[Raptor235]

When it gets dark at four o’clock at night in December, the strings of coloured lights that people put up all around their houses are pleasant and comforting. However, these lights also add to an already-higher electricity bill, wasting energy and making the holidays that much more expensive. If you still want to brighten your nights and bring some holiday cheer to the neighbourhood, why not decorate with strings of L.E.D. bulbs instead?

L.E.D.s (light-emitting diodes, a type of semiconductor that produces light) cost more at the store— these days they run between $15 and $30 for a string, depending on the colour and length— but they also use between 80% and 95% less energy, which makes a significant difference on a hydro bill. You can get different styles, including bulbs that dim or flash, as well as any of the colours of traditional bulbs. The L.E.D.s don’t produce as much heat as incandescent bulbs, making them far less of a fire hazard, and there is no glass surrounding the bulb that can get broken.
You can find the entire article here http://aboutmyplanet.com/videos/holiday-lights

[rubybeetle]

LED holiday lights are cool. We used them last Christmas. Previously we were limited because we have solar electricity, I didn't want to run the generator just for Christmas lights. But the LED lights were great, they don't use much power.

[tater03]

We got some LED lights last year to use decorating and I really loved them. I hope to pick up some more this Christmas.

[mollyL]

They are really beautiful; I think I'll have to invest in a string or two next Holiday season. Close to Christmas last year, I thought I saw on the net that solar-powered lights were being used on a small scale. Has anyone heard of or bought any? Looked like just the thing if you have a larger yard or alot of places you want lights on your house.

[RFL1986]

I haven't heard of solar powered Christmas lights but that would be a fantastic way to negate the impact that leaving lights on all day has with traditional lights. If they're storing energy all day then releasing it at night then there's really no harm done.

[mollyL]

I think it was last summer I saw an article about solar-powered Christmas lights. It sounded like someone was just beginning to manufacture them after they'd been beta-tested. Sorry I can't remember exactly where I saw the article. I hope we'll see them soon!

[RFL1986]

It would be great if they come out by this Christmas or at least in the next year or so so people can start getting used to them. I really want solar-powered Christmas lights to hit the mainstream so people can get into buying them and supporting this kind of idea.

[tater03]

I hadn't seen any solar powered Christmas lights yet. I think that would be a pretty good thing to have. If they aren't yet I agree that I would think we would see them here in the near future.

[horselover]

Originally Posted by mollyL

I think it was last summer I saw an article about solar-powered Christmas lights. It sounded like someone was just beginning to manufacture them after they'd been beta-tested. Sorry I can't remember exactly where I saw the article. I hope we'll see them soon!

You may have seen it here. I posted a topic a long time ago from a magazine that advertised solar Christmas lights.

[tater03]

I am going to have to see if I can find that post. I don't remember seeing it but would like to get the name of the magazine and check it out more.