City set to spend $145,000 on new, more efficient LED light display.

By Katie Humphrey
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, September 30, 2008

Downtown Austin might be a bit more festive during the holidays this year.

The City Council is scheduled to vote Thursday on whether to have Austin Energy contribute $145,000 to the Downtown Austin Alliance for new LED lights for the annual holiday display on Congress Avenue.

The new lights, capable of fading, blinking and glowing in many colors, would replace the white incandescent lights that have been strung across Congress Avenue in recent years. Those lights are 8 years old, said Lacy LaBorde, a spokeswoman for the downtown alliance.

On the environmental front, the new lights would use 80 to 85 percent less energy than the incandescent ones. That would cut the holiday electric bill by about $5,000 a year.

"We need to celebrate the spirit of the holidays but keep in mind our need for energy efficiency," said Council Member Sheryl Cole, who is sponsoring the item on Thursday's agenda.

Crews would start stringing the lights after the Chuy's Children Giving to Children Parade downtown, which is held the day after Thanksgiving.

LaBorde said the Downtown Austin Alliance isn't changing the design of the light display much this year but hopes to add new features in the future. The new lights alone should be impressive, she said.

"These lights are so dynamic; it'll be a different arrangement each time you see them because of the color," LaBorde said.

The new lights would make their twinkling debut Dec. 6 for the Congress Avenue Stroll, Capitol Tree Lighting and Holiday Sing-Along.

khumphrey@statesman.com; 445-3658