| CEC
Energy Newsletter
November
December
2006
Holiday
Lights Source: Energy Ideas Clearinghouse
Many Americans love to decorate during the holidays with
strings of lights, and most people currently use standard
incandescent C7 lights or mini- lights. Two energy-efficient
alternatives to consider are LED lights and fiber optic
trees.
Holiday Lights: LED and Fiber Optics
Decorating
with “holiday lights” is becoming more of a year-round activity. As
more lighting is used and as energy rates climb, consumers find that
decorating with lights is costing more. Most people currently use
standard incandescent C7 lights or mini-lights. There are better
ways! LED lights and fiber optic trees are two energy-efficient
technologies that can reduce your energy costs, particularly when
the lights are used for long periods of time, such as in commercial
applications.
LED Lights
Light Emitting Diode (LED)
holiday lights are a new application for a mature technology. Each
year manufacturers have improved the choices, producing bigger and
brighter bulbs and new color options. LED lights have a number of
benefits over conventional lighting:
• Energy-efficient –
0.08 watts per LED C7 multicolor bulb (compared with 0.48 watts for
an incandescent mini-light and 6.0 watts for a standard incandescent
C7 bulb).
• Long life span – up to 100,000 hours or more used
indoors, half that outdoors, and some manufacturers provide a
limited lifetime warranty.
• Safety – no chance of combustion
since the bulbs are cool to the touch, regardless of how long they
are left on.
• Sturdy bulbs – the epoxy lenses are virtually
indestructible.
LED lights are currently available in strings
from 25 to 150 bulbs with red, green, blue, white, yellow and
multi-colored bulbs. There are many styles available including
mini-ice, ball-shaped, and C7 and C9 (candle-shaped) bulbs. Amber or
orange Halloween lights and patriotic red, white and blue sets are
also available. Costs can vary substantially by color because,
rather than painted bulbs, the color is produced by the chemical
make-up of the bulb. White and blue are the most costly.
New
products include icicle-style lamps, strings that change from one
color to another, strings with commercial- quality plugs that allow
more than 100 strings to be connected, rope lights, and additional
holiday ornaments. At least one company is offering screw-in LED
bulbs for converting your incandescent strings to LED.
LED
lights have a different appearance from the familiar incandescent
models. They may appear to shimmer with movement as the light passes
through the faceted bulbs. Side-by-side with an incandescent bulb
they do not emit equal light, although some LED bulbs on the market
this year are closer to the brightness of incandescent. In spite of
the differences, LED lights can be used for beautiful and affordable
holiday decorating.
Keep in mind that over time the cost to
operate energy-consuming devices overcomes the initial purchase
price. Despite a higher initial cost, LEDs are a clear winner over
incandescent C7 lights when you compare the cost to purchase and
operate a system for five years (and beyond).
 Fiber Optic Artificial Trees
Another relatively energy
efficient tree lighting strategy is the fiber optic artificial tree.
These trees use a single incandescent bulb ranging from 5 to 50
watts, depending on the size of the tree. Light is transmitted from
the single bulb (so there’s only one bulb to replace) through
hundreds of very small fibers and emitted along each branch of the
tree. Some trees come equipped with a rotating color wheel that
changes the color emitted from the fibers.
Fiber optic lights
are cool to the touch, as only light is transmitted from the fiber
and not heat. The incandescent light source is located in the base
of the tree with ventilating holes that must not be covered. The
cost for such trees ranges from $20 for a 2-3-foot tree to over $200
for the largest trees. Fiber optics are also now used in many other
decorations such as Santa or Angel figures and wreaths.
A
Note About Wiring
The wiring is a weak link in any system.
Improperly attaching light sets with staples, winding wires around
nails, and other practices can damage wiring, as can prolonged
exposure to sunlight. Treating the wiring with care will extend the
life of any light set and increase safety as well. Before putting up
your lights, test the system and inspect the wires for defects.
Many shoppers now note a warning on light set packaging
regarding lead in the wire coatings.The coatings are the same on all
wiring, and washing hands after handling is recommended, but the
wires of today are no different in this respect than the unlabeled
ones of the past.
Using timers to reliably turn off lights
during daylight hours and other times can further reduce energy
costs.
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