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Holiday lights: LED and fiber optics
2007
D
ecorating with holiday lights is becoming more of a
year-round activity. As more lighting is used and as
energy rates climb, consumers find that decorating
with lights is costing more. Most people currently use
standard incandescent C7 lights or mini-lights.
There are better ways! Light-emitting diode lights and
fiber optic trees are two energy-efficient technologies that can
reduce your energy costsparticularly when the lights are
used for long periods of time, such as in commercial settings.
LED lights
LED holiday lights are a new application for a mature
technology. Each year manufacturers have improved the
choices, producing bigger and brighter bulbs and new color
options. LED lights have a number of benefits over conven-
tional lighting:
n
Energy-efficient0.08 watts per LED C7 multicolor bulb
(compared with 0.48 watts for an incandescent mini-light
and 6.0 watts for a standard incandescent C7 bulb).
n
Long lifespanup to 50,000 hours or more used out-
doors, and twice as long indoors. Some manufacturers
provide a limited lifetime warranty.
n
Safetyno chance of combustion, since the bulbs are
cool to the touch, regardless of how long they are left on.
n
Sturdy bulbsthe epoxy
lenses are virtually inde-
structible.
These lights have a different
appearance from familiar incan-
descent models, appearing to shimmer with movement as the
light passes through the faceted bulbs. LED bulbs do not emit
the same amount of light as incandescent lamps, although
some new models on the market are closer to the brightness
of incandescent. In spite of the differences, LED lights can be
used for beautiful and affordable holiday decorating.
LED lights are currently available in strings from 25 to 150
bulbs with red, green, blue, white, yellow and multi-colored
bulbs. The strings come in many styles,
including mini-ice, ball-shaped and candle-
shaped C7 and C9 bulbs. Amber or orange
Halloween lights and patriotic red, white
and blue sets are also available. Costs can
vary widely by color because, unlike painted
bulbs, the chemical makeup of the bulb
produces the color. White and blue are the
most costly.
Products include icicle-style lamps, strings that change
from one color to another, rope lights, additional holiday
ornaments and strings with commercial-quality plugs that
allow more than 100 strings to be connected. At least one
company is offering screw-in LED bulbs for converting your
incandescent strings.
Holiday lights: LED and fiber optics
0
$1
$2
$3
$4
$5
$6
$7
$8
LED mini-ice
(280 bulbs)
LED C7
(300 bulbs) Incandescent
premium
minilights
(300 bulbs)
Incandescent
standard
minilights
(300 bulbs)
Incandescent
C7
(125 bulbs)
$0.12
$0.23
$1.02
$1.36
$7.09
Figure 1
Energy cost* of comparable options
*Assuming:
n
An 8-foot tree lighted for one season (five hours per day for 30 days).
n
Fewer standard incandescent bulbs in the display, because they are much brighter
than LED bulbs.
n
Wattages: LED mini-ice 280 bulbs = 13 watts;
LED C7 multicolor 300 bulbs = 24 watts;
incandescent premium (energy-saving) 300 mini-lights = 108 watts;
incandescent standard 300 mini-lights = 144 watts;
incandescent C7 125 bulbs = 750 watts (6 watts per bulb).
n
Energy cost calculated at 6.3 cents per kWh.
Photo courtesy of
Kellogg Plastics.
HOLIDAY
LIGHTS
FACT SHEET This fact sheet is published by Western
Area Power Administration for its power
customers. Contact us at: Western Area
Power Administration, PO Box 281213,
Lakewood, CO 80228-8213
Telephone number 720-962-7419
The mention of any service, product
or technology does not constitute an
endorsement of same. Western, the
Department of Energy or the United
States Government cannot be held
responsible or liable for use thereof.
Energy Services Web site
www.wapa.gov/es
Westerns Power Line:
1-800-POWERLN
(1-800-769-3756)
Energy
Services
Western Area Power Administration
More holiday lighting information
For news and resources:
www.energyideas.org/holiday
On-line resalers:
Brite-lite Wholesale Lighting Distributors
www.brite-lite.com/Products/LEDchristmas.htm
Forever Bright: Where to Buy lists stores that carry their LED strings
www.holidaycreations.com/wheretobuy.html
Gifts Four Seasons
www.giftsfourseasons.com/ledlighting.html
Holiday Lights and Magic
www.holidaylightsandmagic.com/
Kellogg Plastics Ltd, Inc. (Idaho)
www.kelloggplastics.com/
LEDUp Enterprise Inc. (California)
www.ledup.com/
Light Waves Concept Inc
www.led.lightwavesconcept.com/
Real Goods: 12-volt LED lights, solar lights and wreaths (Colorado)
www.realgoods.com/shop/shop3.cfm/dp/304/ts/1037301
Sival, Inc.: Strings of red LED lights (California)
www.sivalinc.com/
Fiber optic artificial trees
A
nother relatively energy-
efficient decorating strategy
is the fiber optic artificial tree.
Other decorations use fiber optics,
too, such as Santa or angel figures and
wreaths.
The trees use a single incandescent
bulb ranging from five to 50 watts de-
pending on the size of the tree, so theres
only one bulb to replace.
The bulb transmits light
through hundreds of
very small fibers along each branch of the
tree. Some trees come equipped with a
rotating color wheel that changes the color
the fibers emit.
Fiber optic lights are cool to the touch, since only lightnot
heatis transmitted through the fiber. The incandescent light
source is located in the base of the tree with ventilating holes
that must not be covered. The trees cost from $20 for a two- to
three-foot model to more than $200 for the largest trees.
A note about wiring safety
W
iring is a weak link in any system. Improperly
attaching light sets with staples, winding wires
around nails and other practices can damage wir-
ing, as can prolonged
exposure to sunlight. Treat
the wiring with care to
extend the life of any light
set and increase safety.
Before putting up your
lights, test the system and
inspect the wires for de-
fects. Many light set manu-
facturers now include
a warning on product
packaging regarding lead
in the wire coatings. The coatings are the same on all wiring,
but the wires of today are no different in this respect than the
unlabeled ones of the past. It is recommended that you wash
your hands after handling light sets.
2007
Timers that reliably
turn off lights during
daylight hours
and other times
can further reduce
energy costs.