LED Bookmark Reading Lights for the 4th of July

LED Bookmark Light

For the fourth of July, I purchased 600 LEDs and 600 lithium batteries for the Port Discover Science Center to give out before the Elizabeth City fireworks display. Because I was afraid of the LED-throwies presenting a choking hazard, I decided to tape them to the top of bookmarks advertising the science center and the environmental benefits of LED lighting.

The Bookmarks had facts such as:

• Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) use only 15-percent as much energy as incandescent light bulbs and 50-percent as much energy as compact fluorescents.
• LEDs last for an average of 60,000 hours. Even if you left your lights on for half of every day, they would still last over 25 years, or longer than most people own their homes!
• The Department of Energy has estimated that LEDs could reduce national energy consumption for lighting by 29% by 2025. That would save U.S. households $125 billion on their electric bills.
• You can fold this bookmark over and use it as a book light!You can replace the lithium battery and reuse the LED again and again.

Choosing LED Colors

A variety of LED colors were provided and the bookmarks were printed on a variety of colored cardstock. We let the kids choose their own colors, and helped them put the bookmark lights together, explaining electrons and electricity as we did so. By hole punching the bookmarks with the battery exposed and LED contact left free, kids could turn them on by squeezing.

I found earlier that an LED will burn brightly for over two weeks continuously on one lithium battery. The kids DIY project ended up being quite a hit, and many people were surprised we were giving them away for free.

A baby praying mantis dropped by to see what we were up to. It was camera-shy, so here’s the best shot I could get. : )

Baby Praying Mantis Visitor

You can check out the flickr set here.