Light Up the Holidays with New LED Bulbs

Washington, DC () - Holiday lights make the season bright, and with light emitting diode (LED) lights, they can make it more energy efficient, too, according to the nation’s electric utility companies.   LEDs are a new type of light bulb that use a lot less electricity than standard incandescent bulbs.   To promote the energy saving benefits of LED lights, both the National Christmas Tree in Washington, DC and the evergreen in New York’s Rockefeller Center are using LED bulbs for the first time this year.

Technically, LEDs are not light bulbs at all.  Instead, they are tiny semiconductor chips that light up when electricity passes through them.  Because they have no filament, LEDs stay cool to the touch and they last longer—up to 20 times longer than ordinary light bulbs.

“We encourage consumers to consider the new LED holiday lights this season,” said Diane Munns, EEI’s Executive Director of Retail Energy Services.  “They do cost more than standard bulbs, but their energy savings and their long life make them more economical in the long run.  The local electric company has more information on energy efficient lighting, as well as how to save electricity all year round.”

Holiday lights vary widely in their energy usage and operating costs.  The table below shows the approximate cost to light the different types of light bulbs for six hours.

(*At the average national residential electricity cost = $0.105/kWh)

Along with taking charge of the lighting bill this holiday season, the nation’s electric companies also encourage homes and businesses to follow the safety tips below when using their indoor and outdoor holiday lights: 

OUTDOOR LIGHTING TIPS

• Even though the lights worked effectively last year they should be inspected this year. 
• Install or adjust outdoor electrical displays only during dry weather.
• Outdoor displays require outdoor, exterior-rated extension cords, including fixtures, cords and bulbs.
• When hanging lights around your roofline or in trees, be sure to survey the area for overhead power lines and maintain at least a 10-foot distance.
• Keep all electrical connections off the ground and hang sockets downward to prevent water from seeping into them.
• Do not use more than three sets of standard lights on each extension cord.
• Do not run electrical cords through door or window openings where they can be damaged.
• For added protection, plug outdoor lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground fault circuit interrupters.

INDOOR LIGHTING TIPS

• Keep lights away from carpeting, furniture and drapes.
• Turn off decorative lights before going to bed or leaving home.
• To prevent overloading wall sockets, use power strips with built-in circuit breakers to connect multiple sets of lights.
• As with outdoor lights, do not use more than three sets of standard lights on each extension cord.
• Do not run light cords under rugs, through doorways, or near furniture where they may be stepped on, tripped over, or broken.
• Do not place cords around or near metal pipes, appliances, or anything that is damp or metallic.  Turn off electrical devices when making adjustments.
• Also, a few minutes spent checking cords and plugs for potential hazards reduces the possibility of a fire.  Throw away lights that have frayed wires, damaged sockets or cracked or missing insulation. 

After the holidays, a great New Year’s resolution is to make the entire house more energy efficient.   The local electric utility can help.  Electric utilities offer energy-saving advice and programs.  These can include home weatherization materials and on-line energy audits, which enable consumers to find out where their home may be wasting energy, right from their own computer.  For more information on electric utilities and energy efficiency, please visit www.getenergyactive.org.

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The Edison Electric Institute (EEI) is the association of U.S. shareholder-owned electric companies. Our members serve 95 percent of the ultimate customers in the shareholder-owned segment of the industry, and represent approximately 70 percent of the U.S. electric power industry. We also have more than 65 International electric companies as Affiliate members, and more than 170 industry suppliers and related organizations as Associate members.