La Plata Electric Association offering rebates for LED holiday light purchase

”

DURANGO, Colo. – To encourage consumers to replace old holiday light strings with new, energy efficient LED lighting, La Plata Electric Association (LPEA), in partnership with Tri-State Generation and Transmission, is offering rebates on LED holiday lighting through Dec. 31, 2008.

LPEA customers who purchase strings of LED lights can receive a rebate of $2 per string of 49 bulbs or less, or $4 per string of 50 bulbs or more. There is no limit to the number of strings purchased, but the original sales receipt must be submitted with the rebate form. Forms are available at local retailers, as well as at LPEA offices in Durango and Pagosa Springs, and on the web, www.lpea.coop.

“Light emitting diodes or LED holiday lights are a great example of the on-going research to increase energy efficiency,” said Ray Pierotti, LPEA project specialist, who oversees “all things Green” for LPEA. “LEDs save up to 98 percent of the electricity needed to power conventional painted or ceramic coated bulbs.”

Many in LPEA’s service territory had their first exposure to LED holiday lights in December 2007 when the approximately 100-ft. spruce tree in Buckley Park was decorated with some 3,000 feet (120 strings) of energy saving, jewel-tone LED lights. LPEA purchased and donated the LEDs, which had an energy draw equivalent to a 100 watt light bulb, and cost School District 9-R, owners of Buckley Park, $8 a month to light. Similar savings were realized by the towns of Ignacio and Pagosa Springs, which also decorated holiday trees with LED lights from LPEA. The cooperative is donating additional LED lights to all municipalities again this year to further the effort.

The LED lights’ visual appearance – clear, rich, jewel tones – are superior to the traditional incandescents, but the benefits of LED lighting far surpass the beauty, according to Pierotti.

“The electricity cost to light a holiday tree in your home with LEDs is $0.13 to $0.17 per season, compared to $6 to $10 for incandescents,” said Pierotti, noting that using LEDs for outdoor lighting displays realize even greater savings. “Remember the Chevy Chase movie Christmas Vacation where Chevy’s character Clark Griswold lit his home with 25,000 bulbs? If he could have used LEDs, his electricity bill would drop from $2,400 to $59.”

Cost is a great motivator, but LEDs are also environmentally friendly. The low energy demand means less electricity is required, and thus less carbon emissions from power plants. Also, in addition to their long “glowing” life, the LEDs are more durable, with the tiny semi-conductor chips that cause the illumination encased in hard to break plastic. A string of LED lights is expected to last up to 10 years.

Further, LEDs are safer than incandescents. They remain cool to the touch and generate very little heat. This aids in fire prevention on dry trees or over-heated plastic. And with the small electricity draw, it’s unlikely they will overload a circuit (as the fictional Clark Griswold experienced).

“At this point, LED holiday lights are more expensive than the traditional incandescents, so we’re hoping this rebate will give homeowners and businesses an incentive to change out their lights,” said Pierotti. “The Electric Power Research Institute has determined that if all the seasonal mini-lights were switched to LEDs, electricity cost savings would exceed $250 million, and carbon emissions would be reduced by 400,000 tons per year.”

LPEA, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative established in 1939, provides to its nearly 30,000 members with more than 40,000 meters, safe, reliable electricity at the lowest reasonable cost, while being environmentally responsible.  For further information on the LED rebate program, contact Pierotti directly, 970.382.7770, or visit www.lpea.coop.

 

# # #

”