CFLs have been heralded as the green alternative to the familiar incandescent light bulbs that were brought to us by Thomas Edison, but CFLs reign may be short-lived: LEDs are on the horizon.

We've seen LED bulbs in digital clocks, outdoor television screens and traffic lights, but with semiconductor technology falling in price and a promised 50,000 hours of use, their appeal is growing. We're told that LEDs last 60 times longer than incandescents and 10 times longer than CFLs. And since LED bulbs are lit entirely by the movement of electrons, there is no filament to glow and no energy wasted on heat.

But there are obstacles that manufacturers are working to overcome. First, LEDs aren't yet as bright as other lighting systems; they have to be bundled together in a single casing to provide enough lighting oomph. Second, mass distribution hasn't yet kicked in — until the ball gets rolling, units go for $50 to $80 a pop.

Still, running an LED for $2 a year is too attractive to ignore.

Questions can be sent to Jim Parks at [email protected]. To find out more about Jim Parks and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.