Definition
Luminous Efficacy
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Luminous efficacy is a measure of how well a light source produces visible light. It is the ratio of luminous flux to power, measured in lumens per watt, (abbreviated as lm/W), in the International System of Units (SI). Depending on context, the power can be either the radiant flux of the source’s output, or it can be the total power (electric power, chemical energy, or others) consumed by the source. Which sense of the term is intended must usually be inferred from the context, and is sometimes unclear. The former sense is sometimes called luminous efficacy of radiation, and the latter luminous efficacy of a light source or overall luminous efficacy. One lux (1 lux) is defined as being equivalent to one lumen spread over an area of one square meter.
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First Let’s Take a Look at Luminous Efficacy
The Watt is a unit of power. The Lumen is a measurement of light output. Luminous efficacy represents the efficiency of a light source in converting energy (watts) into visible light (lumens). In the case of older incandescent bulbs, their efficacy was approximately 15 lumens per watt, whereas modern LED technology typically achieves a much higher range of 75 to 110 lumens per watt. As a rule of thumb, this implies a rough ratio of 7:1 when choosing an LED bulb to replace an incandescent bulb. For example, suppose you wish to replace a 100-watt incandescent bulb with an equivalent LED bulb. Utilizing the 7:1 ratio, you can estimate the wattage by dividing 100 watts by 7, resulting in roughly 14 watts for the LED bulb. However, note that the luminous efficacy may differ among manufacturers, so the most reliable approach is to refer to the Lighting Facts label and aim to match the lumens of the LED bulb to ensure the desired brightness.
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Luminous Efficacy Conversion Table Light typeLuminous efficacy (lm/W) Incandescent (tungsten) 12-18 lm/W Halogen 16-29 lm/W CFL (fluorescent) 40-60 lm/W LED 80-100 lm/W Note: The values presented in the chart and table are approximate and may vary based on specific light bulb models. Luminous efficacy is a measure of how efficiently a light source produces visible light, and higher values indicate more efficient light sources. LED light bulbs generally offer the highest luminous efficacy compared to incandescent and halogen bulbs.
Lighting Facts Light Bulb Labeling
Light bulb labels have shifted their focus to highlight brightness, measured in lumens. A lumen is a measure of visible light energy, the higher the lumens, the brighter the light. This change allows consumers to make more informed purchasing decisions as they transition towards energy-efficient types of bulbs.
The modern labeling found on light bulb packaging aims to assist consumers in making informed choices among the various types of bulbs available in the market, including traditional incandescent bulbs, high-efficiency compact fluorescent (CFL), and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. These labels empower consumers to save money by selecting the most efficient bulbs that best suit their lighting needs. In the past, consumers were accustomed to using watt measurements displayed prominently on the front of light bulb packages for many years. Watts are a measure of energy consumption and merely indicate the amount of energy a bulb consumes, not its brightness. This reliance on watt measurements alone made it challenging for consumers to compare traditional incandescent bulbs with more efficient alternatives, such as compact fluorescents. Referred to as “Lighting Facts,” these labels draw inspiration from the “Nutrition Facts” labels commonly found on food packages. The Lighting Facts label provides essential information such as:
- Energy cost
- Brightness level in lumens
- Light bulb’s life expectancy
- Presence of mercury in the bulb
- Light appearance, indicating whether the light is warm or cool
- Wattage, which indicates the amount of energy the bulb consumes
Furthermore, each bulb will include its brightness, measured in lumens, and a disclosure regarding the presence of mercury. As lighting becomes more and more energy-efficient, the same number of lumens is being achieved with lower and lower wattages. These additional details are aimed at aiding consumers in making environmentally conscious choices and selecting bulbs that align with their specific lighting requirements. See the chart below for further clarification and how to convert popular light bulb types from Watts (W) to Lumens (lm).
Light Bulb Watts to Lumens Conversion Table
On average, an incandescent bulb produces around 14 lumens per watt, compared to 63 lumens for energy saving compact fluorescents (CFL) and 74 for LED bulbs.
