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.
Related Commercial Lighting Categories
Lighting Facts labels provide a standardized foundation for evaluating LED performance, enabling consistent comparison and informed decision-making across commercial lighting projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Lighting Facts label?
A Lighting Facts label is a standardized product label that lists measurable lighting performance data in a consistent format so lamps and light sources can be compared using the same metrics.
What does the Lighting Facts label include?
Most Lighting Facts labels report brightness (lumens), energy used (watts), light appearance (CCT in kelvins), rated life, and an estimated yearly energy cost based on standardized assumptions.
What does brightness mean on the label?
Brightness is reported as lumens (lm) and represents the total visible light output of the product as tested under defined conditions. Lumens describe source output, not delivered light at the task plane.
What does energy used mean on the label?
Energy used is reported as watts (W) and represents electrical power draw. Watts indicate consumption and electrical load, not brightness.
What does light appearance mean on the label?
Light appearance is correlated color temperature (CCT) reported in kelvins (K). Lower values appear warmer and higher values appear more neutral to cool. CCT describes visual appearance, not light output.
How is estimated yearly energy cost calculated?
Estimated yearly energy cost is a calculation based on assumed daily runtime and an assumed electricity rate. Use it as a comparison value across products rather than a prediction of site operating cost.
How is life on the label defined?
Life is a rated value calculated from standardized testing and assumptions. Actual service life can vary with temperature, switching frequency, vibration, voltage conditions, and driver design.
Does the Lighting Facts label confirm delivered light levels?
No. The label does not account for optics, distribution, mounting height, spacing, or room surface reflectance. Delivered illuminance must be verified with a lighting layout using IES photometric files and confirmed in the field with measurements where required.
Does the Lighting Facts label confirm dimming or controls compatibility?
No. Dimming method, minimum dim level, control wiring requirements, and control system compatibility must be confirmed from the driver specification and installation instructions.
Does the Lighting Facts label confirm environmental ratings or listings?
No. Wet or damp location suitability, IP or NEMA enclosure ratings, impact ratings, and safety listings (UL/ETL/cUL) are not established by the Lighting Facts label and must be verified in the product documentation.
How to use the Lighting Facts label in commercial procurement?
Use the label to screen products for lumen output, wattage, and CCT, then validate project suitability using cut sheets, listings, IES files, and control documentation. For projects requiring maintained light levels or compliance targets, confirm performance with photometric layouts and commissioning measurements.
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.
