Power-hungry holiday lights:
Holiday lights that decorate the house and the Christmas tree are one of the major consumers of electricity during the holiday season. In the state of California, traditional Christmas lights can consume as much as 1000 megawatts of electricity. The average consumption per bulb is 5 to 7 watts. Older lights may consume as much as 10 watts per bulb.
A solution to this is to opt for newer miniature lights. These bulbs use 70 percent less energy as compared to traditional strings of bulbs. For more luminance look at 5-watt bulbs as they are more economical than the 7-watt varieties even though initially a little more expensive.
Using LED lights to save energy:
LED light bulbs are very energy efficient. These bulbs are shatterproof and shock resistant. In addition, they are safe to touch and will not burn your fingers. LEDs are not only long lasting but also they can reduce the energy spent on traditional lighting by as much as 80 – 90%. According to the Electric Power Research Institute, if Americans replaced the traditional mini-light with LED lights, then the savings incurred would be worth $250 million. It would also result in a 400,000 ton reduction of carbon emissions.
Holiday lighting tips:
There are two types of bulbs; those used indoors and those specially designed for outdoor use. Before starting your decorations, remember to check if all the lights are working properly. Additionally, check all lights and lighting fixtures for any frayed wires, damaged plugs or sockets, and cracks in the insulation.
Make use of a timer to switch off the lights automatically. This is especially true for all lights that are strung outside the house. When selecting a timer check to see that it can handle the total wattage of the bulbs on the string.
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