Will Permanent Christmas Lights Increase My Electricity Bill?
Running lights every night, all year, sounds like it should add up. Here is what the actual electricity cost looks like once you account for how efficient LED permanent lighting really is.
How LED permanent lighting uses power
LED lighting draws a small fraction of the power that older incandescent bulbs use for the same brightness. A typical permanent lighting system is built entirely on LED technology, which is what makes year-round use realistic in the first place.
Estimated monthly cost to run permanent lights
For an average home roofline running warm white lighting for a few hours each evening, the added cost is typically in the range of a few dollars a month, not a noticeable jump on your utility bill. Running full-colour displays for special occasions costs a bit more but is still modest given LED efficiency.
Comparing to incandescent string lights
Older incandescent string lights use significantly more power per bulb and are usually run in far greater quantity to cover the same roofline. Switching to a permanent LED system for the holiday season alone often reduces electricity use compared to a typical incandescent display.
Running lights year-round vs seasonally
Because the system is app-controlled, most homeowners run warm white accent lighting on a schedule, for example a few hours each evening, rather than leaving it on continuously. That keeps energy use predictable and low no matter the season.
Tips to keep costs low
Set a schedule in the app instead of leaving lights on manually, and reserve full-brightness colour displays for occasions rather than everyday use. Warm white accent lighting at moderate brightness is the most efficient everyday setting.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost per month to run permanent lights every evening?
For most homes, running warm white accent lighting for a few hours each evening adds roughly a few dollars a month to an electricity bill, thanks to LED efficiency.
Do full-colour RGB displays cost more to run than warm white?
Slightly, since more LEDs may be active depending on the pattern, but the difference is still small compared to older incandescent lighting.
Is it cheaper to run permanent lights than to buy new string lights every year?
Over a few years, most homeowners find the low running cost of an LED permanent system, combined with not repurchasing string lights annually, works out favourably.
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