Save Money with Energy-Efficient Outdoor Christmas Lights

Christmas displays enhance feelings of joy during the holiday season. They can be especially beneficial to businesses as they attract foot traffic and remind people that they must start buying gifts. However, considering the cost to run Christmas lights, companies must ensure they see a return on their investment. 

Energy efficient Christmas lights are an optimal solution. These lights save money on electricity so you can spend less and see higher returns on your decorating efforts. With the right approach, you can enjoy a thriving holiday season without spending an arm and a leg. 

Operating a holiday display is expensive. According to USA Today, running five strands of C9 2-inch incandescent bulbs (500 bulbs) for six hours daily can add $63 to your energy bill. You will also spend more on bigger displays, and let’s not forget the cost of the decorations.

If you replace those incandescent lights with energy-efficient outdoor Christmas lights, such as LEDs, your energy costs will be reduced to just $9 for the holiday month. Similarly, if you use mini-LED lights instead of large LEDs, your monthly expenses will be as low as 80 cents.

When we think of energy-saving Christmas lights, we often think of LEDs. However, LEDs are not the only type of commercial outdoor lighting that can save you money. In this section, we will review various types of energy-efficient lights so you can choose the ones that suit your needs. 

LED Christmas lights are more energy efficient than their incandescent counterparts because they waste less energy. They emit much less heat, meaning all their energy is concentrated to generate light. The light is also emitted in a more focused direction, reducing diffusion and waste. 

These energy-efficient Christmas lights also have an additional money-saving benefit: Due to their solid-state design, they last up to 25 times longer than traditional bulbs. Therefore, you won’t need to replace them as often.

Solar Christmas lights outdoor generate power from the sun, meaning they will not increase your electricity bills. Instead of a socket, these low-energy holiday lights connect to a solar panel and rechargeable battery. The solar panel absorbs sunlight during the day and stores the energy in the battery, allowing the light to produce power at night. 

Businesses that have solar installations can also enjoy savings benefits. The lights will use the building’s solar energy to produce light for reduced electricity bills. 

Wi-Fi lights are app-controlled. Users can set the app to ensure lights turn on and off at a particular time each day and don’t use too much power. The app can also turn off lights from remote locations if they are accidentally left on.

App-controlled lights offer additional benefits. For example, you can use the app to program light shows, even when you are not on the premises. You can also integrate Smart lights with your home’s Smart systems to control the lights with voice commands and other automation routines. 

Intelligent systems can be combined with LED lights to optimize savings.

Battery-operated Christmas lights use a portable battery pack to power them. They are controlled with an on-off switch; however, some have a timer function.

These lights can be money-saving because they do not require electricity. However, they often need to be replaced after the holiday season, which can add to expenses. 

The amount of money you can save when switching to energy-saving Christmas lights varies depending on how many lights you use in your display. However, according to Electricity Plans, they can reduce your bill by 80% to 90%. They are also an environmental solution, which can enhance your reputation among some consumers.

Switching out your existing lights with energy-efficient outdoor Christmas lights can save you money, but you can save even more with the following solutions: 

A Christmas light timer for energy savings ensures lights don’t stay on longer than necessary. Smart plugs for Christmas lights work similarly. They plug into wall outlets and let you turn the power on and off remotely using an app or a voice command.

Wattage and brightness are indirectly related. Wattage for Christmas lights is the amount of electricity the bulb needs to achieve optimal brightness. 

Most Christmas lights have standard wattages of 40 watts for incandescent bulbs and 4.8 for LEDs. Christmas lights with higher wattages may be excessive. You should also ensure your light’s wattage doesn’t exceed the capacity of your circuit or extension chord.

Reflective decorations for brighter lights are another energy-saving solution. Mirrored decorations reflect your lights, magnifying their illumination and reducing the need for more lights and energy. Place lights strategically for optimal results, ensuring they reflect the corresponding decorative elements. Mirrors should be opposite or adjacent to lighting to optimize its impact. 

Grouping lights by zones can help you determine how much energy you use in each part of your business. You can target various zones to cut down on your usage. 

You may also save money by turning off unnecessary outdoor lights. For example, some businesses turn on security lights at night to deter burglars or use other lighting to help customers navigate the building. Christmas lights may eliminate the need for other external lighting. If you leave them on, you may be wasting energy. 

The internet is full of misconceptions that may prevent some people from integrating energy-efficient Christmas lights into their displays. In this section, we will debunk those myths so you have the information you need to guide your decision.

Some people believe LED lights are less bright than incandescent ones because they have lower wattages. In reality, the brightness of LED lights is measured in lumens rather than watts. LEDs produce more lumens per watt than incandescent bulbs and are often as bright or brighter. 

Solar lights need sunlight to work. The sun shines in winter so that they will work in winter. Of course, storms often occur in winter, and daylight hours are shorter, but the sun will still be available to power the lights. 

Although energy-efficient lights are more expensive initially than other varieties, they use less energy and last longer. Considering the money saved on energy use and replacement costs, energy-efficient lights reduce expenses in the long run. 

LEDs can last 30 times longer than their incandescent counterparts. However, some factors can impact their lifespan including:

• Quality: High-quality bulbs will last longer. The quality of the chip and the bonding process could impact the bulb’s lifespan. For best results, purchase bulbs from a reputable dealer.
• Frequency of Use: LEDs’ lifespans are typically rated by the number of hours they are used. If you frequently use your bulbs and turn them on and off, they will wear out quickly.
• Environmental Conditions: Overheating and using the bulb in the wrong fixture can cause premature failure. Use your lights safely to optimize lifespan.

Operating a Christmas display can be expensive, but you can reduce costs by using energy-efficient Christmas lights. They lower utility bills and last longer, saving money on replacement costs. Energy saving lights can help businesses increase profitability during the holiday season.

You can save even more by purchasing high-quality Christmas lights on the Dekra-Lite website. We offer various energy-efficient Christmas lights suited to various decors and needs. Our team can also do full-scale installations. 

Contact us for everything you need to prepare your company for the holiday season. 

Yes, Christmas lights require a lot of electricity, and the more lights you have, the more electricity you will use. Statistics show running 500 C9 bulbs for six hours daily can add $68 to your electric bill.

LEDs use the least energy, reducing energy bills by 80% to 90%. Timers, smart systems, and other energy-saving methods can also save money.

No, you will not save money by always leaving LED lights on. Turning lights on and off creates a surge, spiking energy use. However, leaving lights on 24/7 is a more expensive option.

Solar-powered Christmas lights work on cloudy days because the sun is still out behind the clouds. However, it may take longer for your lights to charge.

Yes, bright lights are better for saving energy because they allow you to program your lights on a system that automatically shuts on and off. They also allow you to turn lights off remotely if they are accidentally left on. Smart systems prevent lights being accidentally left on and consuming unnecessary energy.