For over a century people used to buy light bulbs based on raw power. In that world wattage ruled, the higher the number, the brighter the bulbs. But new lighting technologies like CFL and LED lamps have shattered that picture. These and other innovative lights are as bright, but use much less power. But how can you tell?
Starting today, you don’t need to be an Edison to tell them apart. GE has just rolled out new color-coded packaging and energy use labels that tell consumers how bright the bulbs are, and how much energy they use. Example: a yellow box indicates a bulb with strong, vibrant light; purple-colored boxes will softly light your hallway at night.
“Shopping for lighting should not be an overwhelming experience,” says Jeff Patton, a manager at GE Lighting. “In our hundreds of conversations with consumers, we heard over and over again that the number one important attribute to consumers in brightness. We used that feedback as an impetus for the new color-coded system.”
But the colored box is just half the story. Along with the colored packaging, GE bulb packages also incorporate the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)-mandated “lighting facts” label. It takes the nutrition label concept from the food industry and applies a similar concept to lighting. Consumers can now easily discern how much electricity their new bulb uses, how bright it is and compare it other bulbs. Our slideshow and video illustrates the concepts. Take a look.
