Even though the festive season has now drawn to a close, you might well be thinking about what you can do for Christmas 2023 and maybe how to be more efficient with your Christmas decorations.
Bear in mind that planning for Christmas 2023 now could eliminate a lot of stress for next December, as well as give you the opportunity to make the most of the January sales.
One major point to think about is your Christmas lights. Have you got any that need replacing? Were there a few bald patches on your tree’s Christmas lights this year? Also, with the rising cost of living, have you got the most efficient type of Christmas lights for your home?
Switching to LED Christmas lights is a great way to save money on your electricity bill, and these 10 facts you probably didn’t know about LED Christmas lights may explain why.
1. They use 75% less energy than incandescent lights
One of the biggest factors that make people choose LED lights is that they use 75% less energy versus incandescent lights. While the initial cost of LEDs may be higher, in the long run they will save you money due to being energy efficient, both saving you money on your electric bill and reducing your carbon footprint.
2. They are safer to touch
One of the biggest concerns people face with Christmas lights is safety, especially around children and pets. LED lights are extremely safe and are not hot when touched, because they don’t produce as much heat as normal lights. That means there’s no risk of injury and less risk of catching fire when draped around your tree.
3. They are safe for indoor and outdoor use
If you love spreading your Christmas lights all throughout the house and outside it too, LED lights are actually perfect for both uses. Cold weather can affect the performance of some lights, sometimes causing incandescent lights to burst, but LED lights can withstand the cold winter weather and often perform best outside. However, you still must make sure you are getting the correct LED lights for their specific use.
4. They can last for thousands of hours
Tests of LED lights have shown that they can work for thousands and thousands of hours, meaning you’re not going to have to replace them for many Christmases to come. The Department of Energy has even predicted that the lifespan of LED lights could be between 30,000 to 50,000 hours, so if you get some good quality ones, you could be passing them onto your kids when they grow up!
5. The size of your tree determines how many LED lights you need
As LED lights produce almost no heat, they are ultra-safe for using in your home and on your tree. However, there is a recommended number of lights for different size trees to get the best out of your LED lights. Trees that reach five feet need a minimum of 150 lights, six-foot trees need around 250, and seven-foot trees will need 400. You can add an extra 50 to 100 to those totals for extra Christmas sparkle.
6. The Rockefeller Christmas Tree has 50,000 lights
Did you know that the 82-foot Christmas tree at the Rockefeller Center in New York is draped with 50,000 LED lights each year?
7. It’s easy to replace single LED bulbs
Even though LED lights last a long time, you may occasionally get one or two that need replacing. Instead of replacing the whole set, you can replace individual bulbs so that you can continue to use your LED lights every Christmas.
8. They come in all different shapes, sizes and colours
The great thing about LED lights is you can buy different kinds, so if your aesthetic is to have larger bulbs, you can still opt for LED lights. Bigger bulbs are definitely making a comeback so expect to find many different kinds to suit your tastes.
9. You can power more LED lights with one outlet
With LED Christmas lights, you can connect up to 10 times more lights than conventional lights per outlet. Up to 50 LED lights can be connected to one outlet, compared to four to five traditional lights.
10. Almost half of the public don’t know about the British Safety Kitemark
As always, with anything that you are connecting in your home, safety is first. Unfortunately, 47% of Brits are unaware of the British Safety Kitemark. This should be found on your LED lights to show that they have been certified as safe and that the British Standards Institute (BSI) has also tested the quality. All products must be submitted for testing to the BSI, and LED Christmas lights are no exception, so it’s important to check for the Kitemark or the CE Safety Standards mark when you purchase.
