Your Garden Grows

LED Christmas Lights Provide a Greener Holiday

You can use LED Christmas lights instead of the conventional variety to make your holiday season a little greener. You can easily find LED Christmas lights, since most stores that sell Christmas lights stock their shelves with both varieties. It’s beginning to look like a greener Christmas the world over!

LED Christmas lights last ten times longer and consume less energy than the traditional lights. They use 75% less energy. As such, you can reap savings on your electric bill this holiday season if you use this type of lighting.

LED Christmas lights are available in various sizes and shapes, like “mini” and “globe” — just like traditional string lights. Additionally, icicle and net forms are both available on the market. Regardless of the color you prefer, you should be able to find them in stores.

Further, LED Christmas lights are safer to use than conventional lights. You can, for example, safely connect several strands without worrying about overheating being an issue. However, it’s still in your best interest to read the manual or box to determine how many strands you can safely connect according to the manufacturer.

Solar powered LED Christmas lights are available if you want to go even greener with your holiday displays. These lights are more energy friendly because they harness the energy of the sun. Some models are designed to light up at night. You can usually get a string of 50 lights on Amazon for less than $20. You’ll save a lot more energy and money when you purchase this type of LED string lighting.

The initial cost of LED Christmas lights can sometimes turn people off. And, of course, there’s no denying that LED light strands cost more than conventional incandescents. That said, greener and more efficient lighting solutions easily offset the higher initial costs in the long run.

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. These timers regulate the amount of energy your lights use. Not only that, they can also make your house more burglar-proof by giving the appearance that someone is at home (turning the lights on and off) when you’re actually away for the holidays.

You should observe safety protocols regardless of whether you use LED or incandescent Christmas lights. By not pulling on the cord when you unplug the lights, for example, you can help prevent damage that might tear the wiring inside. When storing them away, check for damage first. 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 is a time of celebration, family, giving, and religion. It can also be a time to think about the future of our planet and take a few extra steps to make it greener. Every little bit counts, and lots of little steps combined can go a long way.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how to live greener and more environmentally friendly lives. Find out more about sustainable living at her blog on Eco-Friendly Green Gadgets.

Original Article Get a Greener Holiday with LED Christmas Lights.