Using LED Christmas lights in place of conventional Christmas lights can make your holiday season greener. You can easily find LED Christmas lights, since most stores that sell Christmas lights stock their shelves with both varieties. This year’s Christmas really can be greener than those that have preceded it!

LED Christmas lights both consume less energy and last ten times as long as their traditional counterparts. They use 75% less energy. This means you can enjoy electrical savings when you use LED lights this holiday season.

Just like traditional string lights, LED Christmas lights come in various shapes and sizes, such as “globe,” or “mini.” Both icicle and net forms are on the market as well. Thanks to so many options being on the market, you should be able to find the style and color you want.

LED Christmas lights are safer than traditional lights. You don’t, for instance, have to worry about overheating even if you connect together several strands. However, you should still read the manual or box to learn how many strands you can connect safely to one another.

Solar powered LED Christmas lights are available if you want to go even greener with your holiday displays. Because they harness the sun’s energy, these lights are more energy and ecologically friendly. Some models are designed to light up at night. Amazon usually sells a strand of 50 lights for around $17. As such, you’ll save both money and energy by purchasing these LED light strands.

The initial cost of LED Christmas lights can sometimes turn people off. And, of course, there’s no denying that LED light strands cost more than conventional incandescents. However, the higher initial cost is easily offset by greener and more efficient lighting solutions.

If you don’t want to purchase LED Christmas lights because you still have working incandescent strands, you can get Christmas light timers to use with your existing lights. These timers are designed to regulate the energy usage of your lights. Additionally, these timers can help burglar-proof your house because they turn off and on automatically, thereby giving the impression that someone is at home even if you’re out of town visiting friends and family.

You should observe safety protocols regardless of whether you use LED or incandescent Christmas lights. By not pulling on the cord when you unplug the lights, for example, you can help prevent damage that might tear the wiring inside. Check for damage before storing any strands. Don’t use lights that have loose connections, broken sockets, or bare wires. Store Christmas Lights, and any electrical decorations, in a dry place where they can’t be damaged by water. Keep them out of children’s reach during storage, to ensure the wires are not damaged.

In addition to being a time of religion, giving, family and celebration, Christmas it also a time to think about taking the extra steps to make our planet and our future greener. Because every little bit counts, don’t forget that our steps can go a long way when combined.

About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn how to live more environmentally friendly lives. Find out more about green living at her blog on Building Green.

This article was originally posted at Get a Greener Holiday with LED Christmas Lights.