These people are sick. Their main reference is an extremest and leftist website.
Center for Global Development
At this time of the year, sparkling trees and decorated lawns have taken over. A 2008 study from the US Energy Department's Energy Information Administration (EIA) found that decorative seasonal lights accounted for 6.6 billion kilowatt hours of electricity consumption every year in the United States. That's just 0.2% of the country's total electricity usage, but it could run 14 million refrigerators. It's also more than the national electricity consumption of many developing countries, such as El Salvador, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Nepal, or Cambodia.
That is not exactly what the study was about. The study was about the benefits of LED lighting.
The section from the study:
2.2. Decorative Holiday Lights Even though the holiday season is just a few weeks of the year, the conversion of holiday lights from incandescent to LED sources would generate considerable energy savings. The potential annual energy savings of a complete market shift to LED holiday lights is approximately 64.4 TBtu of primary energy consumption, equivalent to the output of ninety percent of one large (1000 MW) electric power plant or the annual electricity consumption of almost five hundred thousand households. Along with significant energy savings, the adoption of LED sources would be accompanied by other benefits, including a longer operating lifetime as well as a safer and more durable product.
Energy Savings Estimates of Light Emitting Diodes in Niche Lighting Applications
Later in this report section I found this:
The 2007 energy savings potential of 5.97 TWh per year is equivalent to 64.4 TBtu per year of primary energy savings,
Can anyone spot the problem with the DOE math? There are 3.412 Btus per watt hour.
I like LEDs and agree with the safety issues. I think the DOE made a SWAG on their estimate for policy reasons.
As a Jewish American I can only conclude one thing. Merry Christmas and light up the night with as many lights as you can.