Sure, you like saving energy. But you like cozy lights, too, right?! Here are 7 energy-saving holiday lights so warm and twinkly even the Grinch would like them. And so will you!

Energy-Saving Holiday Lights

LED String Lights – Here’s a link to a wide variety of options for energy-saving holiday lights. They’re twinkly, waterproof, warm, and will save money on energy.  These LED solar string lights, called a “Chuzzle Ball,” are waterproof, require no batteries, and look like fairies! I particularly like this twinkle star string. It’s lightweight, easy to store, and easy to array anywhere.

Red Christmas Lights – These Red Christmas Lights come in 33 ft long strands of 100 mini lights. They offer up to 88% energy savings, compared to the standard string lights. They’re super bright, so perfect for decorating outside. They’ll stay lit when a bulb is loose or missing, and are easy to replace with spare extra bulbs and a fuse if a bulb burns out or breaks. They can be connected end-to-end, up to 22 sets, or 2200 lights. UL certified and water proof.

Multi Color LED Indoor/Outdoor Lights – Use these energy-saving holiday lights to decorate trees, outline your home, or otherwise add cheer to your holiday. UL certified and 33 feet long per strand.

Hanukkah LED Lights – Amazon has blue LEDs that aren’t specifically marketed as Hanukkah lights, but they could still work for you. NoveltyLights.com sells plug-in (electric) blue lights that could be a better alternative. If the color is right, give these a try instead of the battery lights. HolidayLights.com has options in bulk.

White Lights – I personally still find these a little white/white in color. But they definitely save energy! Get big ones like these to make a statement, or choose the smaller size. The warm white option might be best.

Star Curtain String Lights – These LEDs include 6 large and 6 smaller LED star ornaments. You can hook them wherever you want: in front of a curtain panel, dangling off a mantle, on the patio, or around the porch. Aren’t they cheerful?

ALOVECO LED String Lights – These waterproof balls of light are perfect for a Christmas tree, New Year’s Party, or any other special event where you could use energy-saving holiday lights (which is pretty much everywhere). They have 8 working modes, such as slow fade, and steady on. They’re also waterproof so you can use them outside.

Enjoy the holidays, and be cozy!

NOTE: Big Green Purse earned a small sponsorship fee for this post and may also make a tiny affiliate commission on sales on Amazon. The fees are too teeny to affect our recommendations or opinions, but they do help us continue to serve you. Thanks.

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The solution? Replace your old incandescents with new LEDs. You can do so without worrying about waste by recycling the incandescents here for free. When you do, you’ll earn a discount coupon worth 15% off the price of the new LED lights you buy. Act now, since the recycling program and discount coupon are only available through February 2010.

How should you package the lights?

Please DO NOT:

1. Include any packing material or anything other than the lights themselves

2. Send the lights in outer packaging such as retail boxes

3. Include any apparatus used to wind up or store the lights

4. Use any size box that is larger than what is needed to accommodate the lights.

5. Put your light sets in plastic bags or any other interior packaging.

Please DO:

1. Use cardboard boxes or other packaging that can easily be recycled.

2. Coordinate with your friends, neighbors, co-works, social groups, church groups, or other organizations when possible to collect lights and send in one bulk shipment (this reduces shipping costs for everyone and reduces environmental impact of shipping.)

3. Compact your light sets into the smallest space possible.

BTW, it’s easy to recycle CFLs (compact fluorescent lights), too. Here’s how.

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At my house, we do! We outline the outside windows of our house in little white twinklers that beautifully frame the Christmas tree inside that’s been lit with multi-colored strands. We don’t have a central fireplace, so we light candles in the main windows, on the tables and on the counters, creating a flickering glow from all corners of the living and dining room. In my best Martha Stewart imitation, I also string garlands, lights and ribbons all the way up the staircase for a fairytale effect. Most nights, after dinner we turn off our regular end table lamps and quietly enjoy the peaceful beauty these subtle sparks create.

For years, of course, we used standard (energy-wasting) incandescents for all of these lights, along with typical paraffin candles. But over the last few years, we’ve begun transitioning to LED lights, and the only candles I buy now are made from beeswax.

Why LEDs?

Initially, the LED lights reflected more my commitment to the environment than my love for the quality of their light. LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, are environmentally preferable because they’re so incredibly efficient: while a string of 300 conventional mini Christmas lights costs about $13.12 to operate, 300 LEDs will cost only around $1.25 to power up. The downside? The first white LEDS on the market threw such a harsh, cold light, it completely defeated the purpose of using those lights to create the sense of warmth.

But the technology has evolved considerably (replacing my pain at being an “early adopter” with the satisfaction of knowing that my demand increased a better supply!). LEDs now come in a glow that’s actually called “warm,” along with pretty green, red and blue bulbs. They’re also available in larger bulbs as well as the tiny, twinkly ones. For those who celebrate Hanukkah, you can get strings of only blue bulbs as well.

Where? LED holiday lights have become so mainstream you can find them at most local hardware stores, at big box outlets like Wal Mart and Target, and online at Forever Bright and Christmas Lights, etc. But be prepared: they do cost more upfront than incandescents. You’ll make the money back over time in electricity savings. And an equally big bonus: LEDs last longer than the fragile incandescents, so you’ll neither have to replace the lights every year, nor spend hours trying to figure out which tiny incandescent bulb in your mini strand is broken. That’s a huge plus in this busy mom’s book.

Why beeswax candles?

Candles made from beeswax have a lot going for them: their natural golden honey color, their sweet but subtle smell, the clean way they burn. They don’t drip, either, so you can use them in tapers, votives, or as molded stand alones on a table or window sill.

They can be hard to come by in the mall, but you’ll find them aplenty online.

Big Dipper Wax Works – Among the many choices are 3″ beeswax ornaments in the shape of a Star, Snowflake or Ribbon that each will burn for over 40 hours; elegant tapers whose wicks are 100% cotton and contain no lead or metal, and larger “pedestals” in a variety of colors.

Beeswax Candle  Company – Beautiful holiday candles shaped into holly spirals, pinecones, trees, pillars and columns. Plus beautiful accessories, including candle holders and tapers.

Candlebee Farm – Additive-free and solar powered processes bring you dripless tapers, plain pillars and votive styles; you can also choose solid poured or rolled honeycomb candles.

Beeswax Company – Natural candles molded into creative shapes, like beehives, balls and cubes, votives and tealights.

Candles made from soy can be a good alternative, if you don’t mind the heavy fragrances many of them emit. You can find them here.

For more environmentally friendly holiday traditions, visit this month’s Green Moms Carnival, hosted by Michelle McKenzie over at Green Phone Booth.

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