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LED lights bright idea for holidays and year round

By Joyce Koballa jkoballa@heraldstandard.Com 4 min read
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Metro Creative

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By the year 2030, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates Americans could save about $15 billion using LED lighting.

Using LED lights to decorate for the holidays or simply throughout your home all year can help save money and energy as they are now being incorporated into bulbs and fixtures for general lighting as incandescent types are being phased out.

While they are less fragile and more resistant to breaking, LED holiday lights also last longer and consume 70 percent less energy than conventional incandescent light strands, according to energy.gov.

The cost to light a 6-foot tree is reportedly 27 cents for 12 hours a day for 40 days with LEDs compared to $10 for incandescent lights.

Even when you aren’t using lights and electronics, energystar.gov said, they still draw small amounts of energy costing American households an average of $100 a year.

Wayne Davison, manager at Cardello Electric in Uniontown, said LED lights are the way to go all around.

“There’s no mercury, so they’re safer in all aspects,” said Davison. They also contain no lead or glass, he said.

He said LED bulbs have advantages over conventional or halogen lights because they don’t get as hot.

“They have a lot of benefits, and you’re virtually never going to change them.”

According to Davison, various manufacturers have indicated the average lifespan of an LED light is about 25,000 hours meaning if you used it for eight hours a day every day of the year at 25,000 kilowatt hours, it would last for eight-and-a-half years.

Although the wattage equivalent for LEDs is less than incandescent bulbs, Davison said consumers still need to follow the equivalency rating indicated by the manufacturer.

They also have different hues based on the Kelvin scale leaving some to cast a blue or yellow tone so it’s important to know if the bulb has a warm or cool description.

Another way to save energy is to use a timer to turn your holiday lights on and off at specific times, and by shutting off power strips when the holiday decorations aren’t lit since electricity is still being drawn.

Compared to incandescent lights, LEDs reduce the risk of fire, according to Consumer Reports.

They are also highly resistant to shock and vibration, have excellent cold weather performance, are dimmable and have a quick turn-on time.

Because LEDs don’t burn out, you also won’t have to replace dead bulbs in a string of holiday lights making them less worrisome.

Bob Topper Sr., fire chief of New Haven Hose Company in Connellsville, said the bigger issue involved with Christmas lighting is the wiring.

“People are safest when they use quality products and should always look for the UL (Underwriters Laboratories) tag,” Topper said. “That’s the first step.”

When hanging holiday string lights, Topper said to follow proper safety precautions and to avoid stapling them over the edges or near any electric connections.

Also, don’t hang lights near areas where there is moisture and be careful not to overload circuits.

“LEDs draw less current, but people need to be aware of how their house is wired,” said Topper.

“Any wiring that has been compromised over the years tends to be more susceptible.”

When shopping for LED light strands, the U.S. Department of Energy recommends to check displays or ask to see them lit for color purposes.

There may also be utility rebates online with certain LED purchases.

By the year 2030, the U.S. Department of Energy estimates LED lighting could save approximately 190 Terawatt hours of electricity per year, which is equivalent to the annual output of 24 large power plants.

This is equal to enough electricity to power 95 million homes, and at today’s prices, $15 billion in savings.

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