Christmas Lights and Your Electric Bill - MEC - Midwest Energy & Communications

Do you prefer subtle Christmas decorations, or do you like to unleash your inner Clark Griswold?

Even a small handful of Christmas lights can affect your electric bill. Here are some tips to maximize energy efficiency while still enjoying your favorite decorations.

Consider Switching to LEDs

While many incandescent bulbs are being phased out of retail stores, you can still buy some types of incandescent specialty lights, such as Christmas lights.

However, LED lights come with several advantages:

• Efficiency: According to the Department of Energy, LED lights use up to 90% less electricity than incandescent bulbs and can last about 25 times longer.
• Safety: While incandescent bulbs run hot, LEDs are cool to the touch, reducing the risk of fire or burnt fingers.
• Durability: LEDs are made with epoxy lenses rather than glass, so they don’t break as easily.
• Installation: You can connect more strings of LEDs without overloading your wall socket.

Use Light Timers or Smart Lights

If you have to manually unplug your lights each night, you could forget and accidentally use several hours of extra energy.

With a light timer, you can set times for your lights to turn on and off. That way you only have to remember to take them down at the end of the season.

You can also purchase smart lights, which can be controlled and scheduled from a smartphone app. Some smart lights even allow you to change their colors or set blinking patterns.

Swap String Lights for Spotlights

Instead of traditional Christmas light strings, some LED spotlights can light up your decorations just as effectively and use even less energy.

To enhance the effect, try sparkly or reflective decorations to catch as much light as possible.