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2012 is set to be a big year for energy-saving technology. On the 1st of January, brand new energy and lighting standards will go into effect under the 2012 Energy Independence and Security Act in the US, replacing the old act of 2007.

For many, the forthcoming year is already shaping up to be 'the end of the Edison era,' as more people than ever are expected to turn off their wasteful incandescent bulbs and switch on to the idea of energy-efficient LED lighting.

This isn't a big surprise as, on the 31st of December, an estimated one billion worldwide viewers will be watching the famous New Year's Eve ceremony in Times Square, New York. As part of the celebrations, an enormous, luminous sphere is lowered just before midnight to mark the exact end of one year and the beginning of another.

The so-called 'ball drop' tradition is almost as old as lighting itself, and has been welcoming in the New Year since 1907, with the exception of two years during the Second World War.

The iconic centrepiece of the celebration has been through several incarnations, the most recent of which is an LED version that debuted in 2008, as part of the ceremony's 100th anniversary.

The aluminium ball, measuring 12 feet in diameter and weighing almost 12,000 pounds, has been outfitted with 32,256 individual LED Lights. Its exterior consists of 2,688 triangular crystal panels onto which the LED Lights project a breathtaking array of colours and patterns during its descent.

Overall, the ball is able to recreate up to 16 million different colours, which is mighty impressive!

But that isn't the best part. Since its conversion to LED, the ball now uses 88% less energy than when it was illuminated with halogen bulbs. Because of its low power consumption, the latest version of the ball has become the first to be on display all year round!

Of course, as well as the energy-saving feature of the LED lights being a huge factor in the ball’s new, year-round use, they also have a life-expectancy that’s 20 times that of the halogens they replaced.  This means they require much less maintenance and hardly ever need to be replaced; a good job for something that’s suspended above one of the busiest commercial intersections in Midtown Manhattan!

The ball drop in Times Square, therefore, represents a lot more than just the movement into the New Year. It’s also a highly visible public symbol of progress towards a brighter and better future, with LED Lighting leading the way.

According to Phillips LED, the company behind the ball's light source, it’s a sign that more people than ever will begin making the transition to energy efficient LED lighting.

The LED technology powering the New Year's Eve Ball is the very same that has become increasingly available to millions of people all around the world.

With each year that passes, LED lighting steadily becomes more and more affordable, coming within reach of a greater portion of the world's population. At the same time, the quality and reliability increases exponentially, so if you haven't already converted to LED lighting, then make sure that 2012 is the year you do.

To see our entire range of LED lights, pop over to our online store website.

And, if you’d like a chat with one of our customer service advisors about switching over to LED lighting, give us a call on 0116 321 4120 or send an e-mail to cs@wled.co.uk.

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