These energy-conscious lighting tips will help you save some money on
your energy bill this holiday season, leaving you with more funds to
spend on loved ones.
The holidays are a fun, but often expensive, time of year. It’s easy to
blow budgets on gifts for loved ones and on electric bills by making the
season bright. Fortunately, saving money during the holiday season can
be just as simple with a few energy-conscious lighting tips.
Look on the bright side
Substituting new LED holiday lights for run-of-the-mill incandescent
holiday lights can give you big savings and make a big statement. LED
(or light emitting diode) lights are brighter than traditional lights,
and they last longer while using far less energy. In fact, LED light
strings can use 90% less energy than regular incandescent lights and
last about ten times longer. When you shop, just make sure you’re
getting what you pay for. Look for government and industry-approved
energy-saving logos.
No matter what you choose, buying holiday lights can be expensive. So
keep your eye out for manufacturer rebates and coupons, and be sure to
check with your local utility provider to see if they offer any special
rebates for LED decorations.
Besides being energy efficient, LED holiday lights offer other important
advantages. They’re cooler than incandescent lights (which can help
reduce fires), have no filament or glass to break and can help prevent
overloading sockets when you string them end-to-end. And believe it or
not, using energy-efficient holiday lights like these can even help
reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Remember, you don’t have to limit your energy savings to just around the
holidays. Using LED bulbs is a smart, energy efficient choice any time
of the year for lighting inside and outside your home.
Timing is everything
You can further reduce your holiday electric bill by limiting your light
display to “primetime” hours. Extension cords with built-in timers can
easily be found in most hardware stores. Make sure they’re suitable for
outdoor use. Then, simply plug in your lights and set timers to turn on
when it gets dark and switch off at bedtime. No sense lighting your home
when few people are around to enjoy it. The same holds true at other
times of the year with your standard outdoor lights. Instead of a timer,
you can even use a motion sensor. That way, your outdoor lights will
only go on when triggered.
Consider solar
Depending on how much sun exposure you get, solar-powered lights can be a
great energy-saving solution. Even in winter, these lights can soak up
enough sun to light up an outdoor tree without relying on electricity.
Get more bang for your buck
Here’s a smart tip to pump up the light without bursting your electric
bill: Strategically place reflective ornaments or tinsel to bounce light
in multiple directions. This will create a dazzling shimmery effect
that tricks the eye into seeing more lights than are actually there.
A little can go a long way
Here’s another efficient way to create lots of visual drama without
having to add tons of additional lighting. Simply, use colored flood
light bulbs in place of standard outdoor floods. You can find a variety
of festive colors such as red, green and blue. Then, position the lights
so they bathe your home’s exterior in a warm, cheery glow.
You can achieve a lot with dramatic up-lighting. Focus them on your home
or seasonal planters positioned along a walkway. Try flanking your
front door for an added effect.
If that’s a little too much for your taste, just substitute colored
light bulbs in a few of your exterior fixtures, such as on your porch,
above your front door or outside your garage. You’ll get pops of festive
color with a more subtle effect.
Light the night with luminaries
During the holidays, you’ll often see these glowing lanterns in rows
along a sidewalk or leading up a walkway to a front door. Luminaries are
often made from brown paper bags that are weighted down with sand and
lit from within by candles. A safer energy-efficient solution would be
battery-powered LED luminaries. They’ll still create a classic, warm and
welcoming feel, just in a modern and Eco-friendly way.
Create a warm glow
Speaking of battery-powered candles or candlesticks, using them in your
front windows can also add light with limited energy use and cost. Look
for scented varieties to add another layer of cheer. Create a warm glow
throughout your home with holiday-themed votive holders illuminated with
actual votive or battery-operated tea-lights. Many of these flameless
options are made to mimic the flickering of a real candle, so you can
enjoy all the atmosphere without any of the worry that comes with a real
flame.
With so many wonderful options available today, you can be
energy-conscious AND festive without having to compromise. Follow these
energy conservation tips this holiday and, perhaps, you’ll be able to
splurge on an extra gift just for yourself.
From American Home Shield
