Setting up lights for the holidays is a cherished tradition for many people. It’s a fun family activity, and it brings holiday cheer to the entire neighborhood. But don’t forget that those lights still use electricity, especially the large and elaborate displays. To avoid a shocking electric bill this winter, follow these guidelines for saving energy with decorative lights.
Switch to Modern Lights
Light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs are quickly gaining ground as a standard light source. Naturally, this technology has been turned to other purposes, and there are many decorative holiday lights that use LEDs. The biggest benefit is their efficiency. LEDs deliver far more light for less money. For years, Miami electrician services have been advising homeowners to make the switch to LEDs, and this advice should be followed even for something as small as holiday light displays.
Do More with Less
Most light strings have a bulb every inch or so. While this does produce a very dazzling appearance, all of those bulbs aren’t necessary. You can form perfectly discernible shapes and patterns with your lights with far fewer bulbs. Buy the kind of lights that are wired to still work with bulbs missing and remove every other bulb. You’ll find that you can still make a beautiful light display without using so much electricity. You can easily cut the power usage in half with this method.
Only Turn On the Lights When People Will See Them
It’s not uncommon to see holiday lights left on day in and day out. Homeowners would be wise to remember that if nobody can see the lights, there’s no point in having them on! Only turn your lights on when it gets dark, and don’t forget to turn them off before you go to bed. If this process sounds like a hassle, you can use an outlet timer to put it on autopilot. Any electrician in Miami will be glad to recommend a good outlet timer and show you how to use it.
You don’t have to shell out an outrageous sum for electricity just to bring a little holiday spirit to your home. Make use of these three easy tricks and start saving money. You can then spend your hard-earned cash on great gifts, not an inflated electric bill!