Attendees can help power the 35-foot tall tree draped to the side of WVDEP Headquarters

CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) will hold its annual Energy Tree lighting event on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019, from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at its headquarters in Kanawha City.

The display allows attendees to provide the power via hand crank to light up a traditional 100-bulb incandescent tree or the 800-plus LED bulb, 35-foot tall Energy Tree draped to the side of the WVDEP headquarters. Turning the crank will show the difference in the amount of electricity (energy) it takes to light up each tree.

WVDEP staff will be on hand with other energy-related displays – solar racetrack, energy house and an indoor version of the crank generator – and to pass out refreshments. Santa Claus is also scheduled to attend.

LED lights use 90 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent lights and last up to 50,000 hours. Less energy use equals less pollution.

Other advantages of LED holiday lights include:
The ability to connect up to 43 premium strands together, compared to five premium strands of incandescent lights;
Since their color is in the diode and plastic, the lights will never fade, chip or peel like traditional lights;

LEDs operate at lower temperatures, reducing the risk of fire; and,
While LED holiday lighting may be more expensive initially than traditional incandescent lighting, LED lights will pay for themselves in a few seasons with lower electric bills and more years of enjoyment.

The Energy Tree display will be held at the front of the WVDEP headquarters building, located at 601 57th Street, S.E., Charleston, across from The Shoppes at Kanawha, and will be available from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. every evening through Jan. 3, 2020.