Green Bay — Whether you’re channeling Clark Griswold from the movie “Christmas Vacation” or planning something a little simpler, these easy tips will help you get in the holiday spirit without overloading your outlets … or your energy bill.

Make a list and check it twice. Use the holiday lighting cost calculator on our website to compare your options this season and get an idea of what to expect on your energy bill.

Hanging 25,000 twinkle lights? Switch to LEDs. They’ll last longer and use less energy compared to incandescent lights.

Timing is everything. Put your holiday lights and powered outdoor decorations on a timer. That way, there’s no risk you’ll forget to turn them off when you go to bed and accidentally leave them on all night long.

Reflect on your options. Rather than adding more lights to your tree, try enhancing existing lighting with tinsel, mirrored ornaments and other reflective items.

Simplify and save. Consider using festive floodlights on the outside of your home. You can purchase incandescent, halogen or LED models. Halogen and LED bulbs will use less energy.

Be safe. Don’t overload your outlets or string too many lights together. Make sure to inspect your strands of lights and throw away any that are damaged. If you need to plug lights into an extension cord, use heavy-duty UL- or FM-rated round extension cords instead of flat, light-duty cords.

For more energy efficiency tips, visit our website.