Lighting
Lumen
A lumen is the unit that measures how much visible light a bulb or fixture gives off, which tells you its brightness.
Watts measure power use. Lumens measure light. ENERGY STAR says brightness is a description of light output, which is measured in lumens (not watts). The Department of Energy adds that lumens are a measure of the total amount of visible light emitted by a source.
When you compare bulbs, compare lumens first. An LED can give the same lumens as an older bulb with fewer watts. Pair the lumen number with the right color temperature and CRI for the room. See LED lighting installation.
Related terms
Sources
TECL #21005 · Family owned since 1988
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