Get a Greener Holiday with LED Christmas Lights
† Wednesday, June 30th, 2010One way of making your Christmas season greener is by using LED Christmas lights instead of conventional Christmas lights. 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 both consume less energy and last ten times as long as their traditional counterparts. They use 75% less energy. You can imagine the electrical savings to be had when you use this type of lighting in your home.
LED Christmas lights come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including the traditional globes and “minis” that are popular among traditional string lights. They can be found in the form of nets and icicles. With so many options available, you shouldn’t have any trouble finding the color or style you want.
LED Christmas lights are safer than traditional lights. You can, for example, safely connect several strands without worrying about overheating being an issue. However, you should still read the manual or box to learn how many strands you can connect safely to one another.
If you’re really gaga for going green this holiday season, select solar powered LED Christmas lights. Because they harness the sun’s energy, these lights are more energy and ecologically friendly. Some models are designed to light up at night. Amazon usually sells a 50-light strand for about $17. Therefore, you can save energy as well as money if you purchase this type of LED lighting strands.
Occasionally people are put off by LED Christmas lights’ initial cost. And, of course, there’s no denying that LED light strands cost more than conventional incandescents. That’s the price you sometimes pay for more efficient and greener lighting solutions.
Should you still have working incandescent lights and don’t want to invest in LED Christmas lights at this point, you might opt for Christmas light timers. These timers are designed to regulate the energy usage of your lights. Additionally, these timers can help burglar-proof your house because they turn off and on automatically, thereby giving the impression that someone is at home even if you’re out of town visiting friends and family.
Regardless of whether you use incandescent or LED Christmas lights, you should observe safety protocols. When you unplug the lights, don’t pull on the cord. This can tear at the wiring inside. You should also check to see if there is any damage or are any non-working bulbs before storing light strings. 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 — a time of religious celebration, family and giving — can also be a time during which we take into the future of our planet as we take steps to make our carbon footpring smaller. Lots of little steps can go a long way, so don’t forget that every little bit counts.
About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how to live more environmentally friendly lives. Learn more about sustainable living at her blog on Eco-Friendly Gadgets.
Original Article Get a Greener Holiday with LED Christmas Lights.