Jump To:
- LED Lumens to Watts conversion
- Incandescent Lumens to Watts conversion
- Halogen Lumens to Watts conversion
- Fluorescent (CFL) Lumens to Watts conversion
Equivalent Lumens to Watts Conversion Chart Note: The values presented in the table are approximate and can vary slightly depending on the specific model and manufacturer of the light bulbs. The table serves as a useful guide for selecting the appropriate wattage equivalent light bulb based on desired brightness (measured in lumens) for each type. Light Bulb TypeLumens (lm)Wattage Equivalent (W) LED 450 lm 5W LED 700 lm 10W LED 1000 lm 15W LED 1300 lm 20W LED 1600 lm 25W LED 1900 lm 30W LED 2200 lm 35W LED 2600 lm 40W LED 3000 lm 45W LED 3500 lm 50W LED 4000 lm 55W LED 4500 lm 60W LED 5200 lm 65W LED 6000 lm 70W LED 7000 lm 75W LED 8000 lm 80W LED 9000 lm 85W LED 10,000lm 90W LED 11,000lm 100W LED 13000 lm 105W LED 14000 lm 110W LED 15000 lm 115W LED 16000 lm 120W LED 17000 lm 125W LED 18000 lm 130W LED 19000 lm 135W LED 20000 lm 140W LED 22000 lm 150W LED 24000 lm 160W LED 26000 lm 170W LED 28000 lm 180W LED 30000 lm 190W LED 32000 lm 200W Note: The values provided in the table are still approximate and can vary depending on the specific model and manufacturer of the LED light bulbs. LED technology continues to improve, offering even higher lumen outputs with lower wattages, which means more energy-efficient lighting options for various applications. Always refer to the manufacturer’s specifications for accurate information when selecting LED bulbs for specific lighting needs. Light Bulb TypeLumens (lm)Wattage Equivalent (W) Incandescent 250 lm 5W Incandescent 450 lm 10W Incandescent 750 lm 15W Incandescent 1100 lm 20W Incandescent 1600 lm 25W Incandescent 2200 lm 30W Incandescent 3000 lm 35W Incandescent 4000 lm 40W Incandescent 5200 lm 45W Incandescent 6500 lm 50W Incandescent 8000 lm 55W Incandescent 9600 lm 60W Incandescent 11600 lm 65W Incandescent 13800 lm 70W Incandescent 16200 lm 75W Incandescent 19000 lm 80W Incandescent 2200 lm 100W Incandescent 3000 lm 150W Incandescent 4000 lm 200W Note: Incandescent bulbs are not typically available in wattages higher than 200W due to their high energy consumption and low efficiency. LED bulbs, on the other hand, offer much higher lumen outputs with significantly lower wattages, making them a more energy-efficient choice for brighter lighting needs. Light Bulb TypeLumens (lm)Wattage Equivalent (W) Halogen 300 lm 35W Halogen 500 lm 40W Halogen 700 lm 45W Halogen 900 lm 50W Halogen 1100 lm 55W Halogen 1300 lm 60W Halogen 1600 lm 65W Halogen 1900 lm 70W Halogen 2200 lm 75W Halogen 2600 lm 80W Halogen 3000 lm 85W Halogen 3500 lm 90W Halogen 4000 lm 95W Halogen 4500 lm 100W Halogen 5200 lm 105W Halogen 6000 lm 110W Halogen 7000 lm 115W Halogen 8000 lm 120W Halogen 300 lm 50W Halogen 500 lm 75W Halogen 700 lm 100W Halogen 900 lm 120W Halogen 1100 lm 150W Halogen 1300 lm 175W Halogen 1600 lm 200W Note: The wattage of a light bulb does not linearly scale with lumens output for halogen bulbs either. Like incandescent bulbs, halogen bulbs have lower luminous efficacy compared to LED bulbs, and their efficiency decreases as we go to higher lumen outputs. Halogen bulbs are not commonly available in wattages higher than 200W due to their energy inefficiency. LED bulbs remain a more energy-efficient option for high lumen outputs, and they can achieve the same brightness with much lower wattages compared to both incandescent and halogen bulbs. Light Bulb TypeLumens (lm)Wattage Equivalent (W) CFL 450 lm 9W CFL 700 lm 14W CFL 1000 lm 19W CFL 1300 lm 24W CFL 1600 lm 29W CFL 1900 lm 34W CFL 2200 lm 39W CFL 2600 lm 44W CFL 3000 lm 49W CFL 3500 lm 54W CFL 4000 lm 59W CFL 4500 lm 64W CFL 5200 lm 69W CFL 6000 lm 74W CFL 7000 lm 79W CFL 8000 lm 84W CFL 450 lm 9W CFL 700 lm 15W CFL 1000 lm 20W CFL 1300 lm 25W CFL 1600 lm 30W CFL 1900 lm 35W CFL 2200 lm 40W CFL 2600 lm 50W CFL 3000 lm 55W CFL 3500 lm 65W CFL 4000 lm 75W CFL 4500 lm 80W CFL 5200 lm 90W CFL 6000 lm 100W CFL 7000 lm 115W CFL 8000 lm 130W CFL 9000 lm 145W CFL 10000 lm 160W CFL 11000 lm 175W CFL 12000 lm 190W CFL 13000 lm 200W Note: CFL bulbs are not commonly available in wattages higher than 200W, and as with halogen and incandescent bulbs, their efficiency decreases as lumen output increases. For higher lumen outputs, LED bulbs remain a more energy-efficient and practical choice.
The Impact of Light Color on Perceived Brightness: Exploring the Kelvin Scale and LED Bulb Variations
The perception of brightness isn’t solely determined by lumens; the color of light also plays a significant role. Even when lumens are the same, bulbs with cooler, bluer hues resembling daylight may appear brighter than those with warmer, yellower tones. To measure light color, we use the Kelvin (K) temperature scale.
Incandescent bulbs typically fall within the 2700-3000K range, emanating a soothing, warm glow that creates a relaxed ambiance. For a whiter light akin to daylight, perfect for kitchens and workspaces, bulbs labeled between 3500-4100K are recommended. On the other end, reading lights are often marked 5000-6500K, resulting in a bluer hue that gives the impression of increased brightness. Understanding these variations in light color can help you create the desired atmosphere and functionality in your living spaces.
Side Note: In a world lighting first Philips has recently broken the 200 lumens per watt barrier. By creating the world’s most efficient warm white LED lamp that uses half the energy of the current most efficient lamps on the market, Philips has set a new benchmark in LED innovation.
Source: https://gardencourte.com
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