Christmas Lights: Festive Fun Or A Massive Waste Of Energy?

It’s nearing that time of year again when Santa lovers bedeck their hearth and home with Christmas lights and Yuletide paraphernalia. One Canberran family has arguably taken the festivities too far by rigging up over 500,00 LED lights in a 50-metre ode to Christmastime that racks up an electricity bill of $2500 per month. Check out the ridiculous video and share your thoughts on this bizarre practice below.

The Canberra-based Richards family have just taken out the 2013 Guinness World Record for most Christmas lights in a single display. According to Guinness, the display boasts 502,165 LED lights comprising a 50-metre, multi-coloured walk through canopy and an 18-metre light-controlled tree that dances to Christmas music.

The Richards admitted that their electric bill runs about $2500 each month when the lights are up, although a local energy company is covering the cost. Before you scoff at all that wasted energy, it’s worth noting that the Richards are using the display to raise money for the SIDS charity ‘SIDS and Kids ACT’; so the goal of their Christmas display is fittingly altruistic.

That said, the majority of families who set up elaborate Christmas displays are only in it for the razzle-dazzle. We’re keen to hear what our readers make of all this: are you a fan or practitioner of the Christmas light display or do you think it’s just another example of the holiday’s crass commercialisation? Share you thoughts below.


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