Christmas Tree Illustrates Energy-Saving Measures

A Christmas tree lit up at the Copenhagen town square is demonstrating energy-saving measures — the lights on the tree are glowing with pedal power.

Volunteers ranging from professional cyclists, school children and politicians are taking turns pedaling to power the lights until December 18th.

[Stephen Risgard, Project Manager]:
It works like each and every bike is connected to one section of the tree and if the bikes are not running, the lights are not turned on.

The citys mayor says its the greenest tree ever.

[Pia Allerslev, Mayor, Culture and Sports, Copenhagen]:
I hope that all the children and grown-ups, all Copenhageners and tourists will help Christmas and the Christmas tree lights to stay lit.

Managing director of light bulb manufacturer Osram says the tree illustrates the idea of energy-saving.

[Henrik Worsoe, Managing Director, Osram]:
I think it's a great idea. It's a lot of fun and it illustrates the idea of energy saving products.

Copenhagen is hosting the major United Nations climate summit in December.

[Pia Allerslev, Mayor, Culture and Sports, Copenhagen]:
In this way we won't just inspire Copenhagen but the rest of the world to limit CO2 emissions and we also tell the thousands of guests that are coming to the U.N. summit on December 7, that it shouldn't be too difficult to make the earth a cleaner and healthier place to live.

[Henrik Worsoe, Managing Director, Osram]:
I'm hoping for a very demanding but very fair deal. In the European industry we are prepared to stand up for a demanding request but it has to be a fair deal. It won't do the climate any good if we impose too strict regulations on the European industry if other industries in the worldjust continue without any change.

The climate summit starts on December 7th and ends on December 18th.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• NTD
• NTDde
• Christmas Tree
• Green
• Energy
• Copenhagen
• pedal power
• Osram
• United Nations climate summit
• CO2 emissions
• U.N.
• Summit
• European industry

[AmmberSexyy]

hihi i feel hony today anyone shares the same feeling as me

[aleksjazzy]

Millions of trees are cut every year for Christmas, decorated, kept for few weeks and thrown in garbage. What a wasteful practice. I understand that pedal made power symbolizes consciousness about environmental issues but doing that around dead tree disapproves that. Imagine you kill a bear and have a ritual dance around its dead body in order to raise awareness of conserving the wildlife. How real is that?

[aleksjazzy]

I get the tree with roots every year, I put it in a pot , decorate it. After the holidays are over I keep it in a pot until following March, when i plant it in a field. So far no one has died.

[hisveggieness]

Shows how little you know about the CO2 life cycle

[darkroronoa]

is your tree cut or alive?

Plastic doesn't count, its worse than a real..

[Kevbox2008]

What the crap....????

You have GOT the be kidding!!!

[aleksjazzy]

Is the tree dead(cut) or alive?

In case that big tree is cut for decorative purpose, all pedaling to light it, in the name of saving the earth, is worthless and symbolizes nothing but hypocrisy.

If the tree is planted and still alive than, in my opinion, it is a cool idea.

[businesswoman25]

Those bike riders are breathing hard - that is increasing the CO2 - uh-oh! now what do we do?

[HighDefMonster]

The elite look down from their thrones and smile in amusement at the workings of the unclean masses. They're thinking "The idiots bought global warming hook, line, and sinker. Bring on the tax. The slaves will demand it!"