What are Lighting Facts? The Lighting Facts Label Explained

Lighting Facts Labels: Overview

The Lighting Facts label is a standardized disclosure requirement established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the Energy Independence and Security Act. Its purpose is to provide a consistent framework for evaluating LED lighting products by emphasizing light output and energy performance rather than legacy wattage comparisons.

In commercial and industrial applications, Lighting Facts labels are used to validate manufacturer claims, compare products objectively, and support lifecycle cost analysis during lighting upgrades.

Purpose of the Lighting Facts Label

The Lighting Facts label was introduced to shift purchasing decisions away from wattage-based assumptions and toward measurable performance metrics. Unlike incandescent lighting, LED brightness is not directly tied to power consumption.

The label allows facility managers, specifiers, and procurement teams to evaluate LED products using consistent, comparable criteria across manufacturers.

Core Elements of the Label

A Lighting Facts label includes several standardized performance indicators.

• Brightness: Measured in lumens, this value represents the actual light output of the product. Higher lumen values indicate greater brightness.
• Estimated Yearly Energy Cost: An approximation of annual operating cost based on standardized assumptions for daily usage and electricity rates.
• Life: The projected operating life of the product, expressed in years, calculated using a standardized daily usage assumption.
• Light Appearance: Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) expressed in Kelvin (K), defining whether the light appears warm, neutral, or cool.
• Energy Used: The electrical power consumed by the product, measured in watts, used to evaluate energy efficiency and luminous efficacy.

How the Data Is Calculated

Lighting Facts data is derived from standardized laboratory testing. Energy cost and lifespan values are calculated using fixed assumptions for hours of operation per day and average electricity rates.

Because these assumptions may differ from real-world commercial usage patterns, Lighting Facts values should be used as comparative benchmarks rather than exact operating predictions.

Using Lighting Facts in Commercial Projects

In commercial lighting projects, Lighting Facts labels serve as a verification tool rather than a complete specification. They allow project teams to confirm lumen output, power consumption, and color temperature before reviewing photometric layouts, control compatibility, and application-specific requirements.

Accurate Lighting Facts data supports transparent product comparison, energy modeling, and informed procurement decisions.

Lighting Facts labels provide a standardized foundation for evaluating LED performance, enabling consistent comparison and informed decision-making across commercial lighting projects.

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