Cost to purchase:

LED lights will cost 2 to 3 times as much to purchase as ‘regular’ incandescent lights.

Cost to operate:

Consumer Reports research indicates that “LEDs use 1 to 3 kilowatt hours of energy, compared with 12 to 105 kilowatt hours for conventional lights, saving $1 to $11 per hour”

Lifespan:

LED lights will last much longer than incandescent. Part of the reason is that the LEDs have a plastic lamp compared to the glass of the incandescent lights. Also, the LEDs will not burn out as fast – some sources show a 2000-hour life for incandescent lamps and over 17,000 hours for LEDs.

Other considerations:

Temperature: The LED lights are cooler to the touch, which reduces fire risk, and is also important when the lights are touching living plants.

Color: LED colors are actually a bit “richer”. Some people prefer this look while others prefer the traditional look.

Brightness: The C9 and C7 conventional lights are about five or six times brighter than the LEDs, and the mini conventional lights were slightly dimmer than the mini LEDs.

SUMMARY:

LEDs are costlier to purchase, but are better for the environment in terms of electricity usage; run much cooler; last longer; and cost less to run over their lifespan.  Incandescent lights are much less expensive to purchase, but cost considerably more to run; are hot to the touch; and last a much shorter time.  Both are acceptable options for your Christmas lighting.  The choice is yours.

Call Grooms Irrigation Company at 348-2557 to set up a meeting to discuss your Christmas light needs.