Addison's new holiday tree in Beckert Park. Image: addisongreen.info
If you’re driving (or walking) by Beckert Park off Addison Circle this holiday season, you’ll find something new. Thanks to a collaboration among the Town of Addison, Post Properties and TXU Energy , visitors can enjoy the sight of a new holiday tree featuring 3,000 energy- efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) multi-color lights.
The tree debuted Dec. 15, with Mayor Pro Tempore Don Daseke doing the honors of leading residents in a countdown to the flipping of the switch.
“We’re so proud and so excited with all of the activity that happens in this area,” Daseke said. “I’m absolutely personally delighted that we’re having this tree lighting ceremony tonight. Speaking from my part, this will definitely be an annual event.”
Area businesses provided refreshments for the gathering, participants were treated to free horsedrawn carriage rides, and TXU distributed free strings of LED lights in exchange for old incandescent models, including a promise that any strings surrendered would be recycled safely.
Traditionally, Post wraps the tree trunks along Quorom Drive with holiday lights. For the tree, TXU provided 10 strings of 300 lights each of LEDs, which last longer, burn brighter, and use less energy.
Why make the switch?
Free horsedrawn carriage rides were part of the fun. Image: addisongreen.info
According to TXU, one bulb in a traditional string of C9 incandescents uses six watts of power, while a string of 50 LED lights requires just four watts. In addition, LEDs light more quickly, generate less heat, can last up to 100,000 hours, and contain no mercury.
All that efficiency can produce big savings on your electric bill. Based on five hours usage per day for 30 days at a residential rate of 12.5 cents per kilowatt hour, you can run five strings of LED miniatures for about 27 cents, compared to $1.10 for a similar string of incandescent miniatures.
So, when the lights come on in Addison, enjoy the view. This year, celebrating the season and looking out for the environment go hand in hand.
Tags: Addison Circle, Post Properties, Town of Addison, TXU Energy
