A study conducted by Solar Panel Installation has examined the energy consumption of Christmas lights across the United Kingdom, shedding light on the potential impact and benefits of solar energy in this context.
It’s estimated that 85% of households use Christmas lights, resulting in over 5 million kilowatts of electricity used daily. Light Up Santas, chosen by 33% of homes, add approximately 4.74 million kilowatts to this daily usage. Outdoor lights, used by an estimated 20% of households, contribute a considerable 203,040 kilowatts daily. The UK’s households collectively consume around 10.12 million kilowatts of electricity daily for festive lighting.
Expanding this over a 25-day festive period, the total energy consumption is a massive 252.94 million kilowatts. Importantly, this level of energy use translates into significant CO2 emissions, with the study highlighting daily emissions of approximately 2.1 million kilograms per household. Over the 25 days, this would result in around 93 million CO2 emissions, underscoring the urgent need for more sustainable practices.
Solar-powered Christmas
The study also looks at the role of solar panels in addressing the significant energy consumption of Christmas lights in the UK. It is calculated that to power the UK’s Christmas lights sustainably, about 28,907,674.97 solar panels would be required. This figure is based on each solar panel having a capacity of 350 watts and producing 0.35 kilowatts per hour, with the assumption of generating 0.35 kilowatts per day under winter weather conditions in the UK.
An average household requires solar panels, meaning 2.89m homes would need solar installation to power up the UK’s Christmas lights, considering an average of one hour of effective sunlight during winter. To cover the energy needs for the entire festive season, a total of approximately 28.9 million solar panels would be required.
