Lumens vs watts
Lumens tell you brightness. Watts tell you power.
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Lumens measure light
ENERGY STAR says brightness is light output, measured in lumens, not watts.
The lumen table
ENERGY STAR lists minimum lumens for bulbs that replace old incandescent bulbs: 450 for 40 watts, 800 for 60, 1,100 for 75, 1,600 for 100, and 2,600 for 150.
Save energy
ENERGY STAR says to find the bulbs with the lumens you need, then choose the one with the lowest wattage.
The Lighting Facts label
The DOE says the Lighting Facts label on medium screw-base bulb packages shows brightness in lumens, energy cost, life expectancy, light appearance, wattage, and mercury content.
FAQ
General information only. Ceiling fans and light fixtures are electrical equipment. Hire a licensed electrician for any installation, wiring, electrical box, switch, or light kit work, and follow the fan maker's manual and your local electrical code. Before cleaning, changing a bulb, or checking a fan, turn it off and let the blades stop and the bulbs cool; turn off power at the circuit breaker before any work near the fan's wiring. Use a stable ladder, and if you are not comfortable working overhead, call a pro. Never use a bulb above the maximum wattage marked on the fixture. If a fan or light flickers, buzzes, smells hot, or trips a breaker, stop using it and call a licensed electrician.
Next: color temperature
Warm to cool, in kelvin.
