It wasn’t that long ago when just a few strands of holiday lights and a Christmas tree would add a pretty big bump in the home energy bill. Fortunately, thanks to energy-efficient holiday lighting, home decorators can create a safe and beautiful display without sending the energy bill as high as Santa’s sleigh.
“The season’s chilly temperatures put a lot of upward pressure on home heating bills, which makes a lot of folks start looking for ways to reduce their energy expenses,” said Clark Public Utilities Energy Services Supervisor DuWayne Dunham. “Replacing old incandescent bulbs and light strings is a great place to start.”
LED lights and light strands use up to 90 percent less electricity than incandescent lights.
Not only will an LED holiday display cost much less, it’ll also be much safer.
Incandescent light strands need a lot of electricity, and because they’re often designed to be connected in a chain, people commonly put too many on a single electrical circuit.
Typically, a household circuit can handle just less than four strands before fuses begin to blow and the risk of fire starts to climb. The only alternative is running extension cords to other outlets.
Adding to the risks, incandescent bulbs convert about 90 percent of the energy they consume into heat, not light. That turns each bulb into a colorful fire hazard, especially around trees, curtains and flammable decorations.
LED lights virtually eliminate those problems. Because they consume so little energy, multiple strands can be connected to single circuit — giving way more holiday glow for every dollar.
LEDs also operate cooler — just slightly over room temperature. Plus, the bulbs are made of epoxy, not glass, so they’re durable and much less likely to cause injury if broken.
Finally, LEDs will last much longer than incandescent bulbs. A standard incandescent light is expected to last about 2,000 hours, while an LED bulb can last up to 50,000 hours. Store LEDs right and they’ll last for years.
What does all of this look like? Consider a home light display that requires several strands and a total of 1,000 lights. Done with incandescent bulbs it would consume about 408 watts of power and at least two circuits.
LEDs, however, would consume about 70 watts, and just one circuit with power to spare. Spread that over several hours a day for the rest of the month, and the difference in energy consumption and expense will vary greatly.
LEDs also offer functions and flexibility old bulbs never did. Many manufacturers sell strands and individual bulbs that can be programmed to display a variety of custom colors, sync with music and be scheduled — all controlled from a tablet or smartphone.
LEDs are great for every lighting need. They come in all sorts of shapes and sizes and fit most any need.
So check lamps, holiday displays, spotlights, and upgrade those LEDs if you haven’t already.
When it’s time to ditch those old light strings, don’t throw them out — recycle them. Many retailers will accept them for recycling or search “holiday lights” at clark.wa.gov/public-health/recycling-z.
Energy Adviser is produced by Clark Public Utilities and relies on the expertise of utility energy counselors and staff, who provide conservation and energy use information. To contact us call 360-992-3355, email ecod@clarkpud.com or visit www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
