The National Tree

LED technology leads GE to create the most energy-efficient National Christmas Tree in history

(ARA) – This year, GE Consumer and Industrial has created America’s first National Christmas Tree outfitted from top to bottom with energy-saving LED technology, including many light strings and ornaments used on previous year’s trees. Inspired by the efforts of American families to reduce, reuse and recycle, the tree is the most energy-efficient tree in history – consuming only 6,000 watts of energy, compared to 18,000 watts on last year’s tree and an average of 40,000 watts on national trees in the traditional, all-incandescent light era.

The wattage reduction was possible because GE has, for the last three years, been gradually trimming the tree with more LED (light emitting diode) lighting, which is powered by tiny computer chips and has up to 20 times the life of traditional incandescent lighting. Since they last so much longer, the company was able to reuse more than half the LED light strings from previous year’s trees. They also retrofitted ornaments from previous years with new LED light strands.

“Recycling and reusing LED lights and ornaments from past designs was the smart thing to do, particularly in today’s economy, in which Americans across our nation are becoming more energy conscious,” says Mary Beth Gotti, manager of the GE Lighting & Electrical Institute. “The brightness and variety of the LEDs has improved so much that for the first time, we’re able to incorporate them so broadly in the design.”

A star-studded holiday

Although this year’s tree design will use considerably less energy, it will shine brightly with more lights than ever before. It will feature 750 Energy Star-rated strings of white LED lights, half that are C5 LED lights recycled from last year and half that are LED crystal minis – a new product that will help give the lighting a three-dimensional look. Each string of LED lights only costs about 14 cents to run for the entire holiday season. The heirloom topper – a 42-inch star illuminated with industrial-grade white GE Tetra® LEDs – that has graced the National Christmas Tree for the past three years, will again make an appearance.

The ornaments all come from the tree’s recent history: 42 gold 12-inch stars from 2008; 42 white 15-inch and 20-inch stars from 2004; and 54 red and gold 18-inch, 24-inch and 30-inch starbursts from 1998.

To add more visual interest, the 56 state and territory trees will be adorned with a combination of C5 LED lights from last year and new LED pearl lights. While GE provides the background lights, teams from each state provide ornaments for the state trees.

Survey shows Americans want energy savings

If a recent study commissioned by GE and conducted by Goodmind Market Research is any indication, this year Americans will be decorating with LEDs in growing numbers. When asked if they planned to save energy this season, 56 percent said “yes,” while 24 percent planned on decorating with LED lights.

In the process of doing the research, some other fun facts emerged. People in the West were more likely to decorate with LED lights than the Northeast or South. Females prefer white lights over multi-colored. People in the Northeast are most likely to decorate with white lights and use real trees, while people in the Midwest and South were most likely to use multi-colored lights and artificial trees.

LEDs offer lots of benefits, from Energy Smart ConstantON LED lights that stay lit when a bulb is broken, to five-year limited warranties, and a wide variety of shapes, sizes and colors to choose from.

“LEDs are quickly becoming the people’s choice, and for good reason. They’re more durable, and reduce energy usage by about 80 percent over traditional incandescent bulbs. The energy-efficient lighting on the National Christmas Tree is symbolic of what’s going on in homes across the nation,” Gotti says.

GE has been designing the National Christmas Tree since 1962, producing and donating the lighting and decorations. The lighting of the National Christmas Tree is an unbroken tradition that began in 1923 when President Calvin Coolidge lit the first tree. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com.

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Unfortunately QBE Regional companies General Casualty and Unigard often see an increase in fire claims during the holiday season. Property insurance experts Cindy Woodford and Jon Farris have several tips for homeowners that can help prevent a fire from ruining your festivities.

Trimming the tree
Last year more than 33 million American homes included a natural Christmas tree during the holidays and these same trees account for hundreds of fires annually, according to the U.S. Fire Administration. For example, one Unigard policyholder plugged five strings of lights into a single outlet; the resulting Christmas tree fire caused nearly $300,000 in damage.

Typically shorts in electric lights or open flames from candles or matches start the fires. Farris, homeowners assistant vice president for General Casualty, notes that if your tree is fresh and well watered and hasn’t dried out, the chances of a fire are much slimmer. A fire-resistant artificial tree is an even safer choice.

“It can be hard to tell just how old a pre-cut tree is. On a fresh tree, the needles should be hard to pull out or break, and they shouldn’t fall out when you shake it. The trunk butt should also be sticky from resin when you touch it,” says Farris.

He also advises cutting about two inches off the bottom of the trunk to help it absorb water. Most importantly, water the tree daily to keep it green longer. Placing the tree at least three feet away from heat sources like a fireplace or heat register is also recommended.

