For outdoor Christmas lights, here is a comparison of traditional C-7 bulbs versus traditional mini-lights versus LED mini-lights.

C-7 Incandescent Bulb

Energy Used* (in kilowatts – kW)                                     540 kW

Cost per kW (U.S. average of 12-cents per kWh)            x 12 cents

Total Cost of Energy for the Season                                  $64.80

Traditional Mini Light

Energy Used* (in kilowatts – kW)                                    68.85 kW

Cost per kW (U.S. average of 12-cents per kWh)            x 12 cents

Total Cost of Energy for the Season                                  $5.51

LED C-5 Style Light

Energy Used* (in kilowatts – kW)                                    13.608 kW

Cost per kW (U.S. average of 12-cents per kWh)            x 12 cents

Total Cost of Energy for the Season                                  $1.09

*Energy used is based on burning 600 lights, 6 hours per day, for 30 days.

As you can see, the LED mini-lights cost approximately 80% less than the traditional mini-lights, and even less than the incandescent bulb.  And keep in mind that these numbers are based on only 600 lights; if you have a major display of Christmas lights, plus your tree inside your house, your savings will be significantly higher.

So if you are in the market for new lights, seriously consider LED lighting; they might cost a little bit more up front, but will last much longer, and have the potential to save you hundreds of dollars over their life.  That sounds like a pretty good deal to me… And if you don’t want to spend the money to replace all of your old outdoor string lights with new LED lights, I would offer this suggestion: whenever you need to replace a string of lights, buy LED instead of the old style.  That way you can convert your lights to energy-saving LED over time, and not have to front the cost for all new lights at once.

The article from the California Energy Commission goes on to say how California’s State Christmas Tree, which is in front of the Capitol in Sacramento, is decorated with 6,500 ultra-low-wattage LED lights.  These lights save 95% (95%!) of the energy that would be used by traditional incandescent bulbs.   LED lights—the lights of the future

Decorating your house with Christmas lights is one of the cherished traditions of Christmas for many people.  Many neighborhoods all get into the spirit and make sure the whole neighborhood is decorated with thousands of lights.  The parade of families driving through these neighborhoods is as much of a tradition as presents and Christmas hams.

So, whether you are planning on just the traditional Christmas tree lights, or if you are planning on an elegant outdoor light display, what are some things to think about that can make this year’s displays better than ever?  One place to start is with LED Christmas lights.  These new lights are brighter, last longer, and use substantially less energy as the traditional light bulbs.

LED stands for light emitting diode.  LEDs are part of the new wave of lighting technology, and along with compact fluorescent (CFL) lights are the lights of the future.  The inefficient standard bulbs that we have grown up with will soon be a thing of the past as we change out all of our bulbs to save energy, money, and the planet.

LED lights used to be rare because they were much more expensive than traditional bulbs.  As with many technologies, however, the cost of LED string lights has come down significantly, and they are no longer the expense that they once were.  And these LED lights save so much electricity that some electric companies are even offering to give you a free string of LED lights if you will turn in your old strings of Christmas lights.

Whether you are planning a simple or extravagant Christmas light display, here are a couple tips to keep you safe and unhurt.  The first is to never overload a single power socket with too many strings of lights.  Plugging in too many strings of lights into a single socket can short out the socket and cause sparks, or at worst, a fire.  It is a good idea to use a power strip to regulate the load on the socket.  But always make sure the power strip is plugged directly into the outlet—never string power strips together.

The second (and last) tip is to be careful when using ladders to put up your lights.  Always put your ladder on flat, level ground where all four legs are solidly on the ground.  Keep your body between the rails of the ladder (don’t lean over too far,) and whenever possible keep both feet and at least one hand firmly on the rungs.  There is no reason to get hurt trying to celebrate the season

Flood lights are used for various things. Whether you own a mansion and want to increase the security of your whole estate, or you are working on a film set, you will need to get different types of outdoor flood lights. These are all designed for a specific purpose and you have to find the best one for your circumstances.

