If you haven’t done so already, you’re probably gearing up to put up a tree, hang the stockings and cover your home, inside and out, in bright festive lights.
Not too long ago, hanging lighting required a little bit of electrical engineering. Strands of incandescent bulbs demand large quantities of power; connect too many on a single circuit (usually four or more) and you risk damaging your lights, or worse. A single displace will require several circuits and a number of extension cords, which could be prone to tangling and difficult to tastefully work with. Even when kept under a household circuit’s maximum load limit, incandescent strands demand large quantities of energy, which makes for a particularly high power bill come January. But with LED light strands, those old rules go out the window.
“If you’re still decorating with incandescents, make this the year you switch,” said Clark Public Utilities Energy Services Supervisor DuWayne Dunham.
Because LEDs use 70 to 90 percent less electricity than incandescents, multiple light strands can be connected to the same circuit.
For example: wrapping a porch railing or a large window might take 1,000 mini lights to do the job. That number of incandescent mini lights might require 408 watts, while 1,000 LED mini lights need only 69 watts. To connect that many incandescents, you’d need at least two plug outlets because only five or fewer sets can be connected end-to-end. But about 40 LED strands can be connected end-to-end.
The larger string light bulbs commonly hung along roof lines or outdoor trees are usually C9 or C7 bulbs. Their larger size can really add some extra oomph to displays seen from a distance. While the difference in energy consumption between LED and incandescent mini lights is impressive, the difference between the two styles at this size is downright staggering.
A strand of 300 C9 incandescents will require 2,100 watts and require you to connect them to multiple circuits. But, similarly sized LEDs will require less than 50 watts and will need only one outlet.
Not only are they more economical to use, LEDs are safer. Incandescent bulbs convert about 90 percent of their energy into heat, which can be particularly dangerous with a dry Christmas tree, paper or other combustible decorations. LEDs, on the other hand, don’t produce heat. Plus, their bulbs are made of epoxy, not glass, so they’re more durable and less likely to cut you if one breaks.
The one drawback to LED strands is that they are more expensive than incandescent strands. A single LED strand can range anywhere from a few dollars to three times more expensive than their glass and filament counterparts. That upfront cost may be a little hard to swallow, but the LEDs will be significantly cheaper to operate. Plus, LED strings are rated at 50,000 hours and more average life, compared with 3,000 hours of incandescent stands.
“If you do switch, just remember to recycle your old light strings,” Dunham said. “Many big-box retailers will accept them. A quick internet search will also list several places they can be recycled.”
Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.
