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Bright Holidays, Smarter Energy: How Watt Check Helps You Save

Decorating for the holidays is a cherished tradition in my family (Deanne from CX writes)—unpacking ornaments, untangling strands of lights, and lighting up the tree together. But these days, thanks to Sense and the Watt Check tool, we’ve added an extra step to the fun: figuring out how much energy each light strand uses so we can enjoy the season while staying mindful of our energy costs.

Energy usage tips Product features
Sense Team
Article

How Holiday Lights Impact Your Bill

Did you know holiday lights can increase the average home’s December electricity bill by 10%? With heating costs already climbing this time of year, every extra dollar counts. The type of lights you use, how long they’re on, and how much your energy costs all make a difference.

For example:

  • LED lights use up to 90% less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs. Running a modest display of LEDs could cost as little as $2 for the season, while incandescent lights might run you $10–$15 or more.
  • Switching to LEDs not only saves up to 90% on energy used but could pay for itself in one holiday season, depending on your usage.

Let Watt Check Do the Math for You

With Sense’s Watt Check tool, figuring out your lighting costs is simple—and it’s personalized to your home.

Here’s how we do it:

  1. Open the Dashboard tab in the Sense app and find the Watt Check tool.
  2. Test your lights by turning them on and following the step-by-step prompts.
  3. Calculate your daily and monthly costs based on the number of hours you keep them on.

For example, my family sets our outdoor lights to turn on at 4 p.m. and off at 10 p.m. Using Watt Check, we learned that reducing this window by two hours saved us more than we expected. We also found that switching from incandescent to LED strands not only cut costs dramatically but allowed us to offset the higher upfront price of LEDs in just one season.

Smarter Decorating, Brighter Holidays

Using Watt Check, we’ve set a family goal to keep our December energy bill increase under 10%. This means fewer surprises, more informed choices, and a holiday display we feel great about—both for our wallet and the environment.

What About Old Light Strands?

Switching to LEDs may leave you with old incandescent strands to deal with. Here are a few eco-friendly options:

  • Recycle them: Many local waste management facilities, home improvement stores, or specialty scrap metal recyclers will accept them.
  • Donate them: Schools, thrift stores, or community organizations might reuse them.

Whatever you choose, remember that small decisions—like recycling lights or switching to LEDs—make a big difference for the planet.

Celebrate Smarter

With Sense and Watt Check, you can create a holiday display that’s both beautiful and energy-conscious. Make this year the start of a brighter, more efficient tradition for your family—and enjoy the holidays without worrying about your energy bill.

Happy holidays from my family to yours!