last updated 22rd December 05
By 4ecotips

Another Californian carbon-free first

Adorned with energy efficient lights and powered by a hydrogen fuel cell system, the California Environmental Protection Agency's (Cal/EPA) Christmas tree display is operating completely independent of the US national power grid.

Cal/EPA secretary Dr Alan C Lloyd said: "As these trees bring the spirit of the holidays to those who work in and visit our building, I also hope they will inspire Californians to find ways to conserve energy and embrace clean technologies in their own homes and businesses."

Dr Lloyd pointed out that fuel cells and other carbon-free technologies would help California meet Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's green house gas emission reduction targets. Earlier this year the Governor called on the Cal/EPA to develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the state to 80% below the 1990 levels by the year 2050.

Cal/EPA Christmas trees are decorated are decorated with more than 3,000 light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs that consume about 2% of the electricity used by traditional incandescent lights . Additionally, the lights are powered by a one-kilowatt hydrogen fuel cell system. The fuel cell system emits only pure water and allows the lights to operate without any electricity form the national power grid.

Eric Mettler, COE of Altergy Systems, which supplied the hydrogen fuel cell system, said: "Through the ujse of fuel cells we are on our way to creating freedom from foreign oil, freedom from batteries, and freedom from pollution."