When you go out to the store to look at the best outdoor flood lights you can get for outdoor use, you will have to keep in mind that the sales person cannot help you with certain things. Here are things you have to think about first:

The area you need the outdoor flood lights for. You have to take down the measurements of the space you want the lights to cover and also how bright you want that area to be. You should also take into consideration your budget regarding outdoor flood lighting and the electricity requirements that you might need. One good option for bright light and low energy usage are compact fluorescent, or cfl outdoor flood lights.  You need to know where and how the lights will be installed and understand the ranges and angles needed for the area you want lit up.

When you are looking for security you will have to worry about the range of the light, the sensitivity and the brightness and hue of the colored outdoor flood lights. If on the other hand you want to light up an area of your garden for an effect, then you might want a more widely angled light that creates a nice atmosphere.

Before placing the solar lights, make sure that they are placed where there is at least partial sun, because that is the way the lights generate their power. You can install this lighting yourself. Look at your space and decide where to place your lights. You can place them around a raised garden area, along the pathways, or place them going up the trees in your space, just be creative about it.

You can purchase wire bases shaped like animals or garden gnomes, and you can wrap the solar lights around these wire bases. These are not only beautiful, but very whimsical too. Some people make their garden look like a fairy tale, and you can do the same thing. The wired bases are very popular during the holiday season to freshen up the landscaping.

The two types of solar garden lighting that I am talking about are the staked type, and the rope type. The staked solar lighting is used to illuminate the pathway, or to light the perimeter of individual garden areas. The rope solar garden lighting is flexible and you can wrap this lighting around things like trees, or water features. You can place the rope lighting in places that the staked lighting cannot be placed.

The use of solar lights for pathways has increased in popularity over the past few years. They are very easy to install and affordable. The lights run off of batteries that are encased in the unit. This unit protects the battery from harsh weather conditions so the lights do not have to be removed in the winter.

When the sun shines the batteries are charged and the solar light shines until the battery runs dead. This is usually long after the need for light in the area has passed.

Many people are expanding their use of these lights beyond pathways and steps. Individuals who have very large gardens and wish to have lighting that surrounds their garden are finding that solar lighting gives them the light that they want without the need to install electrical conduit and outlets.

Sets of lights are now being manufactured that are attached to a single solar battery. The battery has a solar panel on top and is placed in an area that receives sunlight. A cord runs from the battery to the lights. Many people have found that with the larger battery their lights stay aglow longer.

A benefit of solar lighting is that one can move them easily. When garden lights are placed in areas using electrical conduit they are more difficult to move without extending the electrical line.

Besides adding enough adamant light to your front porch, garage or driveway, these lights can also add an added amount of security to your home. More and more, many people are noticing these lights keep showing up all over the place. A large reason why many people opt to get them is to detour anyone from messing with your home.

Honestly, a burglar or someone who is trying to do something to your home is not going to do it in broad daylight. With most robberies occurring at night, many people have noted that they have a sense of peace knowing that if someone comes near their homes the bright lights will catch them immediately.

In many accounts not only do the lights draw attention to your home, but they may be what eliminates any wrong doings from going on around your home. Along with the extra security to your home with the outdoor wall lights, you are also creating a different style for the dwelling as well.

Choosing the right lighting for your wall is considered an art that needs to be taken into consideration. You have to ensure that the place that you wish to hang the light is just right. If the place that you want to hang the light is going to shine into your neighbors windows or things of that nature that you may need to find another spot.

Ways To Use Outdoor Rope Lights
All over the country you can find people that have discovered uses for outdoor rope lights. There are a huge number of things that can be done with them, and they all can add an element of warmth to your surroundings.

A lot of people that own swimming pools have found that having them mounted around them can look gorgeous. Having a nice casting of color shine over the water in the pool can be a nice look that is very easy to get. It can also provide that bit of light that people who enjoy night time swimming have been searching for.

