send in a question of your own Q: Are LED (light emitting diode) Christmas lights worth buying? I'm not sure I want to spend money to replace lights that only stay on for a month or so. (Posted Nov. 14, 2008) A: Your energy savings would depend on what kind of lights you'd be replacing, how many strands you'd use and how long you'd keep your lights on. To give you an estimate, let's say you have 300 bulbs and you keep them lit five hours each day for 45 days.

Li Ling Young, Bob Murphy, and Kathleen Brown

At a rate of 12.5 cents per kilowatt hour, you would spend about $60 to light large, non-LED bulbs and around $4 for mini non-LEDs. The cost of keeping LED bulbs lit for the same amount of time would be about 40 cents.

Another financial consideration is replacement cost. LED Christmas lights can last 20 years, so from a purchase-price perspective, they're cost-effective. I'll also mention that LEDs don't use a heated filament to produce light, so they run cooler, reducing fire risk. Whether you decide on LEDs or not, have a great holiday!

            - Kathleen from The Home Team

Have a question about energy use in your home? Ask the Home Team! Contact Li Ling, Bob and Kathleen or call toll-free: 888-921-5990 to speak with a customer service representative.