It’s time to decorate for Christmas but do you really want to struggle with that twisted and tangled mess of incandescent lights? Or is it time to invest in the newer LED types for your Christmas tree?
LEDs vs. incandescents. We all grew up with strings of incandescent Christmas lights, but they are quickly being eclipsed by LED lights. LEDs use considerably less electricity and last longer, but the initial expense is higher. Are LED Christmas lights worth the higher price?
Several consumer websites have done energy cost comparisons of Christmas light strands. The bottom line: It takes several years of energy savings to recoup the initial purchase price of LED Christmas lights. The savings improves, however, when you consider that LED bulbs last longer. How many times have you replaced old strands of incandescent lights?
If you’re not financially ready to make the leap to LED this year, perhaps you will be next year. The cost of LED lighting of all types, including holiday lights, has dropped dramatically and will likely continue to do so. And don’t forget those after-Christmas sales when holiday merchandise can be discounted by as much as 90 percent. That would be a great time to invest in LEDs for next year.
Potential savings aside, which type of light do you prefer — the warm, soft glow of incandescent or the more modern, even stark, look of LEDs. It’s a personal preference only you can decide.
Projection lights. In recent years, projection-style lights also have become popular. These lights refract into hundreds of points of light. They can be shone through the Christmas tree, or scattered on the ceiling and walls, looking like a burst of green or red stars. Other projection lights cast iconic Christmas images such as a manger scene or Santa Claus on walls.