Outdoor rope lights have also found homes on decks throughout the country. They can be mounted in a variety of ways, but they all can give the added light that people want for their decks. This can be a great safety feature as well, as there will be far less chance of someone getting hurt if they can see to get around.

Using these lights to line a driveway is another popular thing people do. This can also enhance the safety of those that are driving up and down it as they will be able to see where they are more clearly. Many laneways have ditches on the sides and these lights can indicate how close a person is before it is too late.

Trees and other plants that are in your yard is another area of the home that people find outdoor rope lights to be a nice touch. You can wrap the lights around the tree in any manner that you like. This is where you can be creative with your visions.

If you are planning an outdoor party that is likely to last until after dark, you need outdoor party lights. Outdoor party lights make the area safer for your guests and add ambiance to the party.

You do not want to add too much light or the glare can be overpowering. However, by adding just enough light, guests can see to move around safely, fill their plates and have great conversations.

There are many options available for outdoor parties that were not available even five years ago. These lights can bring life to a patio without that will allow your guest to enjoy the party well into the evening.

If you already have outdoor garden lights that illuminate your pathway, try turning white paper lunch bags upside down over these lamps to instantly transform them into luminaries that light the path. If you do not have the garden lights, turn the bags back right side up, add some sand and votive candles for authentic luminaries. If you prefer to avoid the flame of candles, try the electronic candles that flicker just like a real fire.

The real fun comes in the string lights that are now available. You can find these lights in many forms and they add fun to the party. Many of the string lights are in the shape of miniature Japanese lanterns, but they can also be found in small metal or bamboo lanterns too. If you have an archway leading to the entry to the garden, try the grape lights woven through the arbor.

There are many different types of outdoor garden lights, so it is very easy to choose what type of light is best for you and the style of your garden. Every light is different not only in shape, style and size but also in the lighting itself, so it is helpful to know how much light you want in your garden and also if you want solar powered or not.

Lets have a look at the different types of garden lights there are ranging from tabletop lights to overhead lights. First we are going to look at the torch lights beginning with the Florentine garden torch. This outdoor lighting is posted on a stake that can be fitted anywhere in the garden giving off a bright light thanks to the clear glass top.

The love tabletop torch is another very attractive light that will create a bright and lovely light in your garden throughout the whole year. Made to imitate a lantern these lights are made of clear glass that allows the light of an electric candle to brighten up the garden. Although they are called tabletop, you can put them anywhere in the garden to create a lovely glow.

Champagne tabletop torches are another good design that are fitted on a small stake that can be fitted onto a table or plant pots. They give off a very lovely and soft glow due to the clear glass that they are fitted with. These lights can be fitted absolutely anywhere in the garden and are famous for giving a candle lit effect to the area that they are in.

Your home is impeccably decorated. You feel that it is warm, charming and inviting. But now, like most homeowners, you want to do some more at living outdoors. Many people are making their backyards their summer entertainment rooms. In fact, they don’t stop at just a patio table and chairs, they continue to multilevel floors of decks and different rooms ranging from kitchens to sitting areas. But, it is important to use garden lights for atmosphere.

In order for the backyard makeover to be a real success, there are many things to be considered other than decking material, furniture, canopies, pergolas, and awnings. Screens, plants, flowers, shrubs and lighting should also be on the priority list of a beautiful garden.  And the most important part of your garden is most likely the garden lights—they enable you to enjoy your garden or yard at all hours of the day and evening, and let you keep the fun going even after the sun goes down.

Lights in the garden must be placed in many different areas to set the right mood in the different sections of your back yard. For instance, in the dining area of your outdoor space, which is usually protected under a canopy, there is the option of several types of lighting. Depending on the furniture style, you could opt for a beautiful chandelier or you could tone it down to a string of lights that you could arrange around your canopy for subtle lighting.