LED: The Energy-Efficient Holiday Light Solution for Bright Nights Everywhere
Article published in Northampton Living
(December 2023)
Bright Nights is an annual holiday event in Springfield that enchants visitors from all over New England with its dazzling light displays.
Have you ever wondered how much electricity it takes to power this event? There are about 700,000 lights along the three-mile display. Assuming most of these bulbs are energy-efficient LED bulbs, we can estimate that this massive display might use about 1.5 million kWh of electricity per year!
That might sound like a lot, but consider that 100 LED bulbs use about 7 watts per hour, whereas the same number of mini-incandescent bulbs will use 40 watts per hour. Using a string of 100 larger incandescent bulbs, such as C7 or C9 bulbs, will respectively use a whopping 500 and 700 watts per hour! Their LED counterparts, however, use 7 to 10 less watts per hour
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LEDs Can Make Your Own Bright Nights Cost Less
When LED lights first entered the holiday scene, they were criticized for looking more dull than dazzling. Over the many years they’ve been around, however, manufacturers have perfected them. Depending on the brand, they can either replicate the look of energy-hungry incandescent lights or have a unique appeal of their own.
LED bulbs can produce the same amount of light as incandescent bulbs while using only a fraction of the energy. This is because LED lights convert nearly all the electricity they receive into light, whereas incandescent bulbs waste much of their energy in the form of heat. In fact, it’s estimated that LED holiday lights use up to 80% less electricity than incandescent bulbs. This not only reduces energy costs for consumers, but also has a positive impact on the environment by reducing carbon emissions.
You Can Save Even More Electricity During the Holidays
There are plenty of other ways you can reduce your home’s energy usage:
Turn off decorations during the day: Set a timer or manually turn off your decorations during daylight hours to save energy.
Unplug electronics when not in use: Many electronics still consume energy even when turned off. Unplug them to reduce electricity usage.
Use natural light: Open curtains or blinds during the day to brighten up your home and reduce the need for artificial lighting.
Cook efficiently: When preparing holiday meals, employ energy-efficient methods like using the microwave instead of the oven, or cooking multiple dishes at once. This will reduce your overall cooking time, too.
Decorate with natural materials: Instead of relying on electronic decorations, get festive with pine cones, branches and berries.
Be mindful of thermostat settings: With all the extra people in your home during the holidays, the temperature will likely be warmer. Adjust your thermostat accordingly to avoid using unnecessary energy for heating or cooling.
By following some of these tips and adding more LEDs to your holiday light display, you can cut down on what it costs to power what will be the envy of your neighborhood – your very own Bright Nights.