Energy at Christmas – How Much Electricity is Used During Christmas?

How Much Power Do Your Christmas Lights Use?

While the twinkling lights of Christmas add to the festive cheer, they are actually one of the biggest energy guzzlers in our homes. A significant portion of our holiday energy consumption can be attributed to Christmas lights.

Types of Christmas Lights and Their Energy Consumption

Christmas Tree Lights

A typical strand of 100 mini lights uses around 45 watts. While that may not seem like much compared to other appliances, most Christmas trees require at least 10 strands. With 1,000 lights, that’s about 450 watts — similar to running a 55-inch flat-screen TV.  

Outdoor String Lights

Large, colorful bulbs that adorn roofs and windows are a staple of holiday decor. However, they come with a high energy cost. A 100-bulb strand uses about 500 watts, and to decorate a typical two-story house, you’ll need about 20 strands, consuming a total of 10,000 watts. That’s equivalent to the energy required to heat a 1,500 square foot home with an electric furnace.

Outdoor Tree Lights

For larger outdoor trees, such as 20-footers, expect to use around 20,000 lights. With C9 multicolored lights consuming approximately 175 watts per strand, you would need around 80 strands to cover your trees — totaling around 14,000 watts per tree. This is comparable to running multiple household appliances like your oven, dryer, microwave, and coffee maker all at once.

Electric Holiday Decorations

Light-up decorations, such as reindeer, Santas, and snowmen, generally use about 120 watts. For example, two light-up holiday animals would consume roughly 240 watts, the same as running your computer monitor.

Icicle Lights

Icicle lights, with an average of 95 bulbs per strand, can use about 6,056 watts of energy. If you cover your gutters with three strands, that would add up to approximately 18,168 watts — about the same as doing 50 loads of laundry.

Overall Costs of Holiday Lighting

Using the average electricity rate of 12 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh), the cost of keeping your home lit during the holiday season can be surprising, especially if you decorate from the beginning of Advent to New Year’s (45 days). Here’s a breakdown of potential energy costs:

• Christmas Tree: 450 watts x 7 hours/day x 45 days x $0.12/kWh = $17.01
• Outdoor String Lights: 10,000 watts x 7 hours/day x 45 days x $0.12/kWh = $378.00
• Outdoor Tree Lights: 14,000 watts x 2 trees x 7 hours/day x 45 days x $0.12/kWh = $529.20
• Holiday Decorations: 240 watts x 7 hours/day x 45 days x $0.12/kWh = $9.07
• Icicle Lights: 18,168 watts x 7 hours/day x 45 days x $0.12/kWh = $686.75

If you go all out with your holiday lighting, your energy bill could skyrocket to $1,620.03 for the 45-day holiday season, adding around $36.00 per day to your electricity costs. 

Tips for Reducing Electricity Use with Christmas Lights

• Switch to LED Lights: LED lights use up to 90% less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs and last much longer.
• Use Timers: Set timers to automatically turn lights on and off, so they are only illuminated when needed.
• Consider Solar-Powered Lights: Solar lights charge during the day and light up at night without using household electricity.
• Optimize Light Placement: Focus on decorating key areas instead of covering the entire house, reducing the number of lights needed.
• Minimize Display Duration: Reduce the hours your lights are on each day. For instance, turn them on at dusk and off before you go to bed.

Reflective Decorations: Use tinsel and other reflective ornaments to enhance the brightness and effect of fewer lights.