 Instead, eight colored floodlights at the base of the tree were used to illuminate the National Christmas Tree's decorations and its high gold snowflake tree-topper (although the snowflake itself was lit from within).The spotlights did not illuminate the tree directly for fear of causing heat damage; instead, the light was reflected on the tree.To further conserve energy, the National Christmas Tree was lit not 24 hours a day but only from 5 P.M. to 10 P.M.

Public pressure on the Park Service and the energy crisis also led to changes in the 1973 Pageant of Peace.