How much energy do Christmas lights use?
A. That depends on the kind you use. Standard mini-bulbs use about 25 watts per 50-bulb strand. If you leave four strands on all night long for a month, the electricity will cost you approximately $5. The larger old-style lights can use as much as 250 watts per 50 bulb strand so will cost 10 times as much as mini-bulbs. If you’re looking to reduce costs associated with holiday lighting, your best option is the LED variety. LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes, use as little as 2 to 4 watts per strand and can last for 20 years. They don’t use a heated filament to produce light, so they also run cooler, reducing fire risk. QCould you tell me about the electricity usage and the safety of halogen torchieres? A. Although many people love their look, halogen torchieres are the perfect example of a low-priced – and potentially dangerous – technology that proves to be costly over the long term. A 300-watt halogen torchiere used four hours a day will consume 438 kWh per year (about as much as an ENER
