All Is Calm, All Is Bright (Enough): Protecting Dark Skies This Season
By Ruby Rañoa, Earth Forward Group
Published November 12, 2025
The information provided in this article is for informational purposes only. Earth Forward Group is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or compensated by any of the companies, products, or websites mentioned herein. We do not guarantee the accuracy, suitability, or performance of any referenced websites or products.
Photo by Gautam Krishnan on Unsplash
Everyone can agree that holiday light displays and home decorations are beautiful, but did you know they have a dark side? Each holiday season, approximately 88% of American families decorate their home's exterior with Christmas lights and other lawn decorations. That’s millions of homes across the nation, plugging in lights and using power to celebrate the season. While these lights and decorations bring joy to many, they also contribute to worsening environmental issues such as light pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. As we soak in the holiday spirit, it’s worth taking a closer look at how these traditions impact our environment, and what we can do about it.
The Importance of Dark Skies
Every year, holiday lights, displays, and decorations contribute to excessive light pollution, defined as “the human-made alteration of outdoor light levels from those occurring naturally” by the International DarkSky Association. According to a NOAA and NASA study, major U.S. cities shine 20-50% brighter during the holidays as compared to the rest of the year.
Dark skies are important for plant and animal health, including reproduction, hunting, protection from predators, sleep cycles, and more. More studies are emerging about the importance of dark skies for human health, too. Exposure to artificial light during regular periods of darkness is associated with a higher risk of sleep disorders, depression, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Recently, there has been a growing movement to protect our dark skies as a cultural resource, as the basis of inspiration for great art and philosophy.
Holiday Energy Use
Excessive holiday lighting significantly increases energy consumption, which becomes an issue for both the planet and your wallet. According to the Center for Global Development, the United States’ decorative holiday lighting displays use more electricity than many developing countries do in a year, including El Salvador, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nepal, and Cambodia. This seasonal surge in energy demand can strain local electrical grids, increase greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately spike your utility bill.
But not all lighting options are created equal, and some can help you significantly cut energy usage, emissions, and associated operating costs.
How Can I Change My Habits AND Enjoy My Holiday Lights?
Photo by Elena Mozhvilo on Unsplash
Compared to traditional holiday string lights, LED versions use up to 90% less energy. This means they are more energy efficient, emit less greenhouse gases, and help you save on your utility bill. For example, if 700 traditional holiday string lights cost $26.79 per month to run, then the LED version only costs $3.10 for the same usage. Newer energy efficient lighting options are also available, such as solar-powered holiday lights or projection lighting.
Consider timing your holiday lights to save energy, money, and greenhouse gas emissions, and to support dark skies. This means only turning on the decorative lights when it is dark and remembering to unplug them before bed. Most importantly, remember to not have your lights on during dusk and dawn, which are active hours for many animals. Interrupting the natural lighting patterns of these critical times can disrupt their vital behaviors and routines.
Adding an outlet timer, smart outlet, or smart power strip can automate your holiday lights and effectively limit them to specific hours of the day. With smart outlet and power strip options, you can even control the lighting with a phone app.
Photo by Joshua Patton on Unsplash
Decorative holiday lights are part of what makes the holiday season feel magical. By choosing energy efficient lighting options such as LEDs and timing your lights using timer outlets or smart power strips, you can help protect dark skies, save electricity, save money on your utility bill, and decrease greenhouse gas emissions. When you are mindful about when, how, and what you light during the holidays, you can join in the festivities while also being kinder to our planet.
From our Earth Forward Group team to yours, we wish you all a happy, safe, and sustainable holiday season and a happy new year!