Monday 26 November 2007

Lit up Christmas

It is very difficult and disturbing to live in the real (and wasteful) world with energy saving eyes. Your blood boils at every corner and you launch disapproving glances towards every careless human being that leaves the toilet lights on. So imagine how difficult it is for me to walk around town during this festive season.
Every lamp post in the town I live in is covered in incandescent coloured light bulbs (the same one government is talking about phasing out in half a decade), there is a huge Christmas tree in the square covered in non-efficient fairy lights and very bright illuminated decorations hang from every available edge, doorway, lamppost, stall, window, etc.
I have also been trying hopelessly to find where the plugs are, switch things off and sabotage these watt-monsters of Christmas.
But I don't want to be a joy-killer. It's ok to use beautiful low-energy LED lights, consuming a few watts only, which can be put on a timer so they are not on all night. There are also scores of colourful decorations that look lovely with no need for background lighting. If you're one of those people who like to make your house visible from the moon at Christmas or make your neighbours green with envy, then how about some solar powered fairy lights?
Go for no lights or green lights so we can still be able to enjoy some snow in the winter.

3 comments:

admin said...

I feel your pain!

Anonymous said...

my problem with LED lights is threefold:

1. when they burn out you have to get rid of the whole string, not just one light. If they last a long time that's not too bad, but I've had them burn out in just 3 months.

2. they are not as nice. The colours aren't nearly as good and they don't show up as well.

3. they don't cast enough light. At this time of year I like to light stairs and so forth with Christmas lights.

Solar powered lights? I'd love to, but there's not enough sun where I live.

Anonymous said...

With China, India and the USA pumping out pollution on a colossal scale I don't think my ONCE A YEAR christmas lights will do too much damage. Have you looked at the size of Britain on an atlas? Global warming is a natural phenomenon, stop trying to make people feel guilty about enjoying themselves at Christmas. Life's too short, mate.