Posted by Meteorologist Jeff Edmondson

With the winter holiday season approaching, it's about time to put up the decorations and the holiday lights. But what can you do to make your holiday more green? In this weeks "Your Green Life" Meteorologist Jeff Edmondson takes a look at the different ways you can cut your energy use for this holiday season.

In the past few years, you may have noticed LED holiday lights for sale. While they are a new technology and cost a bit more than traditional lights they can provide significant benefits compared to incandescent lights.

"I think that by using LED holiday lights it's a really easy way for folks to start on that path to being more energy efficient in their home", said Amy Rutledge.

So what are some of the benefits to using LED Holiday Lights?

"Well LED lights have a lot of benefits, including, they are 75 percent more energy efficient than traditional Christmas tree lights, they also last ten times longer, they're also more durable and they are cool to the touch so they reduce the risk for a fire hazard as well" said Amy.

Also, another way to think of how much energy your are saving. If you think about one seven watt bulb, that energy could power 140 LED lights or almost 50 feet of string.
So if you are thinking of ditching the traditional lights for the energy saving and more vibrant LED lights, you can also be green with the old strings of lights that you may have.
At Airpark Products & Services in Duluth, they partnered with the Recycling Association of Minnesota to allow you to recycle your old strings of lights.

"Airpark Products and Services is a program that works with people with disabilities so this is a great opportunity for them to give back to the community" says Amanda Porath.

What is the goal of the "Recycle Your Holiday" program which is already underway?

"We are hoping to collect 50 thousand pounds of recycled lights, we recycle both the light bulbs and the copper in the wire", said Amanda.

Finally, according to Amanda Porath, the recycled light bulbs will be crushed and the glass will be recycled, and the wires will be harvested for their copper at various local vendors.
In Duluth, for Your Green Life, I'm Meteorologist Jeff Edmondson. The Northlands NewsCenter.

Most Snyder Stores locations will carry bins where you can recycle your holiday lights and they will be picked up. You can also drop off your lights directly to Airpark Products and Services. For more information call them at:
(218) 723-4631