Comments on: How much does it cost to decorate your house with Christmas lights? http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Thu, 23 May 2013 13:54:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1606879 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 14 Dec 2012 00:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1606879 Apparently some asshole stole ~1,000,000 of his lights this summer. He's trying to switch over to lower energy lights as he replaces. He ran a successful Kickstarter to get some help, but he really needs about $50K per year to run the thing. Apparently some asshole stole ~1,000,000 of his lights this summer. He’s trying to switch over to lower energy lights as he replaces. He ran a successful Kickstarter to get some help, but he really needs about $50K per year to run the thing.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1606685 Donald Petersen Thu, 13 Dec 2012 21:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1606685 That.  Is.  Amazing. That.  Is.  Amazing.

]]> By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1605866 Antinous / Moderator Thu, 13 Dec 2012 09:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1605866 You have to visit it to really get it.  The life-sized flying reindeer have working headlights for faces. And Terminator Santa is playing sepulchral music on an organ that makes fog. Oh, look.  Here's the satellite image of their yard from Google Maps.  You can see a giant, pink robot on the lower right corner and some more at the top right.  To give a sense of scale, that's four acres. And more photos of the sculptures: http://www.dollybeast.com/2011/01/19/palm-springs-desert-getaway/ You have to visit it to really get it.  The life-sized flying reindeer have working headlights for faces. And Terminator Santa is playing sepulchral music on an organ that makes fog.

Oh, look.  Here’s the satellite image of their yard from Google Maps.  You can see a giant, pink robot on the lower right corner and some more at the top right.  To give a sense of scale, that’s four acres.

And more photos of the sculptures: http://www.dollybeast.com/2011/01/19/palm-springs-desert-getaway/

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1605500 Donald Petersen Wed, 12 Dec 2012 21:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1605500 Good God.  The man has exhausted everything Christmasy and has now gone way out where the buses don't run.  "30% tiger, 30% reindeer, 40% robot.  All in one, it's 100% complete."  "Embryonic aliens right here to greet the people as they come in..." That's one jolly madman.  And an awfully indulgent dad, come to think of it. Good God.  The man has exhausted everything Christmasy and has now gone way out where the buses don’t run.  ”30% tiger, 30% reindeer, 40% robot.  All in one, it’s 100% complete.”  ”Embryonic aliens right here to greet the people as they come in…”

That’s one jolly madman.  And an awfully indulgent dad, come to think of it.

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1605060 awjt Wed, 12 Dec 2012 15:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1605060 Last time I decorated, I left the strings of lights up for 10 years.  They stopped working and I didn't even unplug them until I took them down.  They'd still be up there if I hadn't painted. Last time I decorated, I left the strings of lights up for 10 years.  They stopped working and I didn’t even unplug them until I took them down.  They’d still be up there if I hadn’t painted.

]]> By: relawson http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604850 relawson Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:12:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604850 That is a good balance. Keep the greater draw of resources ( the idiot box) off in lieu of an alternate visual stimulus. Talk to the kiddo's about parallel vs. series electrical circuits and how one bulb can go out while the other stay on.  Sounds like a good trade-off to me :)  That is a good balance. Keep the greater draw of resources ( the idiot box) off in lieu of an alternate visual stimulus.

Talk to the kiddo’s about parallel vs. series electrical circuits and how one bulb can go out while the other stay on. 

Sounds like a good trade-off to me :) 

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604825 Donald Petersen Wed, 12 Dec 2012 03:04:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604825 Here's what makes me feel superior: when I walk outside looking at the lights with my kids, my 24-watt light display is on, but my 150-watt plasma TV is off.  Sit and stew at the wasteful glow of Christmas cheer emanating from suburbia all you want, Grinchy McScrooge.  Just do it in the dark. Here’s what makes me feel superior: when I walk outside looking at the lights with my kids, my 24-watt light display is on, but my 150-watt plasma TV is off.  Sit and stew at the wasteful glow of Christmas cheer emanating from suburbia all you want, Grinchy McScrooge.  Just do it in the dark.

]]> By: relawson http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604808 relawson Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604808  I'm not the most eco-minded person in the world, but to me it's not about how much it costs to do it. Good for you if you can put on the world's best neighborhood light show. Really, pat yourself on the back. Whatever makes you feel superior. I absolutely hate the blatant waste of energy. Mr. Jones uses a few bucks a night, sure, but when there are millions of you doing it the cut goes much deeper than your pocket.  I’m not the most eco-minded person in the world, but to me it’s not about how much it costs to do it. Good for you if you can put on the world’s best neighborhood light show. Really, pat yourself on the back. Whatever makes you feel superior.

I absolutely hate the blatant waste of energy. Mr. Jones uses a few bucks a night, sure, but when there are millions of you doing it the cut goes much deeper than your pocket.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604793 Dlo Burns Wed, 12 Dec 2012 02:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604793 Up during july: even better. Up during july: even better.

