Lighting for the Holiday Season

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Holiday LED light strings are available for sale through many Canadian retailers. The energy cost of operating one of these strings is a fraction of the cost of conventional holiday lights. LEDs have been rapidly improving in quality and efficiency. As they go into wider use they have the potential to make a significant impact in the electricity consumed by festive lighting in British Columbia each holiday season.

These energy-efficient light strings are superior to standard incandescent light strings in that they:

• Use up to 95 per cent less energy;
• Last at seven to ten times longer;
• Are more durable, with no filaments or glass bulbs to break; and
• Produce very little heat, reducing the risk of fire.

When purchasing holiday LED lighting, find bulbs that are ENERGY STAR® certified. LED is the only technology that currently meets the ENERGY STAR specification for decorative light strings.

Rebates

BC Hydro is also working with participating retailers to offer a $3.00 mail-in rebate [PDF, 245 Kb] on holiday LEDs. Holiday LED lights use 95 per cent less electricity than incandescent lights and last at least 10 times longer.

Recycle old light strings for a good cause!

Contribute to a good cause – the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association Burn Fund – while increasing your energy efficiency this holiday season.

BC Hydro has set up incandescent light string recycling programs in the Lower Mainland and on Vancouver Island. Bright Nights in Stanley Park and Deck the Halls at Saanich Municipal Hall will collect old light strings until January 3, 2010.

The events in Vancouver and Saanich will feature BC Hydro's holiday LED displays and the opportunity to recycle those inefficient holiday light strings for free. And for each string recycled, BC Hydro will donate $2 to the BC Professional Fire Fighters Association Burn Fund.

Last year's recycling initiative collected nearly a tonne of incandescent holiday light strings and more than $3,500 in donations to the Burn Fund.

To find about free incandescent light string recycling options in your region, contact the Recycling Council of British Columbia's Recycling Hotline at 1 800 677 4321 or contact them via email.