TWO FIFTHS OF BRITS PUTTING UP XMAS LIGHTS EARLIER THIS WINTER

I’M DREAMING OF A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS: TWO FIFTHS OF BRITS PUTTING UP XMAS LIGHTS EARLIER THIS WINTER TO CHEER UP A MISERABLE YEAR

• Two fifths of households (40%) are putting up Christmas lights earlier this winter, with one in seven saying they want to brighten up a miserable year[1]
• Eight in ten households (80%) will put up lights this year despite the energy crisis[2], with two thirds (66%) using cheap-to-run LED bulbs[3]
• Nearly a fifth of homes (18%) still use halogen lights[3] that guzzle four times more energy than LED bulbs[4]
• Three fifths of households (60%) will keep their lights display as big as last year, although three in ten (29%) plan to cut down to save energy[5]
• Uswitch analysis shows households can still enjoy festive lights and decorations this year without adding to energy bills.

Eleven million households – some 40% of homes – will be putting their Christmas lights up earlier this winter, with one in seven (14%) doing so to brighten up a miserable year[1], according to new research from Uswitch.com, the comparison service.

Eight in ten households (80%) across the country will be putting up Christmas lights this year[2], with December 9 being the most popular day that decorations will go up[6].

Two thirds of homes (66%) are using cheap-to-run LED bulbs, which won’t run up high bills over the festive period[3]. A 6W set of 1,000 LED fairy lights switched on for eight hours a day could cost just 11p a week[4]. 

Festive households will have their displays up for 24 days on average over the Christmas period, meaning that the 6W string of lights would cost just 39p to run in total[4]. 

However, the fifth of homes (18%) still using halogen lights in their Christmas displays will pay considerably more[3]. These bulbs can use up to 320% more energy as LEDs, meaning a 1,000-string of fairy lights could cost nearly 48p a week, and £1.64 over the festive period[4]. 

Worryingly, a quarter of people (23%) do not know what type of bulbs are in their Christmas lights, meaning they could be running up higher bills if they have halogen lights[3]. 

Three fifths of households (60%) will put up the same amount of lights as last year, although three in ten (29%) are cutting back to save money on energy[5]. 

Ben Gallizzi, energy expert at Uswitch.com, comments: “The cost-of-living crisis has made this a very difficult year, so many households will want to brighten up December with festive light displays. 

“The good news for any households using LED bulbs is that they are very cheap to run, and will not add significantly to bills.

“Halogen lights are more expensive to run, and so may be worth replacing with LEDs if you can. 

“If you’re looking to keep costs lower this Christmas, check your thermostat temperature and aim to set this at around 18°C, which is the recommended temperature for people in good health.

“Households looking for an easy way to see how much energy they are using over the festive period can download Utrack, a free mobile app that lets consumers connect to their smart meter and track their energy use.”

Track your energy usage with Utrack by Uswitch here