LEDs Cut New York’s Christmas-Light Energy Needs by 35%

In December 1989, Clark Griswold’s impressive lighting display caused a peaking power plant to come on-line somewhere in Illinois. Fast-forward to 2016, however, and the Clark Griswolds of the world (or at least of New York state) have switched to LED string lights in droves. The technology revolution of this seasonal staple has resulted in a substantial drop in energy use. New York’s grid operator reported that holiday-light energy use has declined by about one-third from 2010, largely due to the switch to LEDs.