Great New York Times article that I wanted to share that addresses the misconception that incandescent bulbs will be banned in the near future.

The truth is: Federal regulations are changing how lighting products are made. In an effort to help consumers choose products that save money and energy – while meeting performance expectations – manufacturers are now responsible for presenting consistent information on their labels.

Here are a few facts you’ll need to know:

• Brightness – Rather than selecting a light bulb based on wattage, labels will now use lumens, which is a more accurate measure of light output and brightness.  (Helpful hint: The more lumens, the brighter the bulb.)
• Energy Used – A measure of how much electricity the bulb will consume.  This information will be listed in watts.
• Life – This is the bulb’s expected lifespan and is expressed in years. Additionally, it a bulb’s life is calculated based on three hours of use a day.
• Light Appearance – This reflects how a bulb’s color appears on a scale – from warm to cool.
• Estimated yearly energy cost – This figure represents how much, based on average usage, the bulb costs to run for one year.