Deck the Halls While Keeping Energy Costs Low
If you don’t want a monstrous electricity bill added to your holiday expenses, unplug your Christmas lights or use them sparingly. It cost about $6 a month to run each string of large-bulb lights 10 hours a day.
Afraid of losing the holiday twinkle? Consider these bright ideas:
Inside
Eric Cortina, creative director,
Roger’s Gardens, Corona del Mar: “The simplest thing you can do is add a dimmer to your tree. The dim lights create a nostalgic feeling, a warm glow, and this cuts down the wattage use.” Be sure the dimmer is rated to handle the combined electrical load of the lights.
* Use fewer strands of tree lights but add tinsel. The old-fashioned heavy tinsel from Germany is highly reflective.
* Place a living tree in a beautiful urn, then surround the base with ivy and poinsettias. Use the traditional red poinsettia or the Winter Rose, Monet, Plum Pudding or Holly Point. Be careful about children and pets, however. Poinsettias are toxic if eaten.
* Wire onto the tree branches terra-cotta pots containing fragrant paperwhite narcissus and ivy.
* Decorate the tree with pine cones, bird nests and other natural items.
Stacy Hammack, manager, Gibson’s home decor shop, Fountain Valley: “There are a lot of decorations out now that have beautiful, opalescent glitter and snowy texture. They reflect a lot of light, so you don’t need as many lights as before.”
* Look for floral sprays and garlands with “laser-cut” glitter. The glitter reflects 10 times the light of ordinary glitter. The fire-resistant kind is safer near candles.
* Use mirrored globes, ribbon with reflective threads and opalescent flowers on the tree.
Nancie Lowe, senior interior designer, Homestead House, Irvine:
* Light your tree only when you’re in the room and not distracted by television. Make lighting the tree something special, a family tradition.
* Place several candles on small shelves mounted over the fireplace mantel or on an otherwise blank wall. The shelves--5 inches wide and 8 inches deep--should be painted the same color as the wall so when the candles are lighted, the shelves virtually disappear and candles appear to be floating in air.
* Decorate candles with a strip of colorful fabric gathered around the base and held in place with a rubber band. Add glitter if desired. Don’t use flammable paper.
* Use scented candles to add to the sensual feast, but make sure they’re all the same scent.
* Vary the size and colors of candles. They need not be expensive.
* Group candles on tables or counters.
* If desired, use candle lanterns to accent arrangements.
* Place candles in front of mirrors for enhanced effect.
* Be safe. When placing a candle, visualize the heat rising from it. Is there anything above it close enough to catch fire--another shelf, a lampshade, the ceiling? Candles on wall shelves must be a few inches from the wall.
Avoid placing candles where anyone is likely to brush against them. Never put candles on or near Christmas trees. Don’t place candles on runners or tablecloths that children or pets can pull. Be careful about small children. Check burning candles periodically to make sure all is well.
Outside
* Replace older lights with new ones, which are more efficient.
* String miniature lights, which use less electricity and are less expensive to use (about $1.38 per month) than larger ones. LED lights cost even less, but only come in red, green and yellow.
* Icicle lights use about as much electricity as mini-lights but it takes more of them to cover an area.
