Charm Old St. Nick with Efficient LED Holiday Lights

Whether you simply decorate the tree or go all out Griswold-style on your home’s exterior, there’s a necessary change that may be in order for you and your neighbors: the switch from incandescent to LED holiday lights. Sure, even as an LEED professional, you’ve heard scary rumors that LED holiday lights are dramatically more expensive, but the reality is that LED lights offer a whole sleighful of benefits over their antiquated predecessor. (Check out this awesome comparative infographic from Christmas Lights Etc.)

First, LED lights are considerably brighter than incandescents and, given that hanging holiday lights take so much effort, why not go with the lights that will give your effort a little extra pizzazz? Plus, LED strings come in more shapes, sizes and colors than the North Pole has elves! Consider this festive selection from Inhabitat which proves there’s an LED holiday light for everyone - from Champagne snowflakes to red “berry” bulbs!

Second, as long as, unlike me, you don’t misplace your strings of lights in the Neverland of your organization process every New Year, your LED investment will last you longer - so much longer! In fact, LED holiday lights are proven to last anywhere from 10 to 66 times longer. Plus, remember when we were kids, and we’d pull out the strings only to find half of the bulbs would be missing and the other half would have chipped paint? LED lights feature an epoxy bulb seal and the colors are actually in the diode and plastic, both of which further their lifespan significantly.

Finally, while the initial cost of purchasing LED versus incandescent lights is notable, the latter require considerably more energy to operate. LEDs offer a 90% energy savings! So, over time, as you outshine all the other houses in town, you’ll be smiling on two fronts - the bragging rights and the electric bill!

Think there’s a chance you might be on Saint Nick’s naughty list this year? Consider LEED-ing the way in your neighborhood’s move to an eco-conscious holiday by investing in this transferrable asset and getting on the jolly fellow’s good side in time for it to count.