INDIANA – Decorative lights on your Christmas tree and around the house are essential to the festive season. While they look great, they can also be expensive because of the extra energy they burn. If you’re careful, however, you can enjoy Christmas lights while controlling your electricity costs. Now, an expert shares how.
“Christmas lights and décor are pure magic, and embody the Christmas spirit and set the scene,” says Jason Higgs, a money-saving expert and the Senior Deals Strategist at Proxy Coupons. “However, festive lights use a lot of electricity, so they aren’t kind to your energy bills. If you get smart about it, you can enjoy them without breaking the bank.”
Here, the cost-saving expert reveals how you can save big bucks on your Christmas lights and decor while enjoying them the same way you always have.
How to Light Their Eyes Up While Keeping Your Energy Bills Down
Higgs recommends these hacks for happy but economical Christmas illuminations.
- Switch to LED: LED lights use up to 90% less energy than traditional bulbs. They last longer, too. They also emit less heat, making them safer to use.
“LED lights can look as magical as old-fashioned lights so that you won’t be compromising on the sheer magic of Christmas lights at all,” says Higgs.
- Go solar: Solar-powered Christmas lights can shine just as brightly as traditional lights—they use a free and endless source of electricity.
“Small-scale solar-powered lighting doesn’t cost the earth to set up and use. If you can, it’s well worth investing in solar in the long run,” he added.
- Use a timer: Set a light timer to automatically turn your lights on and off when you are around. This will help you to minimize their electricity use.
“There’s no point having Christmas lights on when you’re not there to love them,” Higgs added. “A light timer can save money on electricity but won’t compromise the family’s enjoyment of your festive lights and décor.”
- Be economical: If you don’t have a light timer, turn your Christmas lights on and off manually when you’re around. Santa will still find his way around.
“Time your Christmas lights yourself. It’s easy to do and will save on your energy bills around Christmas,” Higgs said. “Or how about motion-sensitive switches on your lights? They come on when you’re on the move, leaving both hands free for mince pies.”
- Use off-peak electricity: If you have time-of-use rates, try to use your lights during cheaper periods. This is typically late in the evening and at night anyway.
“Be aware that Christmas can have quite a big impact on your electricity bills, and these days, everyone needs to be aware of unpredictable cost-of-living fluctuations. That’s why I recommend using as many of these Christmas energy-saving hacks as you can. They make a ton of sense at the bank and environmentally,” Higgs added. “There’s no need to hike your Christmas energy bills up through the roof because there’s lots of economical tech around to keep costs down. And none of it costs a lot to procure in the first place. Small-scale solar, LED lights, on-off timers, motion sensor switches – all these combined with common sense can save you good money on energy around the festive season without compromising on Christmas magic. Wishing you a safe and bright Christmas that doesn’t cost the Earth!”
