Christmas lighting can also be sustainable

A few days ago, the first Christmas markets opened across Austria and the Christmas lights lit up the cities, but what does this mean for our energy balance and what strategies can help us to improve it?

Houses, gardens, shop windows and even entire streets are decorated with fairy lights, twinkling stars and illuminated figures of all kinds. It's a tradition, creates a feel-good atmosphere and is an essential part of the Christmas experience. ✨✨✨

However, in addition to the general anticipation of Christmas, the festive lights also trigger a striking increase in energy consumption. "The electricity costs of municipalities and households rise significantly during the Christmas period," emphasizes Elisabeth Giehser, Managing Director of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment Coordination Office (EAK).

Although the EU Ecodesign Regulation only allows LED and energy-saving bulbs to be sold for lighting, many energy-guzzling Christmas lights are still in use. "As Christmas lights are only used once a year, many old models with incandescent bulbs are still being used, which consume up to 90 percent more energy than modern light sources.

In the interests of climate protection, it must now be a matter of concern to finally replace them with energy-efficient technologies and dispose of old lamps in an environmentally friendly manner.

A single ten-metre-long strip light with old, conventional light bulbs generates electricity costs of around 30 euros in five weeks. By way of comparison, this is how much electricity a 140-liter refrigerator with freezer compartment in energy efficiency class A++ consumes throughout the year, approximately 140 kWh.

Enlightening information and tips compiled:

✨ Fairy lights with LED technology are an energy-saving alternative to the old models with light bulbs. The light-emitting diodes (LEDs) require significantly less power than incandescent bulbs for the same brightness and last up to 100 times longer (up to 100,000 hours). As a result, LED lamps can reduce costs by up to 90 percent.

✨ Shorten the lighting period: Electricity costs can be easily reduced by switching off the fairy lights during the day and only switching them on in the evening. A timer can be used to switch them on and off automatically.

✨ Buy solar-powered fairy lights for outdoor lighting. These charge during the day and illuminate the house or garden for up to eight hours in the evening.

pro.earth conclusion:

We liiiiiiiiove Christmas 🎄 ✨ but would like to point out that energy-saving and therefore resource-conserving action is particularly important here and absolutely pays off - for people and the environment. 💚

#proearth #actioninsteadofspeech #energy #sustainablechristmas