Energy-Efficient Times Square Ball Rings in the New Lighting Standards

On Dec. 30, 2011, Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan joined Philips Lighting CEO Ed Crawford in New York City for media interviews about the energy-efficient LEDs in the 12-foot, 12,000-pound Times Square Ball. The ball's 32,000⁺ LEDs used about the same amount of electricity as two wall ovens to count down to 2012.

Twenty-five floors above Times Square, Callahan and Crawford also answered questions about the new U.S. lighting standards, which began on Jan. 1 and require 100-watt incandescent bulbs to be at least 25% more efficient.

Watch one of their live interviews (right) and our photo slideshow (below).