At Cook’s Hardware, 57 Main St., in Gorham, owner Phil Cook said the light-emitting diode ( commonly referred to as LED) Christmas lights were very popular with shoppers in his store this year. “I’m out of them completely,” said Cook.

As a gift item, Cook’s hardware carried LED work lights with rechargeable batteries for $29.99.

Melissa and Chad Dudley of Gorham were looking for the energy-saving LED Christmas lights in Cook’s store Thursday and might have bought a set, if they had been available. The couple has the older style but they conserve energy by regulating the hours for their Christmas lights, turning the Christmas lights off during the day and before going to bed.

Joseph Poulin of Auburn, who stopped at Cook’s Hardware Thursday, said he favors the energy saving lights because he fears people would eventually lose the spirit of Christmas because of the high cost of energy.” I’ve already swapped over to all energy saving Christmas lights.” Joseph Poulin said.

Mary Jane LeCours, a store clerk at Cook’s Hardware, displays LED Christmas lights at her Gorham home for the first time this year. She said the colors are more intense. “They look nice and they’re more visible,” LeCours said.

“I expect my light bill will be nothing,” LeCours joked.

At Aubuchon Hardware, 400 Narragansett Trail, Buxton, Assistant Store Manager Ginger Decker agreed with LeCours about the appearance of the LED lights and customers were asking for them this year. “They look better than the other type.” Besides 24-foot strings of LED Christmas lights, the Aubuchon store in Buxton also stocked battery powered LED candles for home windows.

The Aubuchon store in Buxton was selling the 24-foot long Christmas lights for $8.49, down from the regular price of $14.99 with a sale and a $1.50 rebate. “It’s a good deal,” Decker said Thursday.

Decker said timers were popular. “They were a hot item this year,” Decker said.

In Gorham, Bob Burns, director of public works, said Thursday that Gorham residents could take Christmas trees and wreaths to public works free of charge. ‘We chip those up and put them in with mulch,” Burns said.

Melissa and Chad Dudley are interested in conservation and recycle their natural Christmas tree. After the holidays, Chad Dudley cuts up the tree and puts the pieces in the woods on their property. “We put it back where it came from,” he said. “We recycle.”

Joseph Poulin favors energy saving Christmas lights as a way to preserve the holiday spirit as power costs rise.Chad and Melissa Dudley shop in Cook’s Hardware in Gorham Thursday. They recycle their Christmas tree and favor LED Christmas lights, which were sold out at Cook’s.