How to Make Your Holiday Decor Eco-Friendly
As the season turns colder and the holidays approach, many homeowners will celebrate by decking their homes and yards with holiday lights and decorations. But with the world’s focus on keeping the planet as healthy as possible for as long as possible, it’s important to choose decorations that are also friendly to the environment.
Unfortunately, many old and even more modern decorations are not great, but the good news is there are eco-friendly decorations you can use instead, and many of them may actually save you money this holiday season as well.
Swap Your Indoor Lights for LED Options
In the past, many people decorated their homes or Christmas trees with strings of lights. These lights would be frustrating because if one bulb burned out, the whole string would stop working. And instead of replacing the bulb, many homeowners just threw the whole string into the garbage and purchased a new one.
Nowadays, though, LED lights are a fantastic choice for your indoor decorating needs. If you’ve ever wondered what the big deal about LED holiday lights is, the following list should help you understand why they can be a great choice:
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LED lights are cooler than regular lights. When illuminated, they don’t put off nearly the same amount of heat as a regular bulb, which means they’re less likely to be a fire hazard. - LED lights have a tremendous lifespan. Some LED lights have upwards of 250,000 hours of life, so even if you never unplug them, they could run for 35 years. You’ll never have to replace an LED strand of lights.
- LED lights use less energy. Upwards of 88% less energy, which means they pass on cost savings to you during a time of year when every little bit of extra money can help.
- LED lights are often brighter than regular lights. They sparkle and shine in a way that old lights just can’t keep up with. If you like the look of the old fashioned bulbs though, don’t worry! Some LED lights are made to mimic the older, more subtle lighting of those aged strings, so look for those options, too!
As you can see, there’s an indoor LED light for pretty much every occasion. And many indoor lights can also be used outdoors, too!
Harness the Sun for Outdoor Decorations
Many homeowners nowadays like to use laser lights to decorate the outside of their homes instead of struggling with ladders and strings of lights. The laser projectors can cover your home with twinkling, flashing colored lights, or even a variety of pictures that can move or change, depending on your projector. But many of these projectors still need to be plugged in, which can be a pain and require a lot of extension cords to place the projector in the right location for it to correctly illuminate your home.
Luckily there are solar-power lights you can use instead. These lights or projectors have a panel that is typically staked into the ground and collects the light during the day. When the sun sets, it uses that stored energy to power the lights or projector all night long.
The great thing about solar-powered lights is that you don’t have to use an extension cord, or even an outlet to keep your decorations running all season. Though if you live in a place where snowfall is common, you will want to make sure that snow doesn’t accumulate on the solar panel, blocking its collection of energy.
Keep it Classic with an LED Candle
Nothing makes a home feel more like the holidays than the soft, flicking light of fireplaces and candles on tables. But, of course, candles are one of the most dangerous ways to celebrate, especially when the cold winter months have dried out the air in your home. Candles are a major fire hazard, even when you keep a close eye on them.Luckily, LED candles are a great solution to the problem. Light Emitting Diode candles are battery-powered and activate when you flick a switch. The light in the candle is made to flicker realistically like a real flame, making it seem like the candle has been lit.
But because it’s actually an LED light, you don’t have to worry about it being a fire hazard. Nor do you have to clean up any melted wax or worry about accidentally setting off your smoke detector. LED candles are a great way to safely capture the mood of the holiday season.
Expert Service a Call Away
If you’re in the Marquette, MI area and looking for electrical, plumbing, or HVAC peace of mind, then trust to Swick Home Services. They offer 24-hour emergency services and take pride in their quality workmanship. Their personalized solutions and upfront pricing make them the local choice for over 40 years.
