Article Provided by Jamie Sward for Kate.net
Green has long been a color closely associated with Christmas. In fact, many of the symbols synonymous with Christmas are green —
evergreen trees and wreaths, holly, and mistletoe — and a majority of today’s traditional Christmas decorations have at least a
smidge of green and red. Even the Grinch is green! A color long thought to represent life, "green" is now being used by
environmentalists and other eco-conscious individuals as an adjective to describe environmentally sound and beneficial practices.
Today, as we face increased energy demands and costs, manufacturers are looking for more ways to bring green products and technology
to consumers. One of the latest trends is in "green" Christmas and holiday lights. By using eco-friendly LED lights, manufacturers
have found a way for consumers to leave their Christmas lights on without worry. Here are some of the benefits of using LED Christmas
lights instead of traditional incandescent lights:
- Long Lasting: LEDs (or Light Emitting Diodes) are small, solid bulbs known for their high energy efficiency. LEDs can last up to
50,000 hours or more, whereas standard incandescent bulbs last only about 1,000 hours. The longer lasting your Christmas lights, the
more security you have knowing that you won't have to change them before the holidays are over. This saves you both time and money.
- Energy and Cost Efficient: LEDs use just a fraction of the wattage that incandescent bulbs do, producing more light per watt.
Because LEDs are so much more efficient, they save both energy and resultant energy costs. To give you an idea just how efficient LED
technology can be, many cities nationwide are switching out incandescent traffic lights with LED lights because these lights can cut
electricity costs by 80% or more. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, "If every home in the U.S. switched to LED holiday
lights, we could save $160 million in energy costs this season alone."*
- Cool to the Touch: Highly energy efficient, LED light bulbs are much cooler than incandescent bulbs, producing about 3.4 BTU's
(British Thermal Units) per hour, compared to 85 for traditional incandescent bulbs, which emit about 98 percent of their energy as heat.
This means you don’t have to worry about burning your fingers when handling your LED Christmas lights, and they are less likely to cause
Christmas trees or shrubbery to catch fire. Additionally, LEDs don't have a fragile filament or tube to worry about, as incandescent
bulbs do. This means that LEDs are heat, cold, and shock-resistant - perfect for using indoors and outdoors.
- Mercury-Free: No mercury is used in the manufacturing of LEDs, meaning disposal is safe, particularly compared to disposal of compact
fluorescent bulbs (CFLs).
- Just as Colorful: LED Christmas lights come in as many fun colors, styles, and shapes as traditional incandescent Christmas lights— everything from elegant LED icicle lights and traditional string Christmas lights to electric LED candles and holiday lighting
displays. The selection of LED Christmas lights is tremendous.
Get into the Christmas spirit with bright and cool-burning LED Christmas lights this year. Going "green" will definitely get you on
Santa's good list!
About the Author
Jamie Sward is a home decor expert. With a BA in Journalism from Indiana University, Jamie loves to write about the latest in design trends
for the home. He currently resides in Boston, MA. |
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