New Year's in Times Square gets makeover

NEW YORK, Dec. 31 (UPI) -- New Year's 2008 turned green -- not with envy but with an environmentally friendly celebration in New York.

CNN reports the 1,415-pound crystal globe that drops in Times Square was outfitted with more than 9,500 energy-efficient diodes, using about the same amount of energy to light the 600 crystals as 10 toasters. By contrast, the first ball was made of iron and wood and was lit with 100 light bulbs in 1907.

Police expected about 1 million revelers to brave the 40-degree temperatures and crowd Times Square for the midnight ball drop, with 1 billion more watching the video. The ball drop will be accompanied by fireworks and fireproof confetti, including New Year's wishes in nearly two dozen languages.

To help people keep warm, sanitation workers will offer goody bags with mittens and hats, said Tom Chiodo, a spokesman for the Times Square Alliance.

New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly told CNN security would be tight.