‘Tis the season for holiday decorations and festive light displays! With our warm Florida weather holding steady throughout the first couple of weeks of December, residents may need to rely on Christmas lights and tree trimming to get into the holiday spirit. But, before you dive into decking the halls, consider the benefits of LED lights!
Instead of a filament, these modern strings of lights use light-emitting diodes powered by electrical parts. This gives them several advantages over traditional bulbs that make them worth switching. They are so ideal that you may decide to convert all of the light bulbs throughout your home to LED after giving them a try! In this article, we’ve summarized some of the big reasons all of us at New Smyrna Beach Utilities Commission love LEDs.
Eco-Friendly
Of course, for any light source to get our seal of approval, it must be energy efficient and environmentally friendly. LED varieties of Christmas lights are the best choice for conserving our interconnected water and energy resources and protecting the environment. According to ENERGY STAR, “If all decorative light strings sold in the United States were ENERGY STAR certified, the energy cost savings would grow to about $850 million each year and 9.9 billion pounds of annual greenhouse gas emission would be prevented, equivalent to the emissions from 940,000 vehicles.” So, add a little extra cheer to your holiday season by doing your small part in a more significant preservation effort.
Consumer Savings
According to the Department of Energy, LED lights “…consume 70 percent less energy than conventional incandescent light strands.” In addition, they detail the potential utility bill savings; “It only costs $0.27 to light a 6-foot tree for 12 hours a day for 40 days with LEDs compared to $10 for incandescent lights.” Just think of the savings once you convert all of your home’s holiday light displays to cost-effective LED options!
While the newer LED lights do cost a little more upfront than their incandescent counterparts, they will pay for themselves in lower utility bills. Look forward to collecting more savings over the years because these strands of lights are much more durable than those outdated glass filament bulbs. LEDs are typically constructed of shatter-resistant plastic, so you can use them year after year without finding that they got crushed while sitting in storage. They also have a much longer lifespan before burning out. According to Christmas Lights, Etc., an LED “…bulb may last from 50,000 hours to 200,000 hours as compared to the 3,000 hours of an incandescent light.”
Safety
As mentioned above, traditional lights shine bright by heating a filament surrounded by glass. If you’ve ever held a strand of these lights while plugged in, you know how hot they can get after just a few minutes. When strung too close to fabric or drying Christmas tree needles, they can be a hazard. Alternatively, LEDs produce substantially more light at a much lower temperature. They remain cool to the touch, which reduces fire risk and accidental burns.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, “between 2015-2019, U.S. fire departments responded to an average 160 home fires that started with Christmas trees per year.” They also note that “electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in almost half of home Christmas tree fires. Nearly one in five Christmas tree fires were started by decorative lights.” Making the switch to LED lights can help protect your home and family.
Dazzling Displays
LED lights’ range of possibilities for expressing your holiday spirit is endless. Flashing, twinkling or alternating strands, fabric-covered lawn figures like reindeer or snowmen, or illuminated stars or snowflakes, to name a few. In addition, LEDs’ lower temperature point allows them to be used in ways that aren’t possible for filament-based bulbs.
When LEDs first arrived on the market, they were offered in a smaller range of colors than traditional lights, but that is no longer true. In the past few years, the range of LED light products has grown to include every color of the rainbow. You can also choose between different bulb shapes and sizes to get just the right look for your home. There is plenty of inspiration online in articles such as Outdoor Christmas Yard Decorating Ideas or Christmas Crafts Using LED Lights.
UCNSB wishes our customers a very merry holiday season and happy decorating! We hope that the information gathered here encourages you to consider switching to efficient LED lighting this year. It is truly a great innovation that can significantly impact our community’s water and energy resources while spreading Christmas cheer.