Last updated: September 05, 2015


Money Matters

Ho, ho, hold the electricity bill

There are ways of reducing the cost of your Christmas lighting.

There are ways of reducing the cost of your Christmas lighting. Source: News Limited

CHRISTMAS lights bring plenty of smiles to communities at this time of the year, and they don't have to give your electricity bill a jolt.

Lighting options have become more energy-efficient and less expensive in recent years, and new products such as solar-powered, LED lights and fibre optics are making it even more efficient.

Origin Energy says spending time on research, combined with smart shopping strategies, can save you energy and money this Christmas. "LED lights are cheaper to run than their incandescent counterparts and have much longer lifespans," says Origin energy efficiency adviser Anne Armansin.

"For instance, a string of incandescent lights consisting of 972 bulbs will cost around $57 to run 12 hours a night over the six-week holiday season, while 1200 LED outdoor lights will cost only $7.

"Solar lights are up to four times more expensive than LED, and solar lights also need a battery back-up."

Armansin says solar-powered decorative lights need about 8-10 hours of sunlight to provide between six and eight hours of night light.

"When people are buying lights, we suggest they consider the investment they are making, and whether the individual bulbs can be replaced, and if there are replacement bulbs around will they be continually available for years to come."

While it's wise to replace older, expensive lighting with newer energy-efficient products, bigger energy savings over Christmas can be made in other areas of your household, says Ausgrid energy efficiency specialist Paul Myors.

"People should focus on the appliances that use the most power," he says. "The real big energy users in summer are your airconditioner, that old second fridge and pool pumps."

Myors says it is fine using a second fridge for Christmas parties and barbecues, but remember to turn it off when not needed. "An old, second fridge can be adding more than $300 a year to your energy bill - older fridges can use two-to-three times energy of a newer equivalent model."

Standby power is another unnecessary cost, particularly when householders go on holidays and leave things such as televisions and computers turned on at the power point.

"Any appliance with a digital light on means it's using some electricity," Myors says.

He says many people like to leave their house lights turned on for extra security when they go on holiday.

"Try to use either timers or motion sensors so the lights aren't on continually."

The biggest summer power guzzler is airconditioning, which should be replaced by ceiling or pedestal fans where possible.

"Using a fan costs maybe $6 a season, compared with hundreds of dollars to run an airconditioner," Myors says.


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