THE MONEY PIT SHOW ON HOLIDAY LIGHTS

Why should consumers think about using new technologies in their holiday lighting?

Two new technologies - Light-emitting diode (LED) holiday lights and fiber optic artificial trees and decorations are great ways to save energy and money. But there are even better reasons for thinking about using these available technologies. Washington State University and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance report that LED lights provide:

• Long life span: up to 100,000 hours when used indoors
• Safety: bulbs stay cool so there is no risk of fire
• Durability: because the technology produces light without heat, the bulbs can be made with virtually indestructible epoxy lenses
• No more fussing over bulb replacement: these bulbs last longer so they don't need to be replaced as often. If a bulb does need replacing, the other bulbs stay lit so you can easily identify and replace the bad bulb.
• Energy Savings: LED lights are 99% more efficient than those large traditional C7 lights.

Are these products more expensive than conventional holiday lighting?
Consumers may find that these are slightly more expensive to purchase, but there are huge savings for consumers when the energy bills roll in. Here "mini-lights use 10 times more energy than LED lights and the larger incandescent lights use 100 times the energy of LED lights. In other words, a household using a string of 1000 LED lights for six hours a day spends only 50 cents per month, while the same number of mini-lights would cost $5 and incandescent C7s would cost $50 a month in energy costs.

How does an LED light work?
LEDs are constructed from tiny solid-state chips which convert electricity to light without the use of a filament or glass bulb. Without the filament, there is nothing in the bulb to "burn out" and there's very little heat produced. In an incandescent bulb, roughly 90% of the electricity used by the bulb goes to heat produced by the bulb. Since there's no heat, there's no need to use heat-proof but fragile glass, so these lights can be encapsulated instead in solid plastic which is easily produced in a variety of shapes and sizes.

How does fiber optic lighting work?
Fiber optic lighting is made up of a light source (typically an incandescent bulb) and a fiber optic cable. Light is literally piped down through hundreds of tiny fibers in the fiber optic cable. In artificial trees the light is emitted along the branches, and a selection of rotating color wheels provide spectacular color and drama. There are quite a few holiday decorations now available which use fiber optic lighting.

Fiber optic lighting is really gaining in popularity among homeowners for both its incredible versatility and style.  We see it in swimming pools, in accent lighting, in glass block, we even see it in some home furnishings such as glass coffee tables. For consumers who like to he on the cutting edge of technology, fiber optic trees and ornaments are really a great place to start.

Are LED lights and fiber optic lighting available in a variety of designs?
Absolutely, although these products are still fairly new to the market place, new designs are rapidly being added to the market mix. LED lights are available in a great selection of colors and styles, as well as variation in lengths. Fiber optic trees are available in a range of sizes, and most allow for a rotating range of colors.

How about safety and holiday lights?
Even though these new technologies use significantly less energy and produce little heat, it's important for consumers to follow some basic guidelines any time they are using holiday lights to ensure safety as well as energy conservation.

• Turn Christmas lights off during the day or when you are away or when you are asleep. Timers are a simple way to do this and also are a safety measure since lights can cause fires if not used properly. For safety's sake: Always unplug your lights before going to bed or leaving home.
• Protect little fingers: Make sure there's a bulb in each socket. If a bulb is burned out, leave it in until you have a replacement.
• Don't overload your electric circuits. Check your fuse or circuit breaker panel to see how much your home can handle, and stay well within limits.
• For outdoor lights, use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) on each circuit that automatically shut off the current when a leak is detected. Cover outdoor plugs and connector joints with a water-resistant layer of plastic wrap and electrical tape.
• To prevent electrical shock, never use electric decorations on artificial trees with metallic needles, leaves, or branches. Instead, place colored spotlights above or beside the tree-never attached to it. Make sure artificial trees are flame retardant.
• Make sure your lights have a safety listing from Underwriters Laboratories (UL symbol), and use lights only as intended. Keep extension cords and light sets away from the tree stand, and keep your natural tree watered to prevent bulbs from igniting dry branches.
• Take the lights down after the holidays! No need to light up the night until spring!