The holiday season is a time to get jolly. Before you get that box of decorations out of storage, consider these money-saving tips while decking the halls.
1. Switch to LEDs. LED options exist for almost every style of holiday lighting. LEDs use less energy, are more durable and last longer than conventional bulbs. Also, they're brighter.
2. Say no to incandescents. Combining your new LEDs with your old incandescent bulbs uses more energy, not less. Keep those old lights in the box and go all LED instead.
3. Let your lights dance. Depending on the setup, choreographed light kits will actually reduce your energy use because your lights won't all be on at the same time.
4. Use timers. Forgetting to turn off lights can sometimes mean leaving them on all night. Use timers to make sure your lights are on when you want them on, and off when you're just wasting energy.
5. Project big savings. One projector may use more energy than a single light strand, but if you plan on lighting up a larger space, they can provide festive fun at a fraction of the energy cost.
Now it's time to celebrate the holidays and the savings.