Delano residents make eco-friendly move and help local families in need
Landscape Structures  of Delano teamed up with Delano Municipal Utilities and True Value to host a holiday light exchange in addition to a food and toy drive.
Delano residents and Landscape Structures employees were invited to exchange their old or broken holiday lights for new, energy-efficient LED lights.
LED holiday lights use 80 to 90 percent less energy than traditional lights; the wattage per bulb for LED mini-lights is 0.07 compared to 0.48 per bulb for incandescent mini-lights, and 6.0 watts for incandescent C7 bulbs, according to Landscape Structures.
During the light exchange program, more than 330 sets of LEDs were distributed to nearly 200 Delano residents and employees.
Participants of the program exchanged nearly 600 sets of incandescent lights, and have helped reduce electric consumption on the community’s grid by nearly 32,000 watts per day, according to Landscape Structures.
The lights will be delivered to the Adult Training and Habitation Center (ATHC) in Hutchinson, where the strings will be disassembled by physically and mentally challenged people in the community.
Following disassembly, the materials will be shipped off for reclamation of the copper wire.
Proceeds will benefit ATHC and its adult programs.
In return for up to two strands of the LED holiday lights, Landscape Structures asked for a donation of a non-perishable food item, or a new or gently-used toy. Throughout the week-long drive, community members and Landscape Structures employees donated 470 pounds of food to Helping Hands Food Shelf in Delano, and more than 160 new and gently-used toys to Love INC of Delano.
Since 1971, Landscape Structures has been the leading commercial playground equipment manufacturer in the world. The employee-owned company is committed to making the world a better place with active children thriving in leading communities year after year, generation after generation.
The company encourages outdoor play that develops healthy children and communities by creating innovative products that are environmentally responsible. Its mission is to enhance children’s lives by fostering and creating inspiring play experiences while honoring the environment.