]]> By: awjt http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604686 awjt Tue, 11 Dec 2012 23:24:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604686 I really should. But I forgot to mention the part about how lazy I am. I really should. But I forgot to mention the part about how lazy I am.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604617 Donald Petersen Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604617 Would you happen to have a link to a video?  I'd like to see that. Would you happen to have a link to a video?  I’d like to see that.

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604614 Donald Petersen Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604614 I had to ask my mom about the blue lights when I was a kid.  There weren't a great many Jewish homes in our trailer park (if any at all), so while we drove around the surrounding neighborhoods looking at lights, I wondered aloud why you'd occasionally see a house with all blue lights, but none with all red or all green or whatever.  For an embarrassingly long time (up until 4th grade or so), my only concept of Jewishness was "those are the people with the all-blue Christmas lights." I had to ask my mom about the blue lights when I was a kid.  There weren’t a great many Jewish homes in our trailer park (if any at all), so while we drove around the surrounding neighborhoods looking at lights, I wondered aloud why you’d occasionally see a house with all blue lights, but none with all red or all green or whatever.  For an embarrassingly long time (up until 4th grade or so), my only concept of Jewishness was “those are the people with the all-blue Christmas lights.”

]]> By: Donald Petersen http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604606 Donald Petersen Tue, 11 Dec 2012 22:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604606 Maybe it's my trailer park upbringing showing again (I had many neighbors whose lights stayed up unlit all the livelong year), but I keep my lights up as late into January as I can.  Two or three weeks.  I too appreciate the extra dollop of cheer during an otherwise cheerless month.  Pasadena has had pretty sunny Januaries lately, but the angle of the sunlight is low and harsh, and the days are short, so it bums me out.  I don't think I could put up with January in an area with actual bad weather. Maybe it’s my trailer park upbringing showing again (I had many neighbors whose lights stayed up unlit all the livelong year), but I keep my lights up as late into January as I can.  Two or three weeks.  I too appreciate the extra dollop of cheer during an otherwise cheerless month.  Pasadena has had pretty sunny Januaries lately, but the angle of the sunlight is low and harsh, and the days are short, so it bums me out.  I don’t think I could put up with January in an area with actual bad weather.

]]> By: Jacob Cazzell http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604513 Jacob Cazzell Tue, 11 Dec 2012 21:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604513 Two years ago my display (about 30,000 lights) used almost 98 amps when fully on (10,789 watts) because it was all incandescent.  It was also animated and only ran for about 4 hours a night.  So the net cost increase to me wasn't substantial. This year my display is a smidge bigger, but a lot has been converted to LED and my power usage measures in around 30 - 35 amps in total.  So I've cut the power consumption by 2/3 migrating to LEDs.  I expect by 2014 to be fully LED and I should be able to run 45,000+ lights off a single 15 amp circuit. Two years ago my display (about 30,000 lights) used almost 98 amps when fully on (10,789 watts) because it was all incandescent.  It was also animated and only ran for about 4 hours a night.  So the net cost increase to me wasn’t substantial.

This year my display is a smidge bigger, but a lot has been converted to LED and my power usage measures in around 30 – 35 amps in total.  So I’ve cut the power consumption by 2/3 migrating to LEDs.  I expect by 2014 to be fully LED and I should be able to run 45,000+ lights off a single 15 amp circuit.

]]> By: jimkirk http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604362 jimkirk Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:13:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604362 I have a tasteful string of LED lights under my soffit and a string hung around the living room that I use all year.  I call them my "festive lights". I also made a foot tall LED street number and mounted it in my garage window.  I always hate trying to find a house number at night.  Also, emergency vehicles and delivery trucks appreciate the easily visible landmark. I have a tasteful string of LED lights under my soffit and a string hung around the living room that I use all year.  I call them my “festive lights”.

I also made a foot tall LED street number and mounted it in my garage window.  I always hate trying to find a house number at night.  Also, emergency vehicles and delivery trucks appreciate the easily visible landmark.

]]> By: surreality http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604357 surreality Tue, 11 Dec 2012 19:06:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604357 This reminds me of being a child getting a ride home and saying "Yeah my house is on the right, the one with no lights" because every other house on the block had 'em. They were pretty, but we were Jewish. I think the blue lights are very pretty and when I have a house of my own I might put those up as just festive lights. This reminds me of being a child getting a ride home and saying “Yeah my house is on the right, the one with no lights” because every other house on the block had ‘em. They were pretty, but we were Jewish. I think the blue lights are very pretty and when I have a house of my own I might put those up as just festive lights.

]]> By: ando bobando http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604323 ando bobando Tue, 11 Dec 2012 18:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604323 Assuming that the only criterion you use for measuring gloominess is the total number of daylight hours, then yes, that's true. But January is colder, has no holidays, has more snow, and just all around sucks in general. :P Assuming that the only criterion you use for measuring gloominess is the total number of daylight hours, then yes, that’s true. But January is colder, has no holidays, has more snow, and just all around sucks in general. :P

]]> By: jbrnd http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604299 jbrnd Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604299 I used to live close to this house in Sydney, NS: http://www.fotothing.com/photos/246/246e80367ea5fa0e64eacdc6a84d3a17_64a.jpg And this is in a place where the median household income is $41,000 and power costs 13 cents/kWh. I used to live close to this house in Sydney, NS: http://www.fotothing.com/photos/246/246e80367ea5fa0e64eacdc6a84d3a17_64a.jpg

And this is in a place where the median household income is $41,000 and power costs 13 cents/kWh.