Candles
Candle fires peak during the holiday season. Many fires start when a burning candle is left unattended or placed too close to combustible decorations, like greenery or wrapping paper.

To help reduce the threat of a candle fire, Woodford, homeowners vice president for Unigard and QBE Regional insurance companies, advises keeping candles at least one foot away from other materials. Only place them in holders that are nonflammable and heat-resistant.

Also keep candles out of the bedroom. Forty percent of fires start in bedrooms, often when the flame ignites bedding or mattresses, says consumerreports.org.

The chemicals used to produce candles and wicks can also affect your health. A small percentage of wicks in older candles may contain lead. These wicks emit lead into the air when burning, increasing the risk of lead poisoning. This threat is even greater in children, and even low levels of exposures can be dangerous over time. Other petroleum chemicals used in candle wax can also cause adverse health reactions.

If you have older holiday candles among your collection of holiday decor, check the wicks for lead. Inspect the wick for a metal-core in the center or contact the manufacturer. Don’t burn the candle if you suspect the wick is lead. Soy candles are another alternative to paraffin or petroleum-based candles and have fewer health effects and are better for the environment.

Lighting up the house
Whether they flash, blink, twinkle or just shine, holiday lights are another common cause of holiday fires. To reduce the chances of an electrical fire, only use lights that have been tested for safety and contain the label of an independent testing laboratory, such as the Underwriters Laboratories. Inspect old lights for cracks, broken sockets or exposed wires and either dispose of or repair them. Invest in light-emitting diode (LED) lights for your holiday decorating. LED lights are more energy efficient and safer because they aren’t combustible like ordinary lights. Don’t leave the lights on when you’re away from home or asleep. Never use lights on a metallic tree. Faulty lights can cause electrocution. Keep lights and wires away from children.

“The last thing anyone wants to experience during the holidays is a fire,” says Woodford. “Even though this time of year can be busy and stressful, take the time to decorate and celebrate safely.”

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The traditional holiday fir, the Norfolk Island Pine, has a back story worthy of a Hollywood movie. When you see these delicately shaped pines at your favorite retail store, you’re taking home a bit of nautical history.

Norfolk Island Pines or “Araucaria heterophylla” are native to Norfolk Island in the South Pacific. Their romantic history involves a famous sea captain and sultry South Sea Islands. In 1774, during his second exploratory sea voyage to the South Pacific, Captain James Cook discovered Norfolk Island.

Little Norfolk Island Pine trees make great gifts for your little ones.

On a weary vessel named Resolution, Cook and his crew also discovered stately 200-foot giant pines they named Norfolk Island Pines. They were prized as a source of pine planks desperately needed for ship building and nearby flax for making sails.

Today, like modern day explorers, a few intrepid seed cone “hunters” from Florida travel to the Hawaiian island of Oahu every two years to revisit the grand Norfolk Island Pines that thrive in the warm, tropical breezes and coastal soil.

The harvesters brave dizzying heights of 100 feet to pluck the hardiest seed cones from the whirling branches. The lime green prickly seed cones are then shipped to Costa Farms south of Miami, where horticultural experts plant them, using six to eight seeds per pot to assure consistently superior pines for perfect holiday decorating.

Add holiday cheer to a cozy corner in your living room with Norfolk Island Pines.

The soft and compact needles, strong branches, and naturally symmetrical shape of the Norfolk Island Pine make it the ideal holiday tree. It can handle homemade ornaments and keepsakes, and provide endless decorating and gift-giving options.

“Miniature evergreens are the trend in home decor, particularly with live trees like the Norfolk Island Pine,” says Ethne Clark of Traditional Home magazine. “These miniature versions are elegant in a lovely container on the mantel, or decorated in the children’s room for fun.”

Small enough for a table-top display or large enough to be the dramatic focal point of any room, the pines tuck nicely into tight spaces in apartments, dorm rooms, patios or cozy corners. And, they come in a variety of sizes from 14 to 44 inches tall for a nice floor plant.

“These living trees are affordable, eco-friendly ways to decorate and provide years of pleasure,” says Jose Smith, chief executive officer of Costa Farms, one of the nation’s leading nurseries.

Make a dramatic holiday display by your fireplace with Norfolk Island Pines.

After the holidays, you can place the tree in a pretty pot to beautify your spaces and naturally refresh your indoor air.

