New Year welcomed by Times Square's "green" ball drop

Once again, more than a billion people from all over the world ushered in the new year as they watched Times Square's ball drop.

Following tradition, the 1,415-pound crystal ball slid down the flagpole high atop the New York City building.

Breaking with tradition, the brightly illuminated ball's 672 crystals were lit, for the first time ever, by more than 9,500 energy-efficient light-emitting diodes (LED's).

According to The Times Square Alliance, the not-for-profit organization in charge of Times Square's development, when the Times Square new year's ball tradition began a century ago, the ball weighed 700 pounds, was made of wood and iron, and was lit with 100 25-watt incandescent bulbs.

For its 100th birthday, the Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball was more than twice as bright as the 2000-2007 ball (which used crystal light bulbs and strobe lights), with enhanced color capabilities and state-of-the-art LED lighting effects. This lighting technology substantially increased the brightness and color capabilities of the Ball.

The exclusive use of LEDs also improved the Ball's energy eficiency. Event officials explained to CNN that the Ball used only about the same amount of electricity as 10 toasters.

CNN also mentioned that over the past week, visitors from across the country wrote their messages on a Times Square "Wishing Wall."

"I want to turn the world green and the water clean," one person wrote.

Definitely a great resolution to work on this year.

Here's to a better, greener, healthier planet...

Happy 2008!