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SPENDING TO SAVE
Although LED holiday lights have a higher purchase price than traditional
Humanity among
benefiting charities
incandescent lights, they quickly pay for themselves through energy
savings. LEDs also have a greater longevity than the traditional options,
lasting an estimated 50,000 to 100,000 hours.
ENERGY COST OF COMPARABLE OPTIONS CONTINUED from page 1A This year, members of the
Lighting for an 8-foot tree for five hours per day for 30 days; Energy cost is calculated at $.0823/kilowatt hour. Adds Kris Tenny-Brittian: Old Wheels Car Club, a group
“The other night, a family to which both Kavanaugh and
$2 $4 $6 $8 $10 was out there with this little Bob Emery belonged, banded
girl dancing in the yard with together to help erect the dis-
LED mini-ice (280 bulbs on four strings, 14 watts) the music. It keeps you going, play to continue Bob Emery’s
and you want to do it more.” dream.
LED C7 (300 bulbs, 24 watts) For Sharon Emery, a holi- “I wasn’t going to put them
day light display on Stirling up,” Sharon Emery said. “I’m
Incandescent premium mini-lights (300 bulbs, 108 watts) Court, off Highland Drive, is so glad now that they forced
about carrying on her hus- me to do it. It’s helping me
Incandescent standard mini-lights (300 bulbs, 144 watts) get through the
band’s legacy.
Bob Emery, holidays. The first
Incandescent C7 (125 bulbs, 750 watts)
who died this “It’s a very couple weeks,
I couldn’t be in
spring, made his
displays by hand. comforting any of the rooms
facing the street.
He included a feeling to be out I hid in my base-
INSIDE THE ILLUMINATION race car in honor
of Carl Edwards, there with the ment to avoid
Light emitting diodes (LEDs) are found in many devices
such as digital clocks, watches and appliances. They
a church with a
swinging bell, lights. I feel like them.” That all
can be collected together to form television screens or
traffic lights. The perks of LEDs are that they are tiny
a gingerbread my husband’s changed when she
started talking to
house and a
energy efficient light bulbs that easily fit into an Nativity scene. with me.” people. Hearing
electrical circuit. After people how much the
Sharon Emery display meant to
began driving Christmas light decorator
HOW LEDs WORK by the house, he Columbia over the
1 Current from the wires passes forward Emitted light decided he want- years changed
direction, from the anode post to the ed to make a difference by her mind.
cathode post, which causes negative raising money for Habitat for “Now I love them all the
electrons and positive holes to move Nearly indestructible Humanity. He set out a dona- more,” Emery said. “It’s a
in opposite directions. colored epoxy casing tion tin can. very comforting feeling to
“His goal was always to be out there with the lights.
2 Free electrons exist at a higher raise enough money to help I feel like my husband’s with
energy level than the holes. This Dome lens Habitat for Humanity build me.”
causes the free electron to lose a house,” said family friend Nightly she collects dona-
energy when it falls into the hole. Kenneth Kavanaugh. tions and greets everyone
The energy emitted takes the
form of a light photon.
Wedge Anode post SAFETY STATISTICS “We chose Habitat for who drives by to see her hus-
wire bond Holiday lights and other decorative lighting Humanity because 90 per- band’s masterpiece. She often
were involved in an estimated average of cent of what we collect stays gives away hugs of gratitude
3 The size of an 170 home structure fires per year from right here in the community,” to those who donate.
electron’s fall Cathode post; 2003 to 2007, according to the National Sharon Emery said. “It’s the “I feel like I’m surrounded
determines its energy reflector cup Fire Protection Association. LEDs, unlike, people of Columbia giving by the love of the commu-
level, which in turn incadescents, reduce the risk of fire since back to Columbia.” nity,” she said.
determines the color the bulbs do not get hot to the touch.
of the photon. A
higher fall produces a Negative HOME STRUCTURE FIRES IGNITED
higher energy level BY DECORATIVE LIGHTS
Positive By month from 2003 to 2007
and also a higher
light frequency. 50 percent
40
30
ELISA DAY/Missourian
A colorful display of candy canes and Christmas lights
Sources: U.S. CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION, NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION, GREEN
OPTIONS, HOW STUFF WORKS, ENERGY STAR, WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION ENERGY PROGRAM, decorates a house Tuesday on Stratford Court in northwest
HOLIDAYLEDS.COM, CONSUMER REPORTS DATA, WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATION, ANTIQUE CHRISTMAS Columbia.
LIGHTS MUSEUM, ENVIRONMENTALLIGHTS.COM, HOLIDAYLEDS.COM; CHRISTMASLIGHTSOURCE.COM