Instead of conventional Christmas lights, use LED Christmas lights to make your Christmas season greener. You can easily find LED Christmas lights, since most stores that sell Christmas lights stock their shelves with both varieties. Yes, Virginia. You can have a greener Christmas!

In addition to consuming less energy than traditional lights, LED Christmas lights last up to ten times longer. They use 75% less energy. As such, you can reap savings on your electric bill this holiday season if you use this type of lighting.

As with traditional string lights, the LED variety are available in several shapes and sizes — including the popular “globe” and “mini” types. They can be found in the form of icicles and nets as well. Whatever color you’re looking for, you should be able to find it.

LED Christmas lights are safer than traditional lights. For instance, you can safely connect several strings without worrying about overheating being a problem. However, you should still read the manual or box to learn how many strands you can connect safely to one another.

Solar powered LED Christmas lights are available if you want to go even greener with your holiday displays. These lights are more energy friendly because they harness the energy of the sun. Some models automatically light up at night. A 50-light string can cost you under $20 at Amazon. You can, therefore, save both money and energy if you buy strings of LED lights of this type.

Sometimes people balk at the initial cost of LED Christmas lights. And it is, of course, true that this variety costs more than conventional incandescent bulbs. That’s the price you sometimes pay for more efficient and greener lighting solutions.

There are Christmas light timers available that you can hook up to your existing lights if you still have working incandescent strands and don’t want to invest in LED Christmas lights. These timers regulate the amount of energy your lights use. Additionally, these timers can help burglar-proof your house because they turn off and on automatically, thereby giving the impression that someone is at home even if you’re out of town visiting friends and family.

Speaking of safety, you should always observe safety first regardless of which type of Christmas lights you use. When you unplug the lights, don’t pull on the cord. This can tear at the wiring inside. When preparing to store light strands until the next holiday season, ensure there are no non-working bulbs or other kinds of damage before storing strings of lights. Don’t use lights that have loose connections, broken sockets, or bare wires. Store Christmas Lights, and any electrical decorations, in a dry place where they can’t be damaged by water. Keep them out of children’s reach during storage, to ensure the wires are not damaged.

Christmas is a time of celebration, family, giving, and religion. It can also be a time to think about the future of our planet and take a few extra steps to make it greener. Because every little bit counts, don’t forget that our steps can go a long way when combined.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn to live greener and more environmentally friendly lives. Find out more about green living at her blog on Sustainable and Green Building.

Original Article Use LED Christmas Lights for a Greener Holiday.