a seven watt incandescent bulb can power about 140 led lights

WSIL-TV- Thanksgiving weekend is typically a time for many people to set up Christmas displays and lights.

But before you do, electric companies are suggesting an alternative to traditional incandescent lights.

You can tell by the sky igh Christmas tree and the more modest reindeer decorations,that Christmas is right around the corner.

Shad Zimbro from Black Diamond Harley Davidson says, "Anybody that can come out and see the lights I mean we try to get people in the Christmas spirit, we understand it might be a hard year for a lot of people in southern Illinois, so we're going to do what we can to help out."

But according to officials with Ameren, people can help themselves on their utility bills this holiday season, by switching from incandescent decorations to Led lighting.
Ameren representative Victoris Busch says,
"They tend to be about 80 percent more efficient than the traditional string lights. For example, a seven watt incandescent bulb can power about 140 led lights."

At a local retailer, you can find a box of 100 traditional lights for two dollars, meanwhile you can find a box of 60 Led lights for seven dollars, a five dollar difference. But Ameren officials say you'll make up that money in the long run.

"They cost a little bit more on the front end, but in the end, it will make a difference on their utility bills" says Busch.

When Black Diamond Co-Owner Rodney Cabaness heard he could save almost three dollars a month by switching to LED Lighting,he was quick to make the switch, "We have basically put LED lights on just about everything we have here, I think all together we've got about fifty thousand" says Cabaness.

He says Black Diamond's Christmas lights use about as much energy as a standard refrigerator.
That's not bad for 50,000 bulbs.

He's hoping their display will start a trend and other locals will switch over to LED lighting as well.

"We just didn't know about it, you know and so once we were educated on it, I mean there's not really much of a reason not to use LED's, it's definitely the way to go."

a seven watt incandescent bulb can power about 140 led lights