Abstract: A lighting system employing a wind energy system to collect and convert wind energy to electrical energy for recharging an energy storage source. The wind energy system may be a vertical or horizontal wind turbine. A solar energy system may also be employed to collect and convert solar energy to electrical energy to recharge the energy storage source. The energy storage source may provide electrical power to one or more lighting elements associated with the lighting system. The lighting elements may include light emitting diodes, fluorescent lights, cold cathode ray tubes, or other low power lighting sources. The lighting system may further include a housing to store or support one or more components of the lighting system. The housing may be supported by a post. An anchor member may be joined to the post for attaching the lighting system to the ground or a structure.

Abstract: A decorative, internally-lighted ribbon is formed by a light string and two elongated strips of flexible, semi-translucent material which are connected to form a hollow, elongated sleeve-like enclosure within which a light string is positioned to extend substantially along the length of the enclosure. The semi-translucent material of the strips transfers light from the light string through the strips to create an exterior visual appearance of internal lighting along the length of the ribbon. An internal structure, such as a wire, holds the strips in a flat ribbon-like configuration and allows the ribbon to be bent into decorative shapes. The strips are preferably fire-retardant.