Colorful neighborhood lighting displays and glowing trees are a sign of the season. But all those twinkling lights can drive up energy demand and result in big home energy bills.
Viewer Tip: What’s a decorator to do? Show your holiday spirit with LEDs (light-emitting diodes)! LEDs consume at least 75 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs and provide these great benefits:
- Safe: LEDs emit less heat than traditional bulbs, reducing the risk of fire and burns.
- Sturdy: LEDs are less likely to break because they are not made with glass.
- Long-Lasting: LEDs last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs – you could still be using the same LED string 40 years from now!
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And of course, LEDs save money. They may cost a bit more at the time of purchase, but you won’t have to replace them as often and you’ll definitely see an impact on your energy bill. Check out these estimated cost comparisons from the U.S. Department of Energy:
Estimated cost of buying and operating lights over 10 holiday seasons
(Lighting a six-foot tree, 12 hours per day for 40 days each season)
Add a timer to your holiday lighting display to save even more energy and money. Set the timer to turn lights on at nightfall and off during the day.
(Source: U.S. Department of Energy. “Energy Savers: LED Lighting.” http://energy.gov/energysaver/articles/led-lighting)
