GE re-creates elements of traditional past National Christmas Tree designs with modern, high efficiency LED lights
This year marks GE’s 50th year providing the design and lights for the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C. This year also marks the 90 lighting of the National Tree. With this in mind, the new lighting design reflects elements of past designs and celebrates these impressive milestones.
The first lighting design for the National Christmas Tree featured very traditional red, green and white colored lights. Since GE’s participation, one of the earliest ornament designs by lighting engineer Alvin Hart, was shaped like a star. This year, as in the past three years, LED technology provides all the lighting. Green and red crystal miniature LED lights are complemented by twinkling warm white LEDs that add shimmer to the design. Star-shaped LED ornaments are adorned with a gold metallic finish. This finish also provides sparkle to the tree’s appearance during the day. The heirloom topper design, used for the eighth consecutive year, was upgraded with commercial grade Tetra®MAX LEDs.
“GE is very proud to be a part of this great, long standing tradition. It is very rewarding to use today’s lighting technology to create a beautiful, energy-efficient design that celebrates the past and symbolizes the hope and promise of the holiday season,” said Mary Beth Gotti, Manager of the GE Lighting Institute in Cleveland, Ohio.
The lighting design for this year’s National Christmas Tree includes approximately 450 LED light strings and 120 star ornaments, for a total of just under 4000 watts. If this same design were to be implemented with standard incandescent holiday lights, approximately 20,000 watts would be required. Over the course of the holiday lighting season, the environmental impact of this energy savings is the avoidance of burning about one ton of coal, and a 4000-pound reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Watch the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony
The 2014 National Christmas Tree Lighting will be available on demand soon. The 91st Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting aired on Friday, December 6, 2013.
Watch the 2013 National Christmas Tree Lighting on demand below!
The 91st Annual National Christmas Tree Lighting will air on Friday, December 6, 2013 starting at 4:30pm ET. Join us RIGHT HERE to watch the show live online! Performers will be announced soon.
Watch the 2012 National Christmas Tree Lighting Pre-Show on demand below!
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Elegant, sparkling gold and silvery white colors highlight this year’s National Christmas Tree.
In honor of the National Park Service Centennial, the design for the 2015 National Christmas Tree features sparkling gold and silvery white, colors that are traditionally used for milestone celebrations.
This is the seventh consecutive year that LED lights have been used exclusively to light the National Christmas Tree and the 53rd year that GE has provided the lighting.
Warm white micro-net lights provide the baseline layer of light, topped with twinkling icicle lights that provide texture and subtle animation. To create vertical garland bands down the tree, gold net lights are encased with dramatic gold mesh ribbons that enhance the nighttime and daytime appearance. Illuminated pure white star ornaments are arranged along the gold ribbon, providing a pleasing silver color contrast. The stars pay tribute to the National Park Service Centennial – 100 years of enjoying national parks, the “shining stars” across our nation. The heirloom star-shaped topper, with commercial Tetra®Max LED signage product, once again adorns the top of the tree.
The combined wattage of the approximately 600 LED net lights and icicle lights, and the LED star ornaments – all Energy Star® qualified – is about 6,000 watts. The total cost to light this tree over the holiday season, from dusk to about 10p.m., is approximately $150. That is about one-fifth of what a comparable design would be with incandescent lights. In terms of environmental impact, using LEDs saves nearly 7,000 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and would avoid burning more than one ton of coal.
“GE is proud to be part of this very special holiday tradition. Light inspires us. Light helps us to celebrate. And with LED technology, we can be more creative, more energy efficient and environmentally responsible than ever before,” said Mary Beth Gotti, manager of the GE Lighting Institute in Cleveland, Ohio.
The National Park Service presents nightly entertainment at the National Christmas Tree during the month of December. Performances will begin the week of December 8. Performance schedule will be posted soon.
During your visit to the National Christmas Tree and Santa’s Workshop at President’s Park, be sure to check out additional attractions including nightly musical performances.
While there, visitors are encouraged to also see the National Christmas Tree Railroad. An elaborate electric train display which circles the base of the National Christmas Tree, the National Christmas Tree Railroad has provided special delight for children and adults since 1994.
The trains have expanded each year and now include multiple tracks, trains, bridges and buildings. The trains are installed and maintained each December by volunteers. To each visitor and volunteer we extend our special thanks.
Watch the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony
Volunteers from across the nation have designed and created special ornaments to adorn the 56 small trees along the Christmas Pathway Of Peace.
The National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony is the beginning of three weeks of celebration in holiday music in the nation’s capital. Musical groups from Washington D.C. and across the country provide holiday entertainment to the countless visitors for a one of a kind holiday experience set against the backdrop of the National Christmas Tree.
The 2016 National Christmas Tree Music Program schedule is coming soon!
View the 2015 National Christmas Tree Music Program schedule.
GE Lighting is making the National Christmas Tree greener than it has ever been by developing and employing the latest in energy efficient lighting. GE Lighting is also celebrating its 52nd consecutive year designing America’s premier holiday tree.
To help add a little “green” to everyone’s Christmas trees, GE Lighting is sharing its top three reasons to switch to LED Christmas lights this year:
- Longevity–a 20,000-hour rated life means the LED strings will last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent Christmas lights;
- Pocketbook protector–using 90 percent less electricity and costing less than a dollar per season to operate makes the higher initial cost of LED strings more cost-effective in just one season of use; and
- Reliability–break-resistant, cold-loving LED light sets are sturdier than incandescent light sets and more apt to work without fail for many Christmas seasons to come. There’s no bulb to fall out because the LED is fixed in place.
To learn more about GE Lighting, visit their website.
The National Park Foundation, in partnership with the National Park Service, is proud to recognize the many contributions of our partners to the success of the National Christmas Tree Lighting. These organizations have sponsored the event or donated their expertise, products and services to brighten this holiday celebration for the American people.
