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The Benefit Of Using Solar Christmas Lights

Posted: November 13th, 2009 | Author: Steve Schafer | Filed under: Wind | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

Everybody enjoys Christmas. It is a time to get together happily with friends and family while avoiding the cold and dark outside. By putting up Christmas decorations and lights we create a beautiful atmosphere that people of all ages enjoy. Nowadays many families are worried about the rising cost of their electricity bills. To ensure that the Christmas season doesn’t unduly add to the burden, you can now install solar Christmas lights. Over the last couple of years these have found favor with many families throughout the country.

In appearance they look like ordinary Christmas lights. The difference is that they have a controller board that contains a battery linked to solar cells. From this the power is transmitted to each of the bulbs.

You may think that in winter the sun does not shine enough to provide power for solar lighting, but today’s solar cells can function even on a cloudy day. As the energy is stored in one or two batteries the lights will shine brightly throughout the night.

Apart from the financial savings, solar Christmas lights have another useful aspect. As they use a renewable source of energy they are much better for the environment than are regular Christmas lights.

Solar Christmas lights can be had in as many different varieties as ordinary Christmas lights. They come in many sizes, colors, designs, and styles. You can buy those that will be continuously on, or others that will twinkle like stars. The controller board will have settings on which you can fix the time that they will switch themselves on and turn themselves off.

Solar Christmas lights are safe to be used both indoors and out, and in any weather. You can place them on Christmas trees, guttering, porches, and throughout the garden. If you are going to put them inside your house then you must remember to place the solar cells outside! Also they can be used for other events apart from just Christmas. When you are hosting a birthday part or anniversary party they can make excellent decorations.

There are two main types of solar Christmas lights. There are the rope lights that have a row of LEDs contained in a transparent plastic tube, these look delightful when hanging from a door frame or window. The other option is string lights; these are better suited for trees and walls. All can add to a beautiful display that improves your Christmas experience.

More more information on solar Christmas lights, head on over to Steve’s Solar Lights blog at solarlightsblog.com. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service


Make it a Green Christmas and Stockpile Love not Landfill this Year

Posted: October 28th, 2009 | Author: squadron | Filed under: Uncategorized | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | No Comments »

green-christmasA mountain of Christmas gifts and goods make their way from stores and into homes each Christmas season. Unfortunately, not long after the festivities subside, many of those often well-meaning gifts move speedily on to mounds of landfill.

Slowing the migration is as easy as setting your family the Green Christmas Challenge to send as little as possible to landfill this Christmas. Inspired by the target of a approximately empty wheelie bin, you will all make decisions that generate less waste.

Many actions help with celebrating a green Christmas, like locally-grown foods to reduce food miles, switching to LED eco Christmas lights and donating gifts to charities. The massive amount of food, plastic and non-recyclable waste is the chief environmental problem, but it is an easy one for households to tackle.

Sit the team down before Christmas and discuss methods of reuse, reduce and recycle. Here’s some ideas to get you started…

Eco friendly plastic-free picnics
Disposable plastic plates and cups are made from petrochemicals, so pollution is created in their manufacture and when thrown-away they sit in landfill forever. Opt for reusable plates that you wash up or use palm leaf plates, a stylish plant alternative. They add a chic good for the environment style to your festive table and can be put onto your garden as mulch, rather than in the bin.

Trim a living tree
When Santa arrives in his carbon-neutral sleigh, surprise him with a live Australian Wollemi pine tree. This recently discovered prehistoric tree is now available in nurseries. A potted Wollemi can grow with your family to be trimmed year after year. Or, why not make it a tradition to find a lovely Eucalyptus branch that can be composted when the Christmas festivities are over.

Wrap it again
A fantastic stretch the budget and save piles of waste is to wrap presents in newspaper, magazines and even junk mail. For kids use the comics, for car lovers use the motoring pages. wrapping, place gifts inside reusable shopping bags, or sew cloth bags from festive Christmas material that your family can re-tie with ribbon yearly. For an additional special Green Christmas touch, Earth Greetings make pleasurable post consumer waste wrapping paper with Australian Christmas designs printed with vegetable inks.

Detour past the bin
, is this Christmas gift finish up in the bin within a couple of weeks? If yes, choose something else. The old saying quality not quantity is a good friend of the planet. Even the cheapest items use the planet’s limited resources, energy and water to manufacture. Rather than buy a risky gift, think about a gift voucher or make a donation to a charity on behalf of the person. Should you receive an unsuitable gift, pass it straight on to a charity like the Salvos.

A green Christmas gift for your garden
Food scraps make up a huge portion of rubbish and once in landfill they generate methane, a concentrated greenhouse gas. Compost at home instead and turn leftovers into fertiliser for your garden. The Bokashi composting bin is a popular system that sits conveniently in your kitchen.

Packaging-free paradise
Picture a paradise where Christmas morning is free from mounds of discarded plastic packaging. It only takes a little extra thought and effort. Locally made and hand-made Christmas gifts are to be over-packaged. A trip to the local Farmer’s Markets will also assist you stock up on fresh festive food with minimal packaging.

Instead of talking rubbish; this Christmas, your family will soon be asking is this for landfill, recycling or composting? And the joy of achieving your challenge will bring good tidings to all.

Biome Eco Stores is a chic retail outlet with a conscience. Firmly committed to eco friendly principles, Biome offers a unique and meaningful green Christmas collection for gifts and decoration.