Get a Greener Holiday with LED Christmas Lights

One way of making your Christmas season greener is by using LED Christmas lights instead of conventional Christmas lights. Most stores that stock their shelves with Christmas shelves carry LED Christmas lights, too. Yep, it’s beginning to look like a green Christmas for everyone.

LED Christmas lights, which last ten times longer than the traditional variety, also consume less energy. They use 75% less energy. Imagine saving on your energy bill during this holiday season when you use this type of lighting.

As with traditional string lights, the LED variety are available in several shapes and sizes — including the popular “globe” and “mini” types. They can be found in the form of nets and icicles. Whatever color you’re looking for, you should be able to find it.

Compared to conventional Christmas lights, the LED type are safer to use. You can connect numerous strings together without worrying about overheating them. However, you should still read the manual or box to learn how many strands you can connect safely to one another.

If you want to be really energy conscious, choose LED Christmas lights that are solar powered. These lights are more energy friendly because they harness the energy of the sun. Some models are designed to light up at night. A 50-light string can cost you under $20 at Amazon. You can, therefore, save both money and energy if you buy strings of LED lights of this type.

One thing that turns some people off from LED Christmas lights is their initial cost. And, of course, there’s no denying that LED light strands cost more than conventional incandescents. That said, more efficient and greener lighting solutions pay for themselves in the long run despite the higher initial investment.

If you can’t spend money on LED Christmas lights and still have working incandescent lights, you can buy Christmas light timers for your existing lights. Timers like these are designed to regulate the amount of energy your lights use. In addition, these timers can give your house the appearance of someone being home when you’re away visiting friends and family during the holiday season because they turn on and off automatically, thereby helping to protect your home.

You should observe safety protocols regardless of whether you use LED or incandescent Christmas lights. For example, avoid pulling the cord when you unplug the lights so you don’t tear at the wiring inside. You should also check to see if there is any damage or are any non-working bulbs before storing light strings. Don’t use lights that have loose connections, broken sockets, or bare wires. Store Christmas Lights, and any electrical decorations, in a dry place where they can’t be damaged by water. Keep them out of children’s reach during storage, to ensure the wires are not damaged.

Christmas — a time of religious celebration, family and giving — can also be a time during which we take into the future of our planet as we take steps to make our carbon footpring smaller. We know that every little bit counts, but it’s also true that all of our steps combined can stretch for miles.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how to live greener and more environmentally friendly lives. Find out more about green living at her blog on Green Design and Building.

Source: LED Christmas Lights for a Greener Holiday.