LED Versus Traditional Christmas Lights | How Much Money Will You Save?

October 28, 2024 • 0 Comment

LED Christmas Lights: How Much You’ll Save in Energy Costs This Holiday Season

The holidays bring joy, warmth, and tradition—but often a hefty electricity bill if you’re lighting up with traditional bulbs. Switching to LED Christmas lights can drastically reduce your energy costs and keep your home shining bright without breaking the bank. In this article, Tri Star Light Co. wants to help you learn how much you can save, the types of LED bulbs available, and additional benefits that make LEDs the top choice for holiday lighting.

Why Switch to LED Christmas Lights?

Upgrading to LED Christmas lights is more than just a smart financial choice; it’s an investment in longevity, safety, and vibrant holiday cheer. LEDs use up to 90% less power than incandescent lights, offering significant cost savings and reducing your carbon footprint.

Cost Savings with LED Lights vs. Traditional Lights

LED Christmas lights are incredibly energy-efficient compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. Here’s how the costs stack up:

Modest Holiday Display: A typical modest Christmas setup with incandescent lights costs about $10-$15 in energy, while LEDs would only cost around $2.
Heavy Usage: If your decorations are a local attraction, expect traditional lights to cost about $115, while LEDs might run you only $15-$20.
Grand Display: For the full Griswold experience, traditional lights could drive your bill up by over $300, whereas LEDs would cost a modest $40-$50.

LED lights typically last up to 100,000 hours, significantly outliving the 3,000-hour lifespan of incandescent lights. This longevity adds further savings by reducing the need for replacements each season.

chart of the different sizes of christmas light bulbs

Types of LED Christmas Light Bulbs for Your Home and Yard

Choosing the right LED bulbs for your holiday display depends on where you plan to use them and the aesthetic you’re aiming for. Here’s a quick guide to popular LED light types and sizes:

Mini LED Lights (M5 LEDs): These small, versatile lights are perfect for smaller trees, wreaths, and indoor decor.
Standard LED String Lights (M6 LEDs): Ideal for wrapping trees, columns, or porch railings, these lights can also come in multi-light icicle or netting designs.
Mini Pine Cone or C6 LEDs: These slightly larger lights work beautifully on larger trees or draped over greenery on porches.
C7 LED Light Strings: Known for a vintage aesthetic, these slightly larger bulbs offer a warm, classic look, perfect for roofs or larger yard displays.
C9 LED Light Strings: Standing 2.25 inches tall, these larger bulbs make a statement on rooflines or big yard displays.

Calculating Energy Costs for Your Christmas Lights

Wondering how much your holiday lights will add to your bill? Follow these steps to estimate the cost:

Identify the Light Type: Choose the LED light types that suit your setup—whether it’s strings for bushes, lights for your roofline, or an entire yard display.
Calculate Total Wattage: Determine the total wattage of your LED setup. Manufacturers often provide wattage information on packaging or online.
Convert to Kilowatts: Divide the total watts by 1,000 to convert to kilowatts.
Estimate Daily Usage: Many people leave their holiday lights on for about six hours daily, from Thanksgiving until January 5, which totals around 41 days.
Calculate Total Kilowatt-Hours (kWh): Multiply kilowatts by hours per day and days used.
Determine Cost: Multiply total kWh by your electricity rate (typically about 16 cents per kWh).

For example, using LEDs can bring total energy costs down from around $207.76 to just $27.63 for the season—a massive saving that makes LEDs the more cost-effective choice.

Additional Benefits of LED Christmas Lights

Besides cost savings, LED lights come with added benefits that enhance safety, variety, and ease of use:

Increased Safety: LEDs produce minimal heat, reducing fire risk. This makes them safe for use around children, pets, and dry trees.
More Lights, Fewer Outlets: You can connect over 20 LED strings to a single outlet, compared to just 4-5 incandescent strings. This allows for more elaborate decorations with fewer electrical concerns.
Vibrant Colors and Brightness Options: LEDs offer a wider range of colors, are typically brighter, and many come with dimmable features or programmable settings.
Long Lifespan: Rated to last decades, LED lights can be reused season after season, eliminating the need to replace strands every year.

Electrical Safety Tips for Christmas Lighting

While LEDs are inherently safer than traditional bulbs, it’s still important to practice good electrical safety:

Extension Cord Safety: Use outdoor-rated extension cords for exterior lights, and ensure cords match the distance they’ll cover. For shorter runs (up to 25 feet), a 16-gauge cord is sufficient; for longer runs, opt for a 14-gauge or heavier cord.
Avoid Overloading Outlets: Plugging too many lights into a single outlet can cause overheating. Spread your lights across multiple outlets or use a power strip with surge protection.
Install Hooks for Safety: Use insulated hooks to avoid damaging electrical lines, especially when attaching lights to your home. If you use staples, opt for U-shaped ones that won’t puncture wires.
Turn Lights Off at Night: Turning lights off overnight not only reduces your energy costs but also lessens potential fire risks, especially if using indoor decorations.

Top LED Christmas Light Picks for 2024

Looking for the best LED Christmas lights to buy? Here are three great options for a festive, energy-efficient display:

Retro C9 Big Bulb LED Lights: If you love vintage holiday decor, these large, colorful bulbs bring a nostalgic charm to any outdoor display.
Classic White LED Lights: For a timeless look, white LEDs work beautifully on trees and greenery. GE Energy Smart Miniature LED lights are a top choice for quality and warm, inviting lighting.
Snowflake LED Fairy Lights: Create a winter wonderland with snowflake-shaped LED lights. These programmable lights offer different lighting effects, making them perfect for climates where real snow is rare.

Brighten Your Holidays and Save with LED Lights

Switching to LED Christmas lights is a smart way to enjoy festive decorations without the high energy costs of traditional lighting. With their cost savings, enhanced safety features, and long-lasting brightness, LEDs are the best choice for an eco-friendly and budget-friendly holiday season. So, illuminate your home with LEDs this year and make your holidays merrier without worrying about the January energy bill.

Ready to install those lights? Give us a call at 615-219-9548!

Sources:

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