Holiday inflatable decorations have grown in popularity in recent years, especially during the winter holidays. It was magical to see a giant inflatable snowball lit by snow at night.

　　Although many people believe that these holiday inflatable decorations are energy-intensive, they generally have less of an impact on your energy bill than traditional string lights. A large inflatable snow globe consumes about 150 watts of energy. Running about 16 hours a day over three months, the total electricity bill for the entire season totaled about $22. If you run them 24 hours a day, the total cost for three months is about $30.

　　On the other hand, traditional string lights use about 10 watts per bulb. Power costs about $38 per month for 10 25-bulb string lights lit 5 hours a day. However, if you do choose traditional lighting, be sure to choose LED lights to help save energy and money.

　　Whatever decoration you decide to use this year, don't forget to add a timer so you can cut your energy costs this holiday season!