How will I know if a compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) will produce the right amount of light?
The amount of light produced by any light bulb is measured in lumens. The lumen rating is always listed on the packaging and/or in the catalog. You can directly compare the rated output of the CFL versus the rated output for the familiar incandescent bulb that youre replacing. The light output of a CFL falls off somewhat, very gradually, over the long life of the bulb. Therefore you may wish to buy a CFL with a rated initial lumen output 10-15% higher than the lumen rating for the incandescent bulb youre replacing. The great news about CFLs is that, compared with incandescent bulbs, they put out many more lumens of light per watt of electricity you have to buy. You get the same amount of light while using 65% to 80% less electricity.