Other creative gift ideas and decorating tips with a Norfolk Island Pine include:

* Stumped on a teacher’s gift and refuse to buy another candle? Many table-top trees come fully decorated with a gift tag and fit nicely on desks.
* Holiday party coming up? The trees make great hostess gifts. Don’t forget your boss, friends, and colleagues.
* Express yourself! Enjoy your family time by encouraging your children to decorate their own tree. Create theme trees like a “tropical Christmas’ for your dining and family rooms — adorned with mini flowers, tropical fish ornaments and seashells.
* Don’t forget your kids in college. Norfolk Island Pines make perfect gifts for students who want to decorate and add green to their rooms.

Caring for Your Norfolk Island Pine:
* They grow best indoors in a sunny location and prefer to be near a window — but away from direct heat. Avoid direct intense sunlight.
* Indoors they flourish in 50 percent humidity so consider running a humidifier or sit them in a tray of pebbles, watering the pebbles during winter months.
* Keep the soil moist but don’t let it dry out or stand in water.
* If you live where the temperature stays above 60 degrees (such as zones nine and10), your Norfolk Island Pine can be planted outdoors in the landscape.
* As a houseplant, the Norfolk Island Pine naturally filters the air from indoor toxins and provides much-needed moisture during the dry winter months.

Select from 14- to 44-inch tall trees, fully decorated or ready for your finishing touch, available at neighborhood retailers. For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit www.costafarms.com.

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And don

Think green is just the traditional color of the holidays? Think again. This season it’s more than a color. It’s the hippest way to decorate while giving back to both your family and Mother Earth.

And the easiest, most festive way to be an earth friendly elf is to decorate with a living Norfolk Island Pine. No live trees to cut down, no dead needles to clean up and no discarded tree to drag to the curb and overload the landfills.

“These living Christmas trees are inexpensive and eco-chic, all wrapped in one decorated package,” says Jose Smith, CEO of Costa Farms, one of the nation’s leading nurseries.

And since Christmas trees are one of the most popular traditions of the season, these miniature living trees present a variety of decorating and gift-giving options along with many green benefits.

But think small. According to Lynn Long from Southern Living, large living trees are “high-maintenance affairs, but these miniature versions are fun to decorate and have some definite advantages over their big, tall look-alikes.”

Easy to grow, Norfolk Island Pines make cheerful centerpieces during your holiday feast and add eco-flair to your home’s decor. A native of the South Pacific, the soft, compact needles and naturally symmetrical shape of the tree provides a charming backdrop for all your seasonal celebrations.

Small enough for a tabletop display in the kitchen or hall or large enough to be the focal point of any room, they tuck nicely into tight spaces in apartments, dorm rooms, patios or cozy corners. After the holidays, untrim your mini tree and place it in a pretty pot and use as a house plant. With just a little care, your Norfolk Island Pine will reward you for many Christmases to come.

Decorating and Gift Giving Tips with Mini Trees

For a green Christmas this year, check out these fun tips:

* “Why not have a living tree in every room?” suggests Southern Living’s Long. “You can get creative and have some fun using your special collections of ornaments on different trees, either in one location or scattered throughout the house.”

* Long suggests choosing a theme for each room, adding petite cooking utensils for the kitchen, candy canes in the den and lovely gold or silver ribbons entwined with flowers in the living room, all in colors that complement the room’s décor.

* For a dramatic look, decorate three to five “themed” trees and set them on your dining table or mantel.

* And don’t forget the children’s own little tree for their rooms. “Think of all the fun and memories you and your kids will have decorating the tree with handmade paper decorations, candies, popcorn and small miniature lights,” says Long.

* Norfolk Island Pines are perfect gifts for college students or apartment dwellers who want a touch of Christmas but don’t have space for a large tree.

* Don’t know what to give your child’s teacher, your boss or hostess? Pick up either the 14- or 22-inch Norfolk Island Pine fully decorated with a gift tag.

Care Tips
Place the Norfolk Island Pine in an open, bright location such as on countertops, tabletops or in an office, but not in full sun. They prefer to be near a window but away from direct heat. Keep the soil moist but don’t let it dry out or stand in water. Feed with a complete balanced fertilizer every month.

As a house plant, the Norfolk Island Pine naturally filters the air and adds much needed moisture to a room, especially needed during the winter. It also absorbs and breaks down harmful pollutants, giving you and your family an extra Christmas gift — a healthier and greener environment.

If you live where the temperature stays above 60 degrees, such as Zones 9 and 10, your Norfolk Island Pine tree can be planted in the landscape and loved for many years.

Available at neighborhood retailers, 14- or 22-inch Norfolk Island Pines come fully decorated and ready for the party, or select the larger 44-inch tree and custom decorate it with your favorite ornaments.

This year go “green” with a living Norfolk Island Pine and create lasting memories for you and your family. For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit www.costafarms.com.

Courtesy of ARAcontent