Make your holiday lighting bright with savings and safety

Bright, twinkling lights are one of the joys of the holiday season. Be safe and take an energy-efficient look at the bulbs you are stringing on your trees and house.

Light safely

• Only use lights tested for safety by a recognized testing laboratory.
• Check light sets for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires or loose connections. Throw out damaged sets.
• Use no more than three standard-size sets of lights per extension cord.
• Never use electric lights on a metallic tree. The tree can become electrically charged from faulty lights. People or pets touching a branch could be electrocuted.
• Don't overload your electrical circuits. Before using lights outdoors, check labels to be sure they are certified for outdoor use.
• Turn off all lights when you go to bed or leave the house. Lights could short out and start a fire.
• For added electric shock protection, plug outdoor lights and decorations into circuits protected by ground-fault circuit interrupters.
• Allow plenty of distance from overhead electric lines when using a ladder.

Light economically

• Light-emitting diode (LED) holiday lights are the newest way to decorate energy efficiently. LEDs are:
  • Sturdier.
  • Safer because they stay cooler.
  • Longer-lasting (10,000 hours when used indoors).
  • More energy efficient. They use up to 93% less energy than standard mini lights.
• Consider using a tinsel-type garland to reflect the sparkle and brightness of your lighting but don't allow it to touch the bulbs.
• Icicle mini-light strands are typically shorter than standard mini-light strands—you need more of them to achieve decorative coverage.
• Always look for ENERGY STAR®-rated lighting products.