What are Lighting Facts? The Lighting Facts Label Explained

Just like food products have a "Nutrition Facts" label, you may have noticed light bulbs and fixtures now have a Lighting Facts label. The goal, is to provide consumers with a better understanding of what they are buying in an attempt to make shopping for lighting easier in an age of incandescent, CFL and LED lighting options.

To help consumers understand lighting efficiency, the Energy Independence and Security Act legislation directed the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to change its current labeling requirements for all LED bulbs and fixtures. The Lighting Facts label helps consumers base their purchase decision on the brightness (lumens) of the bulb or fixture and cost of operation, instead of wattage. The label is an industry tool to help buyers evaluate a product's performance against manufacturer claims.

Elements of a Lighting Facts Label

Brightness - Measured in Lumens, not Wattage. The higher the number, the brighter the Light.

Estimated Yearly Energy Cost - The cost to light this bulb based on 3 hours per day and .11 cents per kWh power cost.

Life - The bulb life in years based on a usage of 3 hours per day.

Light Appearance - Indicates the color emitted on a scale from warm to cool in degrees Kelvin. For more see our post on color temperature

Energy Used - The power consumption of the bulb in Watts. The lower the number, the lower the power consumption.

Our Commitment

As an online lighting retailer, Stars and Stripes Lighting is committed to working with suppliers that can provide lighting facts for their LED bulbs and LED lighting fixtures. That's why list the Lighting Facts label on our individual product listings.