Educational graphic explaining the Lighting Facts label, showing brightness, energy cost, lifespan, color temperature, and energy use

What are Lighting Facts? The Lighting Facts Label Explained

Lighting Facts Labels: Overview

The Lighting Facts label is a standardized requirement established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) under the Energy Independence and Security Act. Its purpose is to provide a uniform method for evaluating the performance of LED bulbs and fixtures, moving the focus from power consumption (wattage) to light output (lumens).

In a commercial context, these labels serve as a tool for verifying manufacturer claims and calculating the total cost of ownership for lighting upgrades.

Elements of a Lighting Facts Label

  • Brightness: Measured in lumens. This indicates the actual light output rather than the power consumed. Higher lumen counts represent higher light output.
  • Estimated Yearly Energy Cost: An estimate of the annual operating cost. This is typically calculated based on a standard of 3 hours of use per day at an energy rate of $0.11 per kWh.
  • Life: The projected lifespan of the product in years, based on a usage rate of 3 hours per day.
  • Light Appearance: Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) measured in Kelvin (K). This scale defines the visual warmth or coolness of the light.
  • Energy Used: The power consumption measured in watts. This figure is used to determine the luminous efficacy of the fixture.

Data Accuracy

As a commercial lighting provider, we prioritize working with manufacturers who provide verified Lighting Facts for their LED products. These specifications are included in our product documentation to ensure technical transparency and assist with accurate project planning.

Brandon Waldrop commercial lighting specialist

Brandon Waldrop

As the lead technical specialist for our commercial lighting technical operations, Brandon Waldrop brings over 20 years of industry experience in product specification, outside sales, and industrial lighting applications.

His career began in physical lighting showrooms, where he focused on hands-on product performance and technical support. He later transitioned into commercial outside sales, working directly with architects, electrical contractors, and facility managers to translate complex lighting requirements into energy-efficient, code-compliant solutions.

Today, Brandon applies that industry experience to architect high-performance digital catalogs and technical content systems, helping commercial partners streamline the specification process and deploy lighting solutions with total technical confidence.