Local man's display saves energy while giving off brighter shine

Ahwatukee Foothills residents have a unique opportunity this holiday season to see a custom built light display complete with an automated train and 15,000 lights.

The man behind the (Christmas) madness? Ahwatukee resident Frank Polimene.

"I'm the original Tim Allen," he jokes.

If you have not seen that particular episode, Allen, for a competition, builds a light display that can be seen from airplanes passing overhead.

But one thing that Polimene has over the Tool Man is that his display has gone completely green.

For this year, Polimene said he replaced all 15,000 lights with LEDs, which he says use about one-tenth of the power of their incandescent counterparts.

Not only are they more efficient, the LED (which stands for light-emitting diodes) bulbs are also much brighter.

"I really wanted to turn my display green, not only for saving money on my electric bill but also because it's the right thing to do environmentally," he said.

As for the rest of the display, everything from the erupting volcano, snow-blowing machine and the train was designed by Polimene.

A former engineer, who now owns a Ace Hardware in Maricopa, said he has been putting on holiday light displays for 30 years.

"It's a nice hobby and the neighbors and kids love it," he said.

The Ahwatukee resident also gives out between 8,000 and 10,000 candy canes every year.

The operation runs from sunset to 11 p.m. The display is automated by a light sensor and is turned on whenever it gets dark out. Everything is run by Polimene's computer.

He said that he begins putting the display together right after Halloween. It takes him between three weeks and month and is always ready for the grand opening on the day after Thanksgiving.

To view his Web site, visit www.santatrain.com. His address is 541 E. Mountain Sky Ave.