Lighting can make a big difference in the look and feel of a space. It's important to choose the right type of light bulb to get the level of brightness you want. But if you're used to thinking in wattage, you might be confused by the new way to shop for light bulbs. Here's what you need to know.
Lumens are the key to understanding how bright a light bulb is. Lumens tell you how much light a bulb produces. The more lumens a bulb has, the brighter it will be. This is important part of figuring out how much light needs to be produced in the area it needs to be lit. For example; lighting up a store with a light that has a high ceiling is much different from lighting up a home with a lower ceiling a store needs much more lumens from a high vantage point to light up the whole area versus the home may need more light fixtures at a smaller lumen this area there is an even coverage across the area. The color of light is also as important which relates more to the CCT Color Temperature.
Watts, on the other hand, measure energy use, not light output. In the past, we used wattage to choose light bulbs. But with new, energy-efficient LED technology, wattage is no longer a reliable way to tell how bright a bulb is.
When you're shopping for light bulbs, compare lumens to make sure you're getting the level of brightness you want. The Lighting Facts Label can help. It makes it easy to compare bulb brightness, color, life, and estimated operating cost for the year.
So, when you're looking for a new light bulb, forget about wattage and think about lumens. Many light bulbs do however have a Watt Equivalent which gives consumers a good gauge of what lumens are to the watts that are being used. The higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light. With this knowledge, you can select the right light bulb for your needs and enjoy the benefits of energy-efficient LED technology.