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Incandescent lights were long a mainstay in holiday decorating. But over the last few years, LED Christmas lights have become a favorite.
That makes a lot of sense. LED holiday lights pose many advantages over traditional incandescent lights. They’re more efficient, they last longer, and depending on the type that you buy, they’re also usually brighter.
As a result, you might be wondering: Why would any consider incandescent lights? To help you make your decision, we’ve highlighted some of the differences between incandescent and LED Christmas lights.
A Key Difference: How LED Lights Emit Light
LED lights use light-emitting diodes to produce bright light. A diode is made up of two electrodes, which electricity passes through. In addition, LEDs are made with a semi-conductive material. When the light passes through the diode and the semi-conductive material, light is produced.
Incandescent lights, on the other, generate light much differently. This type of light contains a bulb with a filament in it. When the filament is heated to a specific temperature, light is produced. Because of the way they work, this type of light can get very hot, and requires more energy.
Advantages of LED Christmas Lights
There are a number of key benefits of lighting your home with LED holiday lights. They include:
- Safety – LED lights don’t contain a filament that must be heated. As a result, they tend to be safer, as they aren’t reaching high temperatures.
- Longevity – LED Christmas lights operate much longer than traditional incandescent lights. A strand of traditional lights, for example, may only produce for up to 3,000 hours. LED strands, on the other hand, can be used for 50,000 to 100,000 hours. A strand of quality LED holiday lights might last 8 to 10 seasons.
- Efficiency – LED lights are an eco-friendlier alternative. In fact, LED bulbs use 80%-90% less energy than traditional incandescent lighting.
- Energy Costs – Because they use significantly less energy, LED lights result in lower light costs throughout the holiday season. You might expect to pay about $15-$20 to light your home during the holidays with LED lights. Alternatively, incandescent lights might cost $120 throughout the season.
Are Incandescent Lights Better?
In the past, LED lights weren’t as bright as incandescent lights. That’s changed though. Today, there are a range of LED light options – for example, full-wave commercial-grade LEDs – that are as bright, if not brighter than traditional bulbs.
– Color. Similarly, LED lights are now available in a wider range of colors. First-generation LED lights tended to have a dimmer, bluer color. This was one reason that many choose traditional bulbs. Now, they’re available with warm white-light bulbs, resulting in brighter, more traditional colors that are comparable to incandescent bulbs.
– Size. Size has also changed. You can now purchase LED bulbs with classic C9 bulbs. As a result, they look similar to traditional Christmas lights.
– Cost. Really, the only reason you might choose candescent bulbs is the lower initial costs. Traditional Christmas lights tend to cost significantly less per strand. But of course, the trade-off is durability and energy costs. According to the EPA, LED lights can last 25 times as long as traditional bulbs, so you won’t have to buy new lights for as long as 10 years. Similarly, the energy cost savings of LED holiday lights tend help to offset the higher initial costs.
Conclusion: LED Christmas Lights Are Best
Today’s LED holiday lights offer a number of key advantages, and that makes them the best choice for lighting your home. They’re safer, brighter, and they provide nearly a decade of performance. That just can’t be beat!
Need help designing your holiday lighting display? Clean and Clear Lighting provides residential holiday lighting installation in the Twin Cities. Call today to schedule a design consultation and learn more about our holiday lighting options.
