Each 100-bulb strand of incandescent Christmas lights can contribute as much as 240 pounds of CO2 emissions during the month of December.

Posing none of the fire hazards of incandescents, and lasting up to 50,000 hours, LEDs nearly eliminate the annual frustration of burnt-out bulbs. What's more, since they use 90 percent less energy than incandescents, that December spike in the utility bill can be kept to a minimum. And that translates into greenhouse-gas savings. Even if you only keep the lights on for two hours a night, stringing the tree with 300 LED Christmas lights can trim weekly holiday CO2 output by 15 pounds. For all you Clark Griswalds, with homes gloriously awash in light, LEDs can mean a real reduction in greenhouse gases. Shine on, you crazy light bulb.

Holiday LEDs has a wide assortment of styles ranging from multi-colored icicles to blue snowflakes ($16.99-49.99; holidayleds.com). Forever Brights also has a great selection, check out their five-color multi-set ($18.95; christmastreasures.com).

Remember, the wiring in nearly all light sets contains a bit of lead, so always wash your hands after handling them.