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- Energy saving incandescent bulbs<\/strong>\u00a0use about 25% less energy than standard incandescents<\/li>\n
- LEDs<\/strong>\u00a0use only about 15% of the energy of a standard incandescent, and they will last up to 15 years without needing to be replaced.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Not only are there lots of choices, but the way you pick a light bulb is changing, too. Now, instead of buying based on watts, you should look for lumens.<\/p>\n
Lumens Measure Light Output<\/h2>\n
Most people know that a 100-watt light bulb is brighter than a 40-watt light bulb. But did you know that a watt is actually a measure of how much energy the bulb consumes, not a measure of how much light it puts out?<\/p>\n
That’s where lumens come in.<\/p>\n
Lumens measure the amount of light produced by a bulb.<\/strong>\u00a0More lumens mean the light is brighter; fewer lumens mean the light is dimmer.<\/p>\n
Comparing Watts and Lumens<\/h3>\n
Because not all 100-watt incandescent light bulbs produce the same amount of light (lumens), you can’t use a simple formula to convert watts to lumens. But here’s a good rule of thumb you can start with:<\/p>\n
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- To replace a 100-watt incandescent bulb, look for a bulb that gives you about 1,600 lumens. If you want something dimmer, go for fewer lumens; if you prefer brighter light, look for more lumens.<\/li>\n
- A 75-watt incandescent bulb gives you about 1,100 lumens<\/li>\n
- A 60-watt incandescent\u00a0bulb gives you about 800 lumens<\/li>\n
- A 40-watt incandescent\u00a0bulb gives you about 450 lumens<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
- LEDs<\/strong>\u00a0use only about 15% of the energy of a standard incandescent, and they will last up to 15 years without needing to be replaced.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"Sample](\"https:\/\/www.crpud.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/lighting_label.gif\")
Look for the new Lighting Facts Label to make sure you buy bulbs that are right for you.<\/p>\n