SAN ANTONIO –
Wouldn't you love to save some extra cash this holiday season?
You can save a lot of money this Christmas season by choosing a different strand of lights.
The holiday season can empty out your pockets quickly... thanks to CPS Energy Spokesperson, Monica Taylor, she has some great tips on how you can save money on holiday lights!
The question is... which one is really the better deal... traditional or LED lights?
When deciding on which style to go with, remember to think about two price tags:
Purchase price
Energy price
"Make sure you check your lights from last year to see if they still work and are safe to use," Taylor said.
TRADITIONAL VS. LED LIGHTS
A strand of 100 traditional lights:
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Lifespan of 1,200 hours
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Uses 40 watts of energy
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Puts out a lot of heat
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If you run these for 10 hours x 35 days (Day after Thanksgiving to Jan. 1 --- Energy cost would be $1.40 per strand (10 strands = $14.00)
Your tree could burn if you put traditional lights on a dry tree. It's a safety hazard, and burn hazard.
- Monica Taylor
"If you have a metallic tree try not to put traditional lights on them," Taylor said. "It could be a safety hazard."
A strand of 100 LED lights:
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Lifespan of 50,000 hours
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Uses 8 watts of energy
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Puts out very minimal heat (making them safer to use)
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If you run these for 10 hours x 35 days (Day after Thanksgiving to Jan.1-- Energy cost would be $.28 cents per strand (10 strands = $2.80)
You save $11.20!
LED uses less energy, made of durable plastic (no broken bulbs), they're cool to the touch which makes them safer.
RELATED: Get $500 in cash bonus for going solar before Christmas & pay 5 months later!
CPS ENERGY: HOLIDAY LIGHTS SAFETY TIPS
When decorating it's important to inspect your lights look for:
Frayed wires - Try to pack your lights away neatly to keep from breaking.
Don't use electrical tape to repair, simply get rid of them.
Broken glass bulbs could lead to shock and fire.
Don't overload your circuits. Don't plug too many strands in all at once, could overheat (fire hazard).
For more money saving tips, you can visit cpsenergy.com or call CPS Energy at 210-353-2222.
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Information courtesy: CPS Energy