Making energy efficiency part of your New Year Resolution

January is often seen as a time for a fresh start. Post holiday rituals often include de-cluttering, finding a home for new gifts, and many of us try to commit to new habits and lifestyle changes.

While New Years’ resolutions have a reputation of falling flat by January’s end, we suggest taking baby steps to reduce your environmental footprint in your home and beyond. Here are some simple tips and tricks that will help make our world a greener place.

How to Achieve Energy Efficiency with LED Lights

If you haven’t already converted to LED light bulbs, 2015 is the year to do it. We’ve talked about the many advantages LED lights have over traditional offerings. There are just three main things to remember:

• LEDs are a better environmental choice
• They offer considerable cost savings; and
• They produce superior quality lighting.

If you are already onboard with LEDs in your home, have a think about the lights you removed from your Christmas tree earlier this month as well as the ones that are potentially still up around your home’s exterior, brightening the neighbourhood.

Now think back to the times you’ve uncoiled your lights and plugged them in, only to find that they aren’t working. Older style festive lights are easy to spot because if one bulb burns out, or is damaged, the entire strand will remain dark.

With LEDs, you won’t have this problem. Today’s lights have moved away from series circuits and instead use parallel connections. This means that each light on the strand has its very own circuit and is unaffected if the lights around fail to perform.

We’re confident that this info alone is enough to sway anyone who has spent time searching for that problem bulb towards LEDs. But in case you are not quite sold, here are a few more reasons to get a jump-start on preparations for the next holiday season.

Bargains
LEDs have come down in price in the last few years. Now that the Christmas rush is well over, you may just be able to snap up a great deal on an off-season festive light purchase.

Efficiency
When it comes to LED holiday lights there are plenty of reasons to rejoice! These bulbs use almost 90% less electricity than their circuit dependent predecessors. That means more money in your pocket and fewer concerns about running up a huge power bill as you ward off the winter darkness with your cheery outdoor lights.

Durability
LED holiday lights are also built to last. The tough poly resin surround is unbreakable and certainly an improvement on the delicate glass filament incandescent lights of the past. These guys will have no problem withstanding our harsh Canadian winter conditions. Plus, better durability translates into easier storage.

Safety
We think that one of the most important features of LEDs is that they remain cool to the touch. Updating your lights is a great way to reduce the risk of house fire.

There you have it. LEDs are good for your health, your wallet and the environment.