CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Nov. 26, 2019) – The
West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) will hold its
annual Energy Tree lighting event on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at
its headquarters in Kanawha City.
The
display allows attendees to provide the power via hand crank to light up a
traditional 100-bulb incandescent tree or the 800-plus LED bulb, 35-foot tall
Energy Tree draped to the side of the WVDEP headquarters. Turning the crank
will show the difference in the amount of electricity (energy) it takes to
light up each tree.
WVDEP
staff will be on hand with other energy-related displays – solar racetrack,
energy house and an indoor version of the crank generator – and to pass out
refreshments. Santa Claus is also scheduled to attend.
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
together, 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;
- LEDs operate at lower temperatures, reducing the
risk of fire; and,
- While LED holiday lighting may be more expensive
initially than traditional incandescent lighting, LED lights will pay for
themselves in a few seasons with lower electric bills and more years of
enjoyment.
The
Energy Tree display will be on the front of the WVDEP headquarters building,
located at 601 57th Street, S.E., Charleston, across from The
Shoppes at Kanawha, and will be available from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every evening through
January 3, 2020.