]]> By: kartwaffles http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604277 kartwaffles Tue, 11 Dec 2012 17:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604277 Put natural gas flare stacks on your roof. That'll really pump out the holiday cheer. Put natural gas flare stacks on your roof. That’ll really pump out the holiday cheer.

]]> By: Ernest Valdemar http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604256 Ernest Valdemar Tue, 11 Dec 2012 16:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604256 FWIW, nativity scenes have their roots in the cult devotions of Dionysus and Mithras. A diorama of the birth of the god is the kind of thing you would've found in any decently appointed pagan household shrine c. 200 AD. FWIW, nativity scenes have their roots in the cult devotions of Dionysus and Mithras. A diorama of the birth of the god is the kind of thing you would’ve found in any decently appointed pagan household shrine c. 200 AD.

]]> By: xzzy http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604184 xzzy Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:40:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604184 The solstice is December 21, so technically, January is less gloomy because the quantity of daylight is growing again. The solstice is December 21, so technically, January is less gloomy because the quantity of daylight is growing again.

]]> By: jackbird http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604168 jackbird Tue, 11 Dec 2012 15:07:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604168 The events of Easter took place* during Passover (the Last Supper was a Seder), but they are two different holidays. *or not.  But at least are said to have taken place. The events of Easter took place* during Passover (the Last Supper was a Seder), but they are two different holidays.

*or not.  But at least are said to have taken place.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604160 Dlo Burns Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:52:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604160 I've thought about buying more lights during the post xmass firesale and making a Closet Of Infinite Happy Warmth. Probably will never get around to it. I’ve thought about buying more lights during the post xmass firesale and making a Closet Of Infinite Happy Warmth. Probably will never get around to it.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604155 Dlo Burns Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:48:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604155 If you have someone in the family who's had a transplant you could easily see something like that being do-able. If you have someone in the family who’s had a transplant you could easily see something like that being do-able.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604153 Dlo Burns Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:42:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604153 The whole easter/ishtar thing bugs me because (except for german) every other language calls it passover/passen. The whole easter/ishtar thing bugs me because (except for german) every other language calls it passover/passen.

]]> By: Dlo Burns http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604151 Dlo Burns Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604151 No what you do is have each light strand on an inconsistant strobe.  No what you do is have each light strand on an inconsistant strobe. 

]]> By: Drew_Gehringer http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604142 Drew_Gehringer Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:31:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604142  Considering how many 'Christmas' traditions are actually stolen from pagan religions, I wouldn't really call Christmas lights (or basically any other Christmas decoration that isn't a Nativity scene) 'shoving religion in your face'.  Considering how many ‘Christmas’ traditions are actually stolen from pagan religions, I wouldn’t really call Christmas lights (or basically any other Christmas decoration that isn’t a Nativity scene) ‘shoving religion in your face’.

]]> By: Drew_Gehringer http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604139 Drew_Gehringer Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604139  eh...considering a google Search makes about as much of a carbon impact as a few people breathing, and browsing this site's likely to be a tiny percent-of-a-percent of that due to not having nearly as many servers...  eh…considering a google Search makes about as much of a carbon impact as a few people breathing, and browsing this site’s likely to be a tiny percent-of-a-percent of that due to not having nearly as many servers…

]]> By: ando bobando http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604140 ando bobando Tue, 11 Dec 2012 14:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604140 "Christmas" lights, to me, are great at protecting against Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's too bad we don't put them up in January, because that month is even crummier than December when it comes to darkness/cold/general gloominess. It's well worth the $0.25/hr as far as I'm concerned, although I suspect my ~10 strings of LEDs (4 years use out of them and counting) use significantly less than that. “Christmas” lights, to me, are great at protecting against Seasonal Affective Disorder. It’s too bad we don’t put them up in January, because that month is even crummier than December when it comes to darkness/cold/general gloominess. It’s well worth the $0.25/hr as far as I’m concerned, although I suspect my ~10 strings of LEDs (4 years use out of them and counting) use significantly less than that.

]]> By: Guest http://boingboing.net/2012/12/10/how-much-does-it-cost-to-decor.html#comment-1604064 Guest Tue, 11 Dec 2012 10:36:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=199533#comment-1604064 As suburban and aesthetically disgusting and shoving-your-christian-holiday-in-my face those are, below the bottom line I find these specks of light in the darkest month quite tolerable. As suburban and aesthetically disgusting and shoving-your-christian-holiday-in-my face those are, below the bottom line I find these specks of light in the darkest month quite tolerable.

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