LED light exchange goes tomorrow

In an effort to get more people to switch over to energy-efficient seasonal light-emitting diode (SLED) lights this holiday season, “Project Porchlight” and the Ontario Power Authority are hosting a light exchange at Canadian Tire tomorrow.
From 10 a.m.-2 p.m., residents are encouraged to bring their old incandescent Christmas lights to Canadian Tire and get a free string of SLEDs when they buy another string.
Fort Frances Power Corp. CEO Jorg Ruppenstein encouraged area residents to take advantage of the light exchange offer.
“It’s a good deal, and the right thing to do all around,” he said yesterday. “I would encourage people to come out, bring their old-style lights, and do their part in conserving energy.
“And you can get a new set of lights out of it—what a deal,” noted Ruppenstein.
He clarified the light exchange is a provincial program, which is locally facilitated by—but not funded by—the FFPC. However, you do not have to be an FFPC customer to benefit from tomorrow’s light exchange.
For those who haven’t yet been convinced to convert to SLED lights, facts to keep in mind include:
•a string of SLED lights uses only 0.05 watts of electricity per bulb compared to a traditional incandescent light consuming seven watts per bulb;
•although SLED lights cost more to buy, they pay for themselves in one-five years through reduced energy use and bulb replacement;
•SLED lights can last up to 200,000 hours compared to 1,000 hours for a traditional incandescent string; and
•SLED lights are safer and more durable, with no filament or glass bulbs to break, and they produce very little heat, reducing the risk of fire.
Two years ago, the FFPC held a very successful LED Christmas light exchange program in partnership with Canadian Tire that saw hundreds of strings of lights turned in.
And while there was no light exchange last year, FFPC customers got a break when buying LED Christmas lights, as well as other energy smart products, with a special coupon book they received in the mail.