The holiday season is once again upon us. One of my family’s favorite things to do is wandering around our neighborhood admiring all the beautiful lighting displays.

All those bulbs can result in a gigantic increase in your December electricity bill if you’re still using the old fashioned incandescent bulbs for your holiday decorations. You can save a bundle by switching to LED bulbs. Highly energy efficient, LED bulbs can decrease electricity consumption by up to 90% when compared with traditional bulbs. LED bulbs also last much longer.

Check with your local utility, as many offer rebates or free exchanges for LED bulbs. For example, San Diego Gas and Electric, our local provider, offers up to three free strands of bulbs if you exchange the equivalent number of the old fashioned strands.

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that if every household in the country made the switch, the country would save over $400 million in energy costs each year. Better for the earth, too. For more information, visit the DOE website.

Happy Holidays! Enjoy the light show!