Green is among the colors traditionally associated with Christmas, but green can be more than just a year-end-celebration decorating theme.

As we noted last year in our review of holiday lights, in which we compared mini and standard-size incandescent light strings with LED light strand, LED lights use a lot less energy than traditional holiday lights. Lots of people have apparently switched over to these energy-efficient lights: "Our sales of LED holiday lights are up high-double-digit over last year," says Tia Robinson, a Home Depot spokeswoman.

Don't miss this advice for using a ladder, important when you're putting up the lights or mistletoe, and these general tips for staying safe during the holidays festivities.

Essential Information: LED lighting isn't just for festive occasions—it's beginning to see increasing application in the home.