Switch to LED Holiday Lights

Print This Page

Affordability

LED technology offers substantial energy savings potential. Currently, while other LED applications remain on the costly side, holiday lights are competitively priced with conventional decorative strings. LEDs last at least ten times longer than conventional bulbs and are more durable, with no filaments or glass bulbs to break.

Cost savings

Decorating your business with LED lights could reduce holiday lighting energy use and the corresponding expenses, by up to 95%.

Environmental considerations

Consider reducing the importance of lighting in your holiday decoration, or eliminate holiday lighting altogether. Interior spaces in particular can be made festive without the use of lights.

What you need to know

• LED holiday lights are aesthetically similar to conventional holiday strings. Some even prefer the brighter, focused light. More importantly, LEDs do not give off heat like conventional decorative bulbs, reducing the risk of fire.
• Find bulbs that are ENERGY STAR® certified. LED is the only technology that currently meets the ENERGY STAR specification for decorative light strings.
• Do not connect LED strings to conventional strings. This is likely to wear out your LED bulbs more rapidly and could pose a safety hazard.
• Some LED strings are rated for indoor and outdoor use, but some are only rated to be used indoors. Check the package to be sure.
• Follow regular decorating safety practices [PDF, 161 Kb] for the holiday season.

FAQ

What can I do with my old holiday lights now that I have switched to LEDs?
Unfortunately, there are no services to recycle old holiday lighting. If you do not want to go without decorative lights and your conventional strings are still in working order, you can use fewer lights for a smaller number of hours over a shorter season to reduce energy use without creating unnecessary waste.

Are LEDs a passing fad and will I need to get new lights again in a couple of years?
Quite the opposite. Due to the long lifecycles and energy efficiency benefits, LED technology will likely evolve to meet widespread lighting needs. While holiday lights are comparably priced with conventional light strings, other LED lighting is still expensive. As technology improves in coming years, we are likely to see LED fixtures for all kinds of business and residential lighting. In addition, your LED holiday lights are likely to last for many years to come.