The Light Bulb Legislation New Packaging Requirements
For the first time, the label on the front of the package will emphasize the bulb’s brightness as measured in lumens, rather than a measurement of watts.
“While watt measurements are familiar to consumers and have been featured on the front of light bulb packages for decades, watts are a measurement of energy use, not brightness,” stated the FTC in its press release. “As a result, reliance on watt measurements alone make it difficult for consumers to compare traditional incandescent bulbs to more efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescents.”
The new front-of-package labels also will include the estimated yearly energy cost for the particular type of bulb.
The back of each package will have a “Lighting Facts” label modeled after the “Nutrition Facts” label that is currently on food packages. The Lighting Facts label will provide information about: * Brightness * Energy cost * Life expectancy * Light appearance (for example, “warm” or “cool”) * Wattage * Mercury content
The bulb’s brightness, measured in lumens, and a disclosure for bulbs
containing mercury, also will be printed on each bulb.
You will be seeing these label on your light bulbs starting next year:
