If you happen to be one of those few people who are still using incandescent Christmas lights, maybe it is time to reconsider. Most houses that you come across on a daily basis have already switched to LED Christmas lights. But the million-dollar question is why are people opting for LED Christmas light over traditional incandescent Christmas lights?
How LED Lights Work
Unlike traditional incandescent Christmas lights that use filament to produce light, LED Christmas lights uses light-emitting diodes for the same. LED lights have become ubiquitous these days. They are getting used in factories, homes and on streets as well. Basically, they are everywhere!
The main reason behind their immense popularity is their low energy consumption. If you are one of those people who hate the sight of an inflated energy bill, LED Christmas light is your best bet. They will help you cut down significantly on energy bill and the top of that, these LED Christmas lights don’t contain any trace of mercury whatsoever, making them more environmentally friendly. Another major advantage of using LED Christmas Light is that they do not get hot even after extensive use, making it more kids-friendly than traditional incandescent Christmas lights.
Money and Energy Savings
What is most infuriating about incandescent Christmas bulbs is that they consume way too much energy. If this does not bother you much, here is another piece of information that will make your blood boil with anger – Incandescent bulbs only use 10% of the total energy to produce light, the rest of the 90% is released as heat. This is the reason why Incandescent bulbs are so hot to touch, making them absolutely unsafe around kids.
LED Christmas lights, on the other hand, use 90% less energy and can last 25 times longer than their Incandescent counterparts.
The average household saves about $225 in energy costs per year by using LED lighting.
Another major advantage of using LED Christmas lights is that they don’t need much maintenance. Unlike Incandescent lights, they don’t burn out and demand frequent replacements. They just get dimmer over time and that is all.
Lifespan
The biggest turn-off of incandescent bulbs is the fact that they don’t last long. Incandescent lights tend to last around just 1,000 to 2,000 hours, which is a bummer. This means that you need to replace them more frequently and this will lead to higher maintenance costs. If this is not enough, incandescent bulbs are prone to damage and wear and tear. The filaments inside these incandescent bulbs are very fragile and can break easily.
LED Christmas lights are designed to last a long time. If handled carefully, they can last up to a jaw-dropping 25,000 hours or more and the credit must be given to their solid-state construction. They are highly resistant to vibration and shocks. LED lights can also withstand extreme temperature fluctuations, thereby making them easy to use both indoor and outdoor.
Aesthetic and Visual Appeal
Incandescent Christmas lights are known for their warm and soft glow that makes most people feel nostalgic. It would not be far off the mark to say that it is almost impossible to create a cozy atmosphere for a holiday night unless these soft LED Christmas lights are involved in the process.
Unlike LED Christmas lights that are available in myriads of colors, incandescent bulbs offer very limited options when it comes to color choices. incandescent bulbs are usually available in some very limited primary colors. LED Christmas lights do offer a wide range of customization options; you can tinker with its lighting effects, and they are available in different shapes and sizes and thus making them an ideal option for those who want to have a very unique look for their outdoor space for the upcoming Christmas season.
However, we must not ignore the obvious fact that there are some people who feel very much attached to these traditional incandescent lights and therefore, it would not be an easy task for you to make them switch their lighting choices to more energy-efficient options like LED Christmas lights. Basically, at the end, all it boils down to one thing and that is – personal choice.
Safety Considerations
If you have kids or pets around you, it always makes sense to opt for LED Christmas lights over the traditional Incandescent bulbs. When used for a long time, Incandescent bulbs can get super-hot and thus posing a serious risk to kids and pets. In some worse cases, these Incandescent bulbs can lead to fire if they somehow come in contact with flammable materials. This is the reason why people should avoid using incandescent lights on natural Christmas trees because these trees get dried out over the passage of time and therefore, could become the source of a big fire in the making.
LED Christmas lights, on the other hand, do not get too hot, even when you keep them on for extended periods. Since these lights don’t generate too much heat, it means you can use them safely with other delicate ornaments.