Shine Bright, Save Smart
December 2, 2024
It’s the most wonderful time of the year to learn about energy savings and safety tips this holiday season! Consider using our Holiday Lighting Calculator to help determine your monthly energy savings by converting traditional Christmas lights to LED bulbs. In addition to using our Holiday Lighting Calculator, try these helpful tips to brighten your holiday celebration:
- Inspect your holiday items. Every year, we all bring out some cherished holiday keepsakes that have either been passed down from generation to generation or are beginning to start a new tradition. While it’s important to display these holiday treasures, it’s also important to take a few moments to carefully inspect them and ensure that everything is working correctly. Look for brittle insulation, damage to the plug, chafed or frayed wires (especially at stress points), and corroded metal parts.
- Broken Bulb. If you have a broken bulb in your string of lights, don’t worry! It’s an easy fix. Unplug the lights from the outlet before replacing any bulbs or fuses.
- Install a Light Timer. Plugging your lights into a programmable timer can help save energy and costs! If you plan to use a timer for exterior lighting, make sure it is weatherproof and rated for outdoor use.
- Use LED Lights. Switching to LED is a smart choice! They use 80-90% less energy than incandescent bulbs and have a longer lifespan. Although they may cost a little more than traditional Christmas lights, they will save you money in the long run.
- Carefully choose where you hang lights. Avoid mounting or supporting light strings in a manner that could cause damage to the cord’s insulation. Make sure cords are not pinched in doors, windows, or under heavy furniture, as this could damage the cord’s insulation.
- Shorten the Season. As much as we love to decorate for the holidays early, it can impact your electricity bill. While some households keep their lights up longer than needed, it’s important to consider your energy usage. To save energy and money, we recommend enjoying your lights during the holiday season but shortening the time you use them before and after the holiday season.
At Union Power, safety is a top priority. We encourage our members to practice safety while celebrating this holiday season. Visit union-power.com/energysavingscalculators to explore our energy-saving calculators.