SUN-POWERED CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Christmas lights are going green;Petaluma homeowner saves energy and money by using solar power
Yovanna Bieberich, December 17, 2010 (Petaluma 360)

"There are few things more beautiful to see during the holidays than streets lined with homes aglow with twinkling lights and Christmas decorations.

"But as anyone who has decked the halls with thousands of lights knows, the resulting… bill can be somewhat discouraging. The cost of the home holiday light show has forced many to think twice about doing it at all…"

The Sparrow house (click to enlarge)

"The introduction of products such as energy-saving LED Christmas lights has helped many keep decorating their homes for the holidays…[John] Sparrow [installed solar panels on his home to lower his electricity bill and] keep the cost of decorating affordable…

"With solar energy on his side, Sparrow has gotten back into holiday decorating this year. He currently has about 11,000 lights on his home, many of them LEDs, along with about 800 ornaments on trees in the yard, light-up deer drinking from a fountain and a blow-up Santa…Sparrow said it takes him about 3 1/2 weeks to complete his decorating…"