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When Shopping for New Lights, Lumens Are More Important Than Wattage What's a watt? What's a lumen? A watt is simply a measurement of energy use. A lumen is light output from a light bulb. This is why it is more important to make a decision on which light bulb to purchase on the lumens it produces rather than the wattage of the light bulb. Federal government mandates are changing and will be changing the future of incandescent light bulbs. It’s not a ban on incandescent bulbs, but it is an energy efficiency requirement..Some incandescent light bulbs will not be available for purchase in the foreseeable future. That's why it is so important that you understand lumens and the alternatives that will be available to you in the years to come. The lumen rating of any light source defines its brightness to the human eye. For example, if you are looking for an alternative to a 100-watt incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that lists around 1,600 lumens. Older packaged bulbs were not required to list the lumen rating. However, under new federal guidelines, manufacturer's are now required to list lumen ratings. In addition to listing the lumen rating, the new label will also provide the operating cost of the bulb per year, based on a kilowatt hour price that is higher than FEC's. The following comparison chart shows watts (energy) and lumens (brightness), making it simpler for you to choose an alternative.
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