LED Holiday Lights Shine Brightest

Using LED lights rather than traditional incandescent lights uses 75 percent less energy.

It's that time of the year again where holiday lights are strung on the roof with care. And if you're like most Americans, you're using lights that aren't exactly the most energy efficient.

According to the United Laboratories and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, using LED rather than incandescent light strings uses 75 percent less energy. Another advantage of LED strings is that they do not give off much heat, and are basically cool to the touch.

But just how much does incandescent light strings use? Most strings utilize 50 of the 2.5-volt incandescent bulbs, which use about 25 watts of power per string according to HowStuffWorks.com. In contrast, LED mini lights draw about 0.08 watts per bulb.

These efficient lights are a better alternative, and can help reduce your energy use throughout the holiday season.