Christmas is a time for family, merriment and community spirit. Decorations are one way of celebrating and setting the festive mood.
The lights, trinkets and baubles often appear long before the Christmas parties or food begin. If you are thinking about lights, this article will explain why battery-operated LED lights are a beneficial option. There are a few reasons why:
They are more energy-efficient
Battery-powered LED lights are different to traditional Christmas lights with an incandescent bulb. Traditional Christmas bulbs work with an electric current passing through a filament that heats up to produce the light. They may plug into the wall, or be battery-powered.
LED lights use a semiconductor to produce light instead of a filament. This mechanism is more energy efficient. According to the New York Times, LED lights – or light emitting diodes to use their full name – consume up to 85% less energy than traditional bulbs.
Before we move on to the other advantages of battery-operated LED Christmas lights, this benefit is worth considering. Not only will cutting the energy consumption of your Christmas lights by 85% save you money, but by making this simple choice you will also make Christmas greener by lowering your carbon footprint.
Whether you are a keen Christmas lover who gets your lights up in mid-November, or just cover the festive period up to New Year, the significantly lower consumption of battery-operated LED lights is hard to ignore.
They can save you money
Naturally, if you are saving 85% on your energy consumption, your Christmas lights will cost you less to run. But there are also other ways in which battery-operated LED lights can bring down your festive spend.
It might cost more to purchase a battery pack and a set of battery-powered LED lights for Christmas than it would to buy a cheap string of plug-in lights. However, in the long run, you will be able to save money. LED lights can last for years and years, meaning you probably won’t need to replace them as often as you would traditional incandescent lights. Many LED lights are waterproof, coming with an IP44 rating, which means they are less likely to break during inclement weather.
Christmas decorations go up every year, and that’s why it’s worth investing in battery-powered LED lights that can do the job far into the future.
They are convenient
Depending on where you live, finding a plug socket for outdoor Christmas lights can sometimes be a struggle. Battery-operated LED lights negate this issue completely. As you are not limited by cables leading to a plug socket, there will be more room for creative light placements in spots such as bushes, trees or your roof.
Extension cords for traditional plug-in Christmas lights can become tripwires if they aren’t carefully routed. With children running about, and not to mention disorientated adults, trailing cables and the potential banana skin they pose is something you can do without this Christmas.
They are bright
Don’t assume that because battery-powered LED lights aren’t plugged into the mains, they aren’t as bright.
While incandescent Christmas lights can, and often are, brighter than LED lights, the newer LED products on the market aren’t far behind. They will shine long into the night and, with many modern LED Christmas lights, you can now adjust the brightness to your liking, even from your smartphone.
There is also a huge range of LED Christmas lights to choose from, meaning you’ll be able to dazzle neighbours and passers-by with creative displays. Central to the brightness of LEDs is their consistency – they won’t begin to dim and burn out in the same way as incandescent lights can.
They are portable
Many LED lights come with a battery pack that is easily packed away. In general, you can fold them up and take them away with you, or put them away into storage with the greatest of ease. The absence of a power cable is just one fewer unnecessary thing to carry around this Christmas.
They are safe
Last but certainly not least, there is safety. We touched on this benefit when discussing convenience, but it’s worth putting a spotlight on this advantage of battery-operated LED lights. Incandescent Christmas lights pose a number of risks in terms of electrical safety.
If your traditional Christmas lights are exposed to rain or snow, or cords become damaged due to weather, there may be a risk of electrocution or fire. Furthermore, you won’t need any wiring going through your house or across walking routes in your property, the risk of falls or trips over cables is also significantly reduced.
Are you an LED Christmas light convert yet? The truth is battery-powered decorations make sense during this festive period and for Christmases to come.
