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October 1, 2009
(Red Deer, Alberta) – Red Deerians can save energy and money this year when they take part in a Christmas light exchange program that gets underway at the Kerry Wood Nature Centre on November 1.
The program, offered in partnership by The City and Kerry Wood Nature Centre, gives people the chance to exchange two strings of old, incandescent exterior holiday lights for one box of new, energy efficient LED lights.
“The Electric, Light and Power department already had identified funds to promote energy efficiency, so when the Kerry Wood Nature Centre approached us with the idea of a Christmas Light Exchange, it was the perfect fit,” said Pam Vust, Environmental Initiatives Coordinator with The City of Red Deer. “Offering this type of program not only gives people information, but it provides them with the tools to make an immediate difference for the environment and their pocketbook.”
This program is open to Red Deer residents only, and lights will be given out on a first come, first served basis. Although there is a limit of one box of free LED lights per adult per household, residents will also be given a discount coupon to purchase matching sets from Executive Home Building Centre, who supplied the lights for the program at a reduced rate. All LED lights provided through this program are multi coloured.
“Replacing incandescent house lights with LED lights can reduce your holiday energy consumption by up to 95 per cent,” said Todd Nivens, Programs Coordinator with Kerry Wood Nature Centre. “For a residence operating six strings of old Christmas lights for six hours a day, the monthly energy cost will be approximately $27. Replacing those old lights with the same number of LEDs will only cost 47 cents for the entire month.”
The Kerry Wood Nature Centre is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily and from 1 – 5 p.m. on statutory holidays. The wire from the lights received through this program will be recycled as scrap metal. Red Deerians wishing to recycle their old lights may bring in more than two strings, but they will not receive additional free LED lights.
For more information about this and other environmental education programs, call the Kerry Wood Nature Centre at 403-346-2010 or The City of Red Deer 403-342-8750 or refer to The City’s website at www.reddeer.ca/envservices.
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For more information, please contact:
Todd Nivens Pam Vust
Programs Coordinator Environmental Initiatives Coordinator
Kerry Wood Nature Centre The City of Red Deer
403-346-2010 ext. 106 403-342-8750
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