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Can the energy conscious also enjoy decorating with lights this
season? Certainly!
Just consider the following energy efficient holiday lighting
ideas.
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Standard size Christmas bulbs range from five watts to seven
watts each, with some old bulbs being even higher. The total
wattage quickly increases as the number of bulbs increases
(which also increases the cost to run them). By using different
types of Christmas lighting and adding some controls to the
lighting, energy consumption and costs can be reduced.
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The miniature lights available in recent years use only about 10
% of the electricity than that of standard size bulbs. But
remember, you also need to consider the total number of lights.
Miniature lights tend to have more bulbs per string than a
standard string of lights, especially the icicle style. The
total wattage quickly adds up.
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For those contemplating a new artificial Christmas tree,
consider a fiber optic tree.
These trees use one central low wattage lamp, typically around 15
to 20 watts, with the light traveling up the fiber optic cables
and coming out the ends of the cables in glowing points of light.
A motorized color wheel is usually included to provide a variety
of colors in different patterns.
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The latest innovation in holiday lighting is LED, or Light
Emitting Diode. LED lighting has a very high-energy efficiency
rating, using only a few watts for a string of lights. In
addition, it has an extremely long life of 10 to 20 years or
more, and is safer to use than traditional lighting because they
are cold when lit. LED holiday lighting is a new product, so you
may have to search through several stores before finding it.
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Using different types of controls can also reduce the energy
consumption and the impact on your electricity bill. One method
is to have your lights twinkle or flash on and off in some type
of pattern, rather than having all the lights on at the same
time. In addition to achieving energy savings, the controller
creates interesting patterns or displays, limited only by the
user’s creativity. Controllers can be purchased separately or
may be included with lighting as a kit.
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To reduce the hours of operation of your outdoor holiday
lighting, install a timer between the outlet and the lighting
plug. Make sure the timer is approved for outdoor use. An
important reminder - do not leave any Christmas lighting on
overnight or if you leave home for extended periods of time.
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If a dimmer switch controls your electrical outlet, consider
using this outlet to dim your holiday lighting. Dimming the
lighting saves energy and prolongs the life of the bulbs. There
is also less heat created by the bulbs, making it safer as well.
Higher efficiency Christmas lighting and the use of controls can
create an effective, more energy conscious and lighting display
for the season. |
