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Dreaming of a Green Christmas

Back to Christmas in July

By Caren Baginski
We're not just talking green as in garland and trees — this year Christmas decor is going eco-friendly with energy-saving products and manufacturing processes. Got a faux tree in the basement? This is the year to go greener with a real Christmas tree, fresh garlands and the latest in Christmas lights.

Forget that tangled mess of Christmas lights that blows out year after year. LED Christmas lights are brighter, cool to the touch and, if one goes out, the rest stay lit. Plus, they're entirely eco-friendly. Using traditional mini-lights with 500 incandescent bulbs will cost you $30 for energy over 30 days. But using the same amount of lights in LED will only cost you $2.

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GKI/Bethlehem is known for their mini-lights, says Sharon Epstein, marketing service manager, which they now offer as LEDs. LED lights are brighter, Epstein says, because the light actually comes from inside the chip itself, which is manufactured in a particle-free environment to prevent impurities. A colored cap surrounds the LED, giving off the colored glow. Look for trendy colors of warm whites and purples this year in the faceted cone and berry shapes.

While they may cost a little more, LEDs tend to stay lit for the lifetime of the product, which means fewer to no replacements. Plus, there's no heat transfer so they're safer to use on any living or faux foliage.

About GKI/Bethlehem Lighting:

GKI/Bethlehem Lighting is North America's leading distributor of holiday lighting and pre-lit foliage. Their lights, pre-lit foliage and ornaments decorate theme parks, hotels, municipalities and cruise ships throughout the country and world, like Dollywood and State Street in Chicago.

www.gkibethlehem.com

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