LED-fueled holiday lights go green

As more and more consumers are becoming familiar with the benefits of using LED bulbs, manufacturers are offering an increased selection of energy efficient holiday lights. Not only are they better for the environment, LED bulbs cost far less to operate than traditional holiday lights.

Even though the purchase price of LED holiday lights may be higher in some instances, they last five to 10 times longer than incandescent bulbs. In addition, the savings they provide on energy bills is substantial.

The average string of lights contains about 300 bulbs, and to power a string of incandescent bulbs for six weeks would cost between $70 and $71. A string of LED bulbs that size, on the other hand, would cost less than a dollar to power.

"That means you save $70 a season if you switch out 300 incandescent lights to LED lights," Joe Molica, a spokesman for Pacific Gas and Electric, says to the San Francisco Gate. "It's a pretty dramatic savings, and it reduces your carbon footprint."

Many homes and businesses use far more than one string of lights, so the savings can add up quickly. LED bulbs also have the added advantage of producing far less heat than incandescent light bulbs, so the risk of fire is lower. Let this year be the year you switch to the lights that are cleaner, safer and less expensive to run.

Are you on Santa's naughty or nice list when it comes to energy efficiency? Click here to for Consumer United's holiday savings game.