Christmas fairy lights versus energy crisis - LEDs are considered the best choice

Created: 12/10/2022 11:08 am

By: Ines Baur

Fairy lights with LED lighting help to save electricity.

© Robijn Page/Imago

During the Christmas season, fairy lights, stars and figures shine on fir trees, in gardens, windows and balconies.

People are wondering: save energy or get in the Christmas spirit?

Dusseldorf - Lights, lanterns and illuminated stars give a beautiful picture in the dark.

Especially at Christmas time.

But people know that they should save energy in the household this year.

If you want to save electricity and don't want to do without Christmas lights, you can use LEDs, recommends the consumer advice center NRW.

LED light chains are considered an energy-saving and climate-friendly alternative to old light bulbs.

Saving energy at Christmas - Christmas lights have their price

Not only the product light chain has its price.

But also the electricity that is needed to light up.

It pays to take a look at the power consumption when you buy it.

Or just take LEDs.

"Light chains or light tubes with LED lamps only need about 1/10 of the electricity compared to conventional incandescent or halogen lamps - and last about 100 times longer," writes the consumer advice center NRW.

A change pays off quickly.

New goods usually use efficient LED technology almost exclusively.

Anyone who uses fairy lights in the garden should ensure that they are suitable for outdoor use in order to avoid a short circuit.

Saving energy at Christmas - fairy lights cause electricity costs between 40 cents and four euros

The experts have an example for comparison: A chain of LED lights causes electricity costs of around 40 cents in four weeks.

For a chain of lights with incandescent or halogen lamps, you have to reckon with ten times as much, i.e. four euros, in the same period of time.

The calculations are based on the assumptions: Both chains of lights have 24 bulbs each.

They shine for eight hours a day for 28 days.

That makes 224 hours in total.

The electricity price was estimated at 35 cents per kWh.

While the LED light chain has a power consumption of five watts, the incandescent light chain uses around 50 watts.

Christmas fairy lights versus energy crisis - save energy with battery-powered lights?

There are LED tree candles that work wirelessly with a battery and remote control.

However, the experts at the consumer center advise against these.

"Battery power is 300 times more expensive than power from the socket." That makes Christmas lights enormously expensive.

Sample calculation: Assumption: 24 lamps with 24 batteries and a lighting period of 21 days with 8 hours each (=168 hours).

Burn time per battery 50 hours.

You would have to buy a total of 96 batteries at a cost of 25 cents each.

The battery-operated tree candles would cost about 25 euros even if the period of time was shortened (only three instead of four weeks)!

Batteries improve the balance sheet at least a little.

But recharging is rather impractical with the required number and also not possible indefinitely.

When it comes to the battery issue, another point should not be forgotten.

Batteries don't last long and need to be replaced frequently.

This results in packaging and hazardous waste, which also pollutes the environment.

Christmas lights and save energy - that's how it works

If you don't want to do without fairy lights and want it to be Christmassy, ​​you can switch to energy-saving fairy lights.

They use less electricity and last longer than halogen or incandescent bulbs.

And the consumer center gives another tip along the way.

You should only make the fairy lights shine when someone sees it.

That means: When everyone is sleeping, the lights should be off.

You don't even have to be active yourself.

The consumer advice center recommends timers.