Let There Be LED Light

One of the best part of the holidays is all the lights everywhere. They are so pretty and festive, but if you’re like me you can’t help think about all the energy they’re wasting. Christie Matheson, author of Green Chic: Saving the Earth in Style, has a solution.

According to her book, if you’ve decorated a tree with a string of about 300 mini-incandescent lights, you’ll use about 30 kilowatt-hours of energy (emitting about 45 pounds of extra CO2) over the holiday season.

If you use those big fat holiday lights, we’re talking more than 450 kilowatt-hours and close to 700 pounds of CO2. The mini lights are the preferable choice, and even better is a string of LED lights.

They’re available at Target, Costco and Lowe’s, and even though they cost more than incandescents (a string of 100 LEDs will run you $10-15), they last forever. OK, not forever, but 50,000 hours. And they use about 10 percent of the energy of the mini incandescents–less than 3 kilowatt-hours throughout the holidays.

Plus, they don’t get hot so your fire risk goes down.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Aleksandra L.

10:21PM PDT on Oct 15, 2011

...but does every household really need to decorate??

send a green star

Joyce C.

8:18AM PDT on Jun 24, 2011

I'd like to learn to make some LED solar lit garden ornaments. Does anyone know where I might get info on materials for such a project?

KS G.

5:01AM PDT on Jun 19, 2011

Thanks for the article.

Rev Zak Z.

5:04PM PDT on Apr 6, 2011

The LED holiday lights are truly delightful. The colors are more vivid, and don't fade over time. They don't get hot like the incandescent lights, and some even come in a pale blue-white that just feels so "Ice palace festive."

Richard E C.

8:38AM PST on Jan 13, 2011

Hopefully the high front end price of LEDs will continue to go down making them more attractive to the public. They last longer and the energy is so low compared to other lights.

Sonny H.

4:51AM PST on Dec 18, 2010

LED lights are so much brighter and lasting.

Elle J.

3:13AM PDT on May 23, 2010

I have LED light bulbs in every light in my house. I didn't know that they were available in Christmas lights. Although it is quite a way off, I do have a prelit tree but I would like to know if just the bulbs are available. If anyone knows, please let me know. Thank you. Elle Jorda

Suzanne C.

7:54AM PDT on May 22, 2010

LEDs rock. So glad they are becoming more available in the market.

Beverley P.

1:11AM PDT on May 22, 2010

I bought some battery operated LED lights last year. Very pretty , As well as the reduction in consumption I think they look nicer than standard lights.

Amanda B.

11:49AM PDT on May 21, 2010

The easiest way to see value in these LED’s is to compare the statistics with other commonly used bulbs. An average 20-35 watt incandescent Halogen MR16 typically lasts 3,000 hours. Greentorch’s LED MR 16 runs on only 3 watts, lasting 50,000 hours. Due to these reduced energy and maintenance costs, these LED’s pay for themselves in under a year. Greentorch’s entire LED product line is rated for a 50,000-hour lifespan and consume 80-90% less electricity than their traditional equivalents.
See this site for more useful information: http://www.greentorch.com/Product_landList.aspx