The holidays are right around the corner. Between lights on the house and tree, multiple trips to and from the airport, and gifts for everyone on your Christmas list, your spending and environmental impact keeps going up while the numbers in your bank account keep doing down. Reduce your electric bill and give Mother Earth a present this Christmas: make some of these small changes and opt for eco-friendly Christmas lights. 

1. Replace that old string of lights that’s missing half the bulbs anyway

Choose LED lights instead of incandescents for your house and tree

Light Emitted Diode (LED) lights use only one tenth of the amount of electricity incandescent bulbs use, making them a great option for eco-friendly Christmas lights. They last nearly 50 times longer which means you won’t need to buy another string for several Christmases. The bulbs also won’t burn out so you won’t have to redecorate your whole tree when one bulb starts to flicker. Think about it: the same holiday cheer with one-tenth of the electrical bill? Sounds like a great Christmas present.

2. Get the same sparkle with smaller bulbs

Choose mini-Christmas lights instead of standard sized bulbs

Take the next step towards your green Christmas is choosing mini lights instead of the larger ones you usually buy. Your tree will still sparkle with smaller lights, so take a few more dollars off that electric bill and opt for mini lights this year. The Earth (and your wallet) will thank you. 

3. Unplug the lights before your last glass of eggnog

Turn off lights when you’re not using them, or set a timer to shut them off

We all know mom loves the house to be lit up when she gets home from work. But far fewer people will be enjoying your light display at 3:00 a.m. Why waste electricity while you’re sleeping? When you turn your lights off before going to bed you’re significantly reducing your consumption. Timers can also be implemented to make sure you lights go off at a certain time even if no one is home to flip the switch.

4. Get rid of that string of lights that always trips Santa

Find places to opt out of using lights or replace them with eco-friendly decorations

If your house looks like Martha May’s from the Grinch, people probably won’t notice if you cut out a strand of lights or two from your outdoor display. Sometimes the best option for eco-friendly Christmas lights is simply using less of them. Or maybe you’ve used the same garland lights for years-so why not try something new to decorate the banisters in your home? The kids are out of school anyway, so give them a project like making recycled paper chains or handprint wreaths to replace those indoor light strands. A little hand made love will warm up your house just as much as those lights would have.

Featured photo courtesy of Pixabay.com