by Kade Agan
Over a billion people around the globe watch the ball drop in New York’s Times Square on New Year’s Eve. After 102 years, the countdown to midnight just wouldn’t be the same without watching that glowing Waterford Crystal orb descend earthward towards the huddled masses gathered below waiting to ring in the New Year. And this year won’t be much different. Sure, we’ll be ringing in the end of the “naughts” but aside from that the whole event should be pretty much the status quo--with one encouraging innovation.
This year’s ball is the most energy efficient yet, a move that hopefully ushers in a new era of green consciousness for the next decade. The original ball, built in 1907, was made of iron and wood with 100 25-watt bulbs. It weighed 700 pounds and measured 5 feet in diameter. This year’s model boasts 32,256 Philips Luxeon LEDs and even with more than three times as many LEDs as last year, it is also more than 20 percent more energy efficient than the 2009 model. Here’s hoping this particular gesture serves as a beacon towards a newer, greener decade for all of us.
Happy New Year!
For more information on the New Year’s Eve ball click here and here.
About Eco Encore
Eco Encore raises finds for environmental causes around the Pacific Northwest through online reselling of donated used books, CDs, DVDs and software. Since 2002 Eco Encore has shipped over 26,000 items to 51 countries, diverting about 25 tons of paper and plastic from local landfills.
It's easy to join the Eco Encore mission by donating or buying used media through our online bookstore.
