Dear Eartha, I love holiday lights, but I’m trying to be more mindful about my household’s energy use. Is there a way to celebrate with plenty of sparkle while still keeping my electricity consumption in check?
’Tis the season for twinkling lights, festive wreaths, and cozy nights by the fire. But if you leave holiday lights on day and night all month, you could be facing a noticeably higher electric bill. Fortunately, you don’t have to choose between holiday spirit and energy savings. With a few smart choices, you can keep your home merry and bright…without breaking the bank.
Not All Holiday Lights Are Created Equal Before you start decorating, figure out which kind of lights you’re working with. Incandescent bulbs give off that warm, nostalgic glow, but they also use a lot more electricity. LEDs, on the other hand, use about 70% less energy—which your electric bill will definitely appreciate. Not sure which is which? Try the “touch test:” Plug in the strand for a minute or two. If the bulbs are warm to the touch, they’re incandescent; if they stay cool, you’ve got LEDs. You can also look for clues on the packaging or the cord tag—LEDs are usually labeled as such. And if you want the most durable, outdoor-ready option, choose strands with the ENERGY STAR label for extra efficiency and reliability. Over a month of holiday cheer, the difference becomes clear. A tree with 600 incandescent mini-lights lit for six hours a day in December can add about $8 to your bill. Swap to LEDs and the same tree would cost just $2 for the entire month.
And that’s just the tree. If your home looks like a winter wonderland—incandescent lights, icicles, and glowing reindeer—switching to LEDs can make an even bigger difference. That means your house can look like the Griswold’s in Christmas Vacation, while keeping your utility bill far less frightening than Krampus. Beyond savings, LEDs produce less waste because they typically last much longer and are more durable. If you’re making just one holiday upgrade this season, LED lights give you the biggest sparkle for your buck.
Have some old string lights to get rid of? Don’t toss your burnt-out incandescent lights in the trash. Holiday lights count as electronic waste, which means they can be recycled instead of ending up in the landfill. Simply drop them off at the Summit County Resource Allocation Park during business hours.
Timers: Holiday Magic You Don’t Have to Remember Many of us flip on the lights when the sun sets—and forget to turn them off before bed (or was it those mischievous elves?). That means your festive glow keeps burning energy long after everyone’s asleep.
A simple plug-in timer solves the problem. Set your lights to turn on at dusk and switch off before bedtime, and you’ll never have to worry about wasting electricity (or blaming the elves). The U.S. Department of Energy recommends reducing lighting hours as one of the easiest ways to cut holiday electricity use. Smart plugs take it a step further by letting you control lights from your phone. They may seem small, but the savings add up—especially when lights could otherwise run 10–12 hours each December night.
Be Selective with Your Shine Town of Breckenridge’s Dark Sky lighting regulations went into effect this summer, so there are new holiday lighting guidelines to keep in mind—because the stars deserve their moment, too. Holiday lights can b e strung November 1 – April 1 each year. In the downtown core, lights must switch off by 2:00 a.m. Everywhere else, they should be off by 11:00 p.m. More details can be found on the Town’s website. Town of Frisco is also considering Dark Sky certification but hasn’t passed an ordinance yet. That means there are no current guidelines covering seasonal lighting.
Holiday Bliss
Winter is already the season when energy bills tend to soar. Between short days, cold nights, and hardworking heating systems, it’s easy for electricity use to climb. The good news? With LED lighting, simple timers, and a thoughtful decorating strategy, you can enjoy every bit of seasonal glow without stressing over your utility bill. So go ahead—plug in the lights, sip that hot cocoa, and don’t forget to ask Santa for extra powder days this winter.
Ask Eartha Steward is written by the staff at the High Country Conservation Center, a nonprofit dedicated to waste reduction and resource conservation. Submit questions to Eartha at info@highcountryconservation.org.
