Green resources for home energy, heating, cooling and more.
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PHILIPS LED HOLIDAY LIGHTS
No Lumps of Coal Needed
Make like the Rockefellers and switch to LED-strand holiday lights. Holiday displays at New York’s iconic Rockefeller Center, at Cincinnati’s Fountain Square, and in other cities cost less money because new LEDs use so little energy.
Although they’ve been around for more than a decade, LED holiday lights are more affordable than ever. They cost only a few pennies to run for a whole jolly season, and since they don’t get hot, they carry much lower risk of fire. LEDs also have a lower failure rate, giving you more even lighting and less worry about bald spots on your tree.
A traditional 26-light string of incandescents burns at 125 watts and lasts for about 1,000 hours. The same size string in LEDs burns at 2.3 watts and lasts 20,000 hours. Discount LED strands retail for under $10, and fancier designs—from icicles to snowflakes—typically go for $20 to $30. The colorful Philips 25-light C9 LED display costs about $12 and includes replacement bulbs; it’s suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
Make sure your fridge, freezer, and ovens have tight, clean seals. Keep your refrigerator full so it will run more efficiently. If the fridge is nearly empty, keep pitchers of water in it, which will make it easier for the appliance to maintain an even temperature. Plus you’ll have cold water to drink on demand.
