With the holidays almost upon us and home decorating to do, costs and energy savings should be on the brain. Before you put the finishing touches on that giant lighting display, read the energy-efficient holiday decorating tips below.
Buy LED Lights – Those old incandescent holiday lights you have been putting up forever are terribly inefficient. Despite careful storage, they often emerge only halfway lit and many are tossed in landfills. Instead, save a bundle by replacing them with Energy Star-qualified LED light strands. In addition to using 70% less energy than traditional bulbs, they are brighter, eco-friendly and safer, because they are much cooler than incandescent lights. In addition, they are easier to install—up to 24 strings of LEDs can be connected end-to-end without overloading a wall socket. They last 10 times longer, have no filaments or glass to break and costs are similar to the age-old standard. If you prefer white lights with the look of incandescent lights, look for “warm” white on the label.
Limit Hourly Usage – Set timers for lights to automatically turn on when it gets dark and turn off in the middle of the night. You can save a bundle by only keeping light displays on for eight hours of the evening when you can see them. If you are still using traditional incandescent bulbs, this tip will further cut down on energy costs.
Creative And Reflective Decorating – Not everything is about strands of lights. Reflective ornaments and tinsel are just as bright at night, so creativity with your lighting display can multiply your resources for shine. You could even mirror your next-door neighbor’s frighteningly costly display with a string of silver bells on your railing.
Don’t forget the ribbons, wreaths, garland and reflective menorahs. Electricity-free age-old traditions still bring holiday cheer.