Hints for Buying LED Christmas Lights

As mentioned in our Ultimate Green Holiday Guide, using LED lights can save you 90% on your energy bill over standard decorative lighting. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if everyone replaced their conventional lights with LEDs, at least 2 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity could be save each month. LEDs are not only good for standard lighting around your home, but also keep them in mind when decorating for the holidays. The following is a guest post from Greg Thorson, Co-Founder & President, EnvironmentalLights.com.

Photo Source: Hilde Vanstraelen

1. Know your whites – “Pure” or “Winter” white is a cooler hue than “Warm” or “Soft” white.  Warm whites outsell Pure whites about 3 to 1, and most people strongly prefer the warm.  If you are considering buying Pure white, it’s a good idea to order a sample of each color, just to ensure satisfaction.  Warm white is similar in color to the older incandescent lights we are familiar with.
2. Check first, then install – When you first receive your order, be sure to plug a sample of each type of string you order in BEFORE installing all your lights. Check for color and appearance.  You can avoid wasting time installing a product you wind up not liking.
3. Buy from a quality vendor – Focus on product quality, information quality and consistency, technical support and service.  Price matters, too, but like most things, if you focus mainly on price, you may be disappointed.
4. Measure, measure, measure – Dimensions of the trees, gutter-lines or other things you plan to decorate so you order enough.  Find a reputable source, such as EnvironmentalLights.com, if you need assistance estimating how many strings you’ll need to decorate your trees.
5. Consider multi-function strings – To make your display more attractive and memorable, consider strings that blink, flash, chase and do other visually interesting things.
6. Sample first, and then order – If you’re buying a large quantity, it’s always a good idea to buy a sample before placing the big order.  Most of the better online-vendors have re-stocking fees. Those restocking fees help them keep their selections broad, and their prices low, but if a customer makes a large mistake, it can cost a fair bit of money in freight cost and restocking fees.  A reputable vendor should be able to provide you with the information and guidance to prevent a major mistake.