Holiday Green Ideas, LED lights & Upcoming events!

Written by: Robin Kinlin on Nov 27, 2007 1:38 PM EST

LED Lights Make Your Holiday Greener
Twinkling lights on trees and houses are an icon of the holiday season, but their energy consumption might put a damper on your celebratory mood: this year’s holiday lights could generate as much global warming pollution as about 250,000 cars, according to UCS research. Most of this electricity is needlessly wasted, because the mini and C-7 incandescent lights used by most homeowners are only about 10 percent efficient.

 There are a variety of ways to decorate the home without using electricity, but families who enjoy the look or tradition of holiday lights can save money and help protect the environment by switching to LED (light-emitting diode) holiday lights. LEDs employ semiconductor technology to convert electricity into light directly, resulting in significant energy savings. An LED uses approximately 0.04 watt of electricity, compared with 0.45 watt for a mini incandescent light bulb and 7 watts for a C-7 incandescent bulb.

LEDs provide several other benefits as well:

Safety—LEDs stay cool to the touch, posing less of a fire hazard compared with incandescent lights. In addition, their low energy consumption allows you to connect up to 25 strands of lights end to end without overloading a circuit.  
Durability—The small size and solid construction of LED bulbs make them less likely to break. 
Long Life—LED bulbs can last up to 100,000 hours or more, which is equivalent to more than 10 years of continuous indoor use. If a single bulb in an LED strand does happen to fail, the remaining bulbs will continue to work.
While they have a higher purchase price (they cost about two to three times more than incandescent lights), LED holiday lights quickly pay for themselves through energy savings. Using the national average residential rate of 11.06 cents per kilowatt-hour, it costs only 32 cents to use 300 LED lights for five hours per day for 45 days. In comparison, using incandescent mini lights or C-7 lights for the same amount of time would cost $3.36 and $52.25, respectively. This does not include replacement costs for incandescent light strands, which do not last as long as LED strands. You can reduce your energy costs even further by using solar-powered LED lights, which can be used indoors or out.

Regardless of which bulbs you use to light up your holiday, you can maximize their efficiency by plugging them into an automatic timer and using mirrors and tinsel around indoor lights to increase the lighting effects.

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Did you buy nothing on Black Friday?
Congratulations!
If you have to consume, be a smart consumer:

http://goodstorm.com/index.html

Also try making a donation to a green cause as a gift this year.

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NEXT OCDFA MEETING:
Tues. Dec. 4th 7-9pm Joshua Huddy Brew Pub, 1250 Hooper Ave. Toms
River, Across from the OC Mall. We are at the high tables in the bar
area, look for the Drinking Liberally signs & listen for the neo-con
bashing, can't miss us.

Last year we collected over 50 Toys For Tots for needy kids, under
the Bushies there are more and more needy every year, so please bring
a new, unwrapped toy, it's for the kids!

It's also DFA 2007 year end wrap up! We'll be adding up our
accomplishments this year, you don't realize how much difference you
make until you see it the review (or up on a movie screen like
Freeheld)

Also giving out WTG (Way To Go!) Awards to members, is it going to be
you this year? Come find out!

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VOTE in the OCDFA/PDA 2008 Online Presidential Pulse Poll!

Who are you supporting so far?
HURRY! Get your vote in now! poll closes Dec. 3rd at midnight.

http://www.dfalink.com/poll.php?id=500

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Participate in an Iowa-style Presidential Caucus
Friday night, Dec. 7. in Roselle Park

RSVP: http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=25733

5-7pm - Open House, with info tables for each candidate

7pm - Welcome by Linda Stender, followed by 5-7 minute short presentations by each Presidential Candidate's NJ surrogate

8pm - close - Iowa-style caucus with groups retreating to separate corners, winnowing down as the evening progresses. 3 ranked winners will emerge.

Featured Speakers TBA. Co-sponsors include our friends at: Blue Jersey, NJ's Democratic Future, Garden State Equality, NJ Stonewall Dems, NJ Jewish Democratic Caucus, Democratic State Committee Progressive Caucus, Blue Wave, NJ Arab American Democratic Caucus, B.A.L.L.O.T., National Jewish Democratic Council/NJ Chapter, and PDA.

$10 "Poll Tax" comes with hot appetizers and cash bar.

What will happen? You decide!

http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=25733

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DFA At the Holidays:
It's that time again!

Annual DFA at the Holidays - Statewide chat & PARTY!

Saturday afternoon, December 8 in Morristown

RSVP; http://www.dfalink.com/event.php?id=25761

Come join DFA members from across the state for an end-of-year celebration as we plan where we'll go in 2008. Then walk across the street with us, as we take over the pub at The Famished Frog across the street (families welcome).

1pm - Meeting at Morris County Democratic HQ - 11 Washington St. , Morristown

3pm - Party at The Famished Frog - 11 Washington St., Morristown (across street). Order from bar menu.

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Sat. Dec. 15th
Berkeley Dems Toys For Tots Holiday Dinner
You can't go out to eat for this little, not to mention getting a delicious homecooked meal, having holiday fun with your fellow dems and helping out some needy kids.
Join us!

Saturday, December 15th: Berkeley Township Democratic Club

"Toys For Tots" Holiday Party/Dinner,

Recreation Center, Rt. 9 Bayville, 6:00-8:00pm

Tickets $15 or $25 a couple

Get your tickets NOW- Limited Seating!

Includes Venetian Salad, Roast Beef, Penne Pasta, Shrimp Scampi, Potato Bake, Coffee, Desserts, Music and fun!       
Bring a Toy & BYOB   

Call Robin 732-237-9217 or email dawndollcentral@aol.com for tickets

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Location: Toms River, NJ 08753