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Columbia Missourian

TODAY'S QUESTION: What do you think of energy-efficient Christmas lights?

By Roseann Moring
December 23, 2009 | 12:01 a.m. CST

Rockin' around the Christmas tree has become more sustainable.

Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, which use about one-hundredth the electricity as incandescent lights, have become increasingly popular in recent years. And although they cost more in the store, the savings can really add up over the long term.

But, as some Midwesterners told The Associated Press, it just isn't the same. Gary Barksdale, of Norman, Okla., said he will miss picking remnants of lights out of his lawn in July — the LEDs are plastic. And he's not the only LED opponent.

"My neighbor has the LED lights, and it just looks more like a modern discotheque over there," said David Shields of Purcell, Okla. "I like the vintage look, the old-school look. That's the way everybody's lights used to be growing up."

What do you think of energy-efficient Christmas lights?