As much as things have changed in the lightbulb aisle, you can still buy strings of Christmas lights made with incandescent bulbs. But they’re being phased out to make room for more LED holiday lights, according to the American Lighting Association. LEDs do have their bright spots. Here’s a look at both the pros and cons of LED holiday lights.
Advantages
Consumer Reports hasn’t tested Christmas lights recently but our ongoing tests of LEDs and CFLs have found that Energy Star-qualified bulbs meet high standards for brightness, energy use, and more. Holiday light strings carrying the Energy Star offer these advantages over strands of incandescent lights:
• Use 75 percent less energy.
• Can last up to 10 times longer.
• Remain cool to the touch, lowering the risk of a fire.
• Are more durable and shock resistant since there are no filaments or glass.
•Come with a three year warranty.