We love decorating for the holidays, but don’t want to waste energy. Do those new lights really save energy?
It’s no hype. The “new” decorative lights, called LEDs (light-emitting diodes), use up to 90 percent less electricity than traditional incandescent lights. Some are even Energy-Star rated.
In Clark County, it would cost only 30 cents to run 500 LED lights for five hours a night for a month. This compares with mini-lights that would cost $2.87 and the old C-7 incandescent lights that would set you back $28.70.
LEDs are a breed apart. They have no filament, as in an incandescent bulb, or gas as in a fluorescent bulb. Instead an LED is a semiconductor that uses the movement of electrons to produce light.
They are used in many products, including automobile taillights, exit signs in buildings and traffic signals.
Long lasting
Anyone who has had to climb a ladder to replace a burned out holiday bulb on a rainy December night will appreciate that LEDs last up to about 50,000 hours outdoors. They last 100,000 hours indoors. And since they do not get hot, they can be made of durable plastic rather than fragile glass, which is a real benefit when dragging them across the roof each year.
Brightness, styles and price
Earlier LEDs appeared less bright than incandescent lights. However, with new color offerings and new technologies, the brightness issue has improved. C9- and C7-sized incandescent bulbs still tested brighter than equal-sized LEDs, according to ConsumerReports.org. However, LEDs were brighter in the mini-light category.
Strings of LEDs now come in a rainbow of colors and many styles, including icicle lights and net lights to cover shrubbery.
The price difference between LEDs and incandescent lighting is minimal. Many retailers are offering LEDs on sale and Home Depot is offering a $3 coupon for LEDs when you turn in a string of incandescent lights.
Have a safe holiday
LEDs are cool to the touch no matter how long they’re on, making them a safe bet on your Christmas tree. But, like any string of lights, check all the wires each year before installing LEDs. When installing them outdoors, avoid damaging the wiring with staples or winding the lights around nails. Don’t overload circuits or extension cords (indoors and out) and put your lights on a timer to save even more energy by automatically turning them on and off.
To get in the holiday spirit and see a display of LED lights, attend the community tree lighting at Vancouver’s Esther Short Park on Friday.
The Energy Adviser is written by members of the energy counselor team of Clark Public Utilities, who provide conservation and energy use information to utility customers. Send questions to energyadviser@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA. 98668. A panel of local energy efficiency and energy product specialists will review your questions. Previous topics are available at www.clarkpublicutilities.com.
