Have a holly, jolly, energy-efficient light display
The nights get longer this time of year, but not necessarily darker. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, American suburbs are up to 50 percent brighter than usual, even after midnight. Our holiday lights are so impressive that they can be observed from space.
The Department of Energy estimates that Americans burn 6.6 billion kilowatt hours annually using holiday lights. That’s enough electricity to power more than 800,000 homes for a year. But with a few simple adjustments, you can make your lights a bit greener.
The biggest thing you can do is to switch to LED lights. If you do, you’ll use up to 70 percent less energy than you would with traditional incandescent bulbs. Plus, you won’t need to replace lights as often. LEDs last about 10 times longer.
“If you want the lights, try to get the most efficient ones,” said Shahzeen Attari, an associate professor at Indiana University who studies environmental psychology. “And when you’re not using them, turn them off.”
Eleanor Stokes, a research scientist at the University of Maryland who has worked with NASA to gather satellite data on our lighting habits, agreed. “I’m all about being festive,” she said, “but you don’t need to be festive at, like, 3 a.m.” Putting your lights on a timer can have a “huge benefit,” she said.
The Energy Department recommends leaving them on for up to eight hours a day, from dusk to about midnight. Not only will this conserve energy, but it’s better for wildlife. Heavy light pollution can be deadly for some animals by disrupting the daily cycle of light and dark.
Another tip: You can use an extension cord in places where you want to connect strings but don’t really need lights.
Finally, enjoy those holiday lights. If you aim for maximum efficiency, Attari said, they’ll account for only a small fraction of your total energy footprint, just a few dollars a month.
“Unless you’re one of those homes that lights up the entire home and the entire home is flooded with lights,” she said, “I don’t think it’s a big-ticket item.”