a gingerbread house contest and other entertainment also will be offered.