Thanksgiving has past and you know what that means – time to get the house all decked out for Christmas. Even though the stores have had Christmas decorations out since before Halloween, many of us start tackling it the weekend after Thanksgiving. I know we are digging everything out of the attic tomorrow and so we can get the lights on the house while it is 70 not 45!

Festive Christmas Lights Can Be Energy Efficient

Bright, twinkling lights – both inside and outside the house – are one of the joys and traditions of the season. Those festive little lights can still turn a once jubilant reveler into a bitter Ebenezer Scrooge when the old electricity bill rolls in. To avoid a “Bah humbug!” attitude come January, take an energy efficient look at the bulbs you’re stringing on your trees and on the eaves of your home.
Did you know that those large, traditional colored bulbs you unpack year after year could be costing you a bundle? While most C7 or C9 lights use 5 to 7 watts per bulb, some of the older strings use up to 10 watts per bulb!
Consider buying new miniature lights, which use about 70 percent less energy and last much longer than the larger bulbs. If you prefer the brilliance of the larger lights, switch to 5-watt bulbs, which use about 30 percent less energy than 7- to 10-watt bulbs. Although the new bulbs will cost money initially, you will see energy savings immediately. (more…)