LED Vs. Traditional Christmas Lights

Christmas is just around the corner, and with the wonderful holiday meals and gift giving comes the hassles of pulling out the ladders, shuffling through the attic and untangling wires. As you prepare to tackle this years decorating spree, think about ditching your traditional strings of lights and switching to LED (Light Emitting Diode) bulbs instead.

LED lights are nothing new, and are actually being used everywhere from commercial buildings to personal flashlights. As development has progressed with these bulbs, prices have gone down and they have become much more accessible.

In today's economy there are a lot of families looking to save money during the holidays, and many of these people may be under the impression that LED lights are out of their price range. While this may have been true in years past, these lights have recently become much more affordable. Even with the slight price discrepancy, the long term benefits of these bulbs definitely justify the cost.

While traditional incandescent bulbs require a relatively large amount of energy to operate, many holiday LED products are Energy Star rated by the federal government. In order for an item to earn this rating they have to pass tests pertaining to bulb life, color quality and brightness levels. If you choose to go with Energy Star rated products, expect those lights to also carry an above average warranty.

Even if your LEDs don't have an Energy Star label, they are still a more efficient and longer lasting choice than traditional bulbs. All Christmas LED products run significantly cooler, aren't connected along a single circuit and can be bought in almost any traditional form (as a "string", "net" or "rope"). The fact that one bulb can fail and the rest will stay lit is reason enough to switch for most people.

Even with all of the benefits provided by LEDs, traditional incandescent bulbs still have a place for those on a tight budget. Advancements have been made to increase their length of life and safety. While these traditional bulbs may have improved, they will never be on par with LEDs regarding energy consumption or quality.

If you are looking to spice up your Christmas decorations this year, definitely look into buying some new lights; not only will you save money on your electric bill, you wont have to bother untangling the countless strings of incandescent bulbs in the attic either.

Two great places to shop for LED Christmas lights online are:
HolidayLEDs.com
EnvironmentalLights.com