Holiday light debate - are LEDs worth the investment?

HOUSTON (KTRK) -- The great holiday light debate is on - is this the year to switch to LEDs?

Consumers have paid top dollar for LED lights in the past. You'll only find LED lights on Clay Griffin's display, and he says there's good reason.

"We don't have to worry about tripping any breakers, and our bills are down. So big difference for us," said Griffin.

A complete overhaul of lights in years past meant breaking the bank. However prices have dropped.

"They are a little more expensive. But LED is coming down in price," said Home Depot's Alison Moi.

Moi says prices are lower, but they are still more expensive. For example, a 100-count set of incandescent bulbs on the right goes for $2.50. The LEDs are $11.48, which is more than four times the amount for the same bulb count. But experts say spending a little more up front, will save you in long run.

"LED bulbs consume considerably less than their incandescent counterparts," said Arcadio Padilla with Reliant Energy.

Padilla showed Eyewitness News how he uses a power meter to show how much energy each strand consumes. For 25 C-9 bulbs, 163 watts of energy were being used. Twice as many LED bulbs used only 1 watt.

Those numbers translate to significant energy savings. An average home decked out with incandescent lighting for the roof, yard, trees and shrubs, plus the indoor Christmas tree may use an estimated 7000 watts for the holiday season.

With today's energy costs, that bill could run an extra $115 dollars.

For the same house running LEDs, an estimated 900 watts for the holiday season is all that home would use. That would be an estimated energy cost of $15.

There are also considerable differences between the two bulbs when it comes to fire and burn safety. Padilla used a camera to measure how much heat is produced by the bulbs.

One bulb on the incandescent strand read over 150 degrees. A bulb on the strand of LEDs was 73.8 degrees.

"I can comfortably hold it in my hand. There's little to no heat production," Padilla said of the LED lights.

Not only are they less expensive to operate, LED lights are safer too. Energy savings and safety are just some things to consider this holiday season, when you're shopping for new or replacement lights.