LED conversion helps improve efficiency of light festival

Each year the Winter Festival of Lights is held in West Virginia over in the US, with Oglebay Park in the city of Wheeling playing host to the event.

It attracts thousands of visitors, but was due to have its major lighting displays updated to use the more energy efficient LED solutions, in order to save money and improve the green credentials of the showcase.

However, organisers decided to fast track the integration of LED display and actually get them in place a year ahead of schedule, to take advantage of the benefits more quickly.

The festival has been held every year since it began in 1985 and runs from November until early January.

There are a whole host of LED displays and arrangements integrated and it really requires that you hop in a car if you want to see them all, because, in total, it covers 300 acres and requires a six mile round trip to take it all in.

The organisers have been working on the LED upgrade for the past four years and it will be completed in time for the 2012 festival.

It was previously predicted that it would take a total of five years to complete, but things were speeded up and so energy-efficient LEDs are now in use across all displays, according to the Associated Press.

The festival is open daily between 5pm and 10pm, with Friday and Saturday nights having a later closing time of 11pm.

Many major events such as this across the globe have decided to replace outdated solutions with LED systems, because this is beneficial, both financially and environmentally.

In addition, the LEDs should provide brighter, more visible levels of lighting for all who visit, enhancing the experience for those present.