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Want to give a gift to Planet Earth this year? Use LED lights when you deck the halls.
LED, short for light-emitting diode, (read here for more nerdy information than you probably want) is one of the easiest ways to “go green” this season. LED lights use 80 to 90 percent less energy than traditional lights. They give the appearance of normal decorative lights, but never burn out, fade, or get hot. They’ll last up to 20,000 hours, or around 20 years. Sure, they cost around 30 percent more than traditional lights, but the drop in the electricity bill from even the first month is substantial.
I first noticed these lights a few years ago when I went to Canada over Christmas. They had them everywhere, and I couldn’t figure out what they were or where to get them. For the first few years that they were available in the US, the selection was pretty limited. Now they come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and colors. Every major retailer, from Target to Wal-Mart to Home Depot, has the shelves stocked with them.
Since there are so many more available, I think I’m going to give them a whirl. If the world's most famous Christmas tree is turned on by LED, why not? Hopefully, it will make a dent in my energy bill this winter. I’ll keep you updated.
Another eco-friendly holiday tip is to recycle your wreaths and trees after the first of the year.
This holiday season, let's not forget to give a little something back to the planet that works so hard to support us.
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