How to Read Light Bulbs

You have a number of different choices for your home lighting needs. The traditional incandescent bulb is slowly being replaced by compact fluorescent bulbs that last longer and use less energy. The one drawback, however, is that compact fluorescent bulbs contain a small amount of mercury, which is a toxin. When choosing a light bulb, check the power usage, light output and life.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Determine the power consumption of the light bulb. This is the amount of electricity the light bulb uses when it is on and is usually listed in watts. The higher the number, the more electricity the light bulb uses. Other units include volts and amps.

2. Determine the light output of the bulb. The most common measurement is lumens, but some bulbs list their light output in candelas. To convert from lumens to candelas, divide the number of lumens by 12.57. Just because a light bulb has a higher power usage does not mean it will be brighter. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, a compact fluorescent light bulb uses up to 75 percent less power to generate the same amount of light.

3. Determine the "Life" of the bulb. The life expectancy of the bulb is listed by how many hours it is expected to last. Fluorescent bulbs will have a life that is between 6 and 12 times as long as incandescent bulbs according to the U.S. Department of Energy. LED bulbs can last 25 times as long as incandescent bulbs.

Tips & Warnings

• LED stands for light emitting diode and is a still-developing technology that has the potential to replace compact fluorescent bulbs as the longest lasting and most energy efficient light bulbs. LED bulbs are particular effects for most colors except natural white.

References

• Bulb Specifications
• U.S. Department of Energy - Lighting