Bright Bulbs, Low Bills: How to Cut Christmas Electric Costs
Christmas lights are bright and shiny, but their associated electric bill isn’t always so pretty.
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Senior Editor & Content Strategist My husband and I own *that* house. You know, the house in the neighborhood that everyone drives by to look at the thousands of Christmas lights.
We’ve built up a reputation for our snowman photo op, lighted porch and inflatables. (And, not to brag, but we won the neighborhood’s Christmas light competition the year we moved in.)
Christmas lights are bright and shiny, but their associated electric bill isn’t always so pretty. Here are my top tips for saving money on Christmas lights — even if your house looks like Clark Griswold lives there:
- Switch to LED: Try using LED lights instead of incandescent ones. They can be brighter and also more energy-efficient. Check the packaging before you buy a new strand to see which type of bulb it is.
- Try solar: They’re not usually as bright, but solar lights can be another cost-saving option. You don’t have to plug them in, so we’ve used them in places where power cords can’t reach. Just set out the strands during the day and let the connected solar panels soak up any sun. They’ll store that power to turn on at night.
- Set up a timer: Buy a timer or use an app to set an on and off time for your Christmas display. You can limit the number of hours it runs and you won’t accidentally leave them on all night.
Another smart move? If you want to achieve pro Christmas light status, look into a generator. It’s an upfront cost, but plugging your Christmas lights into a generator can save you from overloading your home’s power outlets.
Learn more about why electric costs are rising.
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