It is that time of year again: time for Christmas lights. Decorating your house with lights has become synonymous with the holiday itself. And while the lights look great and can certainly get you in the festive mood, they can also make your electric bill go up.
The damage may not be as significant as a decade ago, but there is no doubt that Christmas lights will definitely increase your electric bill.
Here are a few ways you can save on your electric bill this year with your Christmas lights.
Invest In LED Lights
The majority of Christmas lights are now LEDs. That being said, if you are still using your old Christmas lights, you are likely not hanging LEDs. These old incandescent lights are notorious for using a lot of energy.
By upgrading to LED lights, you will automatically decrease your electric bill, as LEDs consume much less energy than incandescent lights. Not only are they more efficient, but they also look great and will last longer.
Use A Timer
Another common problem for homeowners is forgetting to turn the lights off. If you rely on manually turning your lights off every day, you will likely forget at least a few nights. This means your lights can be on for 12-15 hours at a time. Most electric estimates base their energy consumption on having your lights on for 5 hours a day. If you forget to turn your lights off 3 days, you can be adding up to 9 more days to your electric bill.
The way to solve this problem is to use a timer. This will allow you to automatically have your lights turn on and off each day to ensure your lights are only on during the time period when people are actually able to see them and not when most people are sleeping.
Stick With Solid Light Colors
The color choice for your lights is completely up to you. Whether you like colored lights or white lights, there is no difference between them. Where there is a difference, however, is using flashing, twinkling or color-changing lights. These lights do use more electricity and can send your electric bill soaring in December.
So, if you want to keep your electric bills down this winter without having to call a South Jersey electrician to rewire your home, follow these Christmas light tips. They will keep your home looking great without the added stress on your wallet.