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Tuesday, December 3, 2013 @ 3:03 PM
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Considering new lights for your tree this holiday season?
If you are, or you’re just curious about LED (light-
emitting diodes) lights, stop by the West Virginia
Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) headquarters
from 6 to 9 p.m., on Friday, Dec. 6, for the kickoff of the
agency’s newest outreach display, the DEP Energy Tree.

The display will allow you to provide the power, via hand
crank, to light up a traditional 100-bulb incandescent tree
and then an 800-plus light, 35-foot LED tree, draped to the
side of the DEP building. By turning the crank and feeling
resistance, you’ll better understand the different amount
of electricity it takes to illuminate the incandescent
tree, versus the more energy-efficient LED tree.

DEP staff will be on hand to answer questions and pass out
refreshments. A special visitor will be with us, as well,
so bring the kids and your camera!

LED lights use 90 percent less electricity than traditional
incandescent lights and last up to 50,000 hours. Less
energy use equals less pollution. Other advantages of LED
holiday lights include:

• The ability to connect up to 43 premium strands, compared
to five premium strands of incandescent lights;
• Since their color is in the diode and plastic, the lights
will never fade, chip or peel like traditional lights can;
• Because LEDs operate at lower temperatures, they reduce
fire risk indoors and out; and,
• While LED holiday lighting can be more expensive
initially than traditional incandescent string lighting,
LED lights will pay for themselves in a few seasons in
terms of durability and lower power costs.

The LED display will be on the front of the DEP
headquarters building, located at 601 57th St., S.E.,
Charleston, across from The Shoppes at Kanawha, and will be
available from 6 to 9 p.m. every evening through Jan. 6,
2014.

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