VIDEO. Why will lighting a Christmas tree cost you 28 cents a day?

On the Champs-Élysées, the emblematic site of Parisian end-of-year charm, “energy consumption will be between 50 and 60 euros per day,” explains Johan Hugh, co-director of Blachère Illumination. In times of an energy crisis and soaring electricity prices, what about people who want to decorate their Christmas tree with lights?

“All the latest string lights are equipped with LED bulbs, so they consume very little, around 4-5 watts,” explains Remy Rousset, sobriety specialist and founder of Lite, a facial energy analysis company.

Disable string lights if Ecowatt indicator is red

“If we take the example of a household that lights four strings of lights at Christmas, four hours a day, for 20 days, this amounts to a consumption of 1.6 kWh. This is equivalent to 0.28 euro cents in electricity bills,” the expert calculates. Thus lighting a Christmas tree costs less than one euro and consumes very little energy.

However, illuminating all the trees at the same time can create voltage in the power grid. “During December days, when the Ecowatt indicator is orange or red, it is necessary to turn off the equipment in order to avoid unnecessary voltage,” recalls Remy Rousset.