 Don’t let Holiday Decorations add to your Electric Bill
When shopping for holiday decorations look for lighting that is energy efficient, use timers to control the lighting schedule, and consider using fiber optic trees and decorations. Making the choice to use one or more of these energy saving devices will not only save energy but also decrease utility bills during the winter season.
Using Light Emitting Diodes
Light emitting diodes (LED) are an energy efficient and colorful holiday light option for indoor and outdoor use. LEDs use a fraction of the electricity used by traditional holiday lights. LEDs use .04 watts per bulb, which is 1/10 the energy of mini bulbs and 1/100 the energy of traditional (C-7) holiday bulbs. Instead of glass and filaments, these lights use epoxy lenses that are virtually unbreakable. There is nothing to burn out and a string of LEDs will stay lit if one bulb stops working. LEDs will last approximately 200,000 hours while conventional light bulbs typically last 1000-2000 hours.
Fiber Optic Trees
Fiber Optic Trees use a low-wattage incandescent bulb to light small fibers on the ends of each branch. Rotating color wheels give trees a look similar to using traditional mini-lights but use only one bulb in the center and are not warm to the touch. Fiber Optic decorations come in various shapes and sizes and can cost anywhere from $20 to $200.
Timers
Installing a timer on outside holiday lighting arrangements not only eliminates the hassle of plugging them in every evening, but also saves energy. It is not recommended to use timers with indoor lighting; lights could be on when no one is home or awake and lead to hazardous conditions.
More information and Additional Resources
Look online for more about holiday lighting options at Led Light, www.theledlight.com; and the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Energy Program at www.energyideas.org and www.epcor.ca.
Additional information on home energy savings can be found in the Home Series: Home Heating and Cooling booklet available on the Iowa Energy Center’s Web site, www.energy.iastate.edu or by calling (515) 294-8819.
The Iowa Energy Center is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving Iowa's energy efficiency and the use of renewable fuels.
|
Top