FTC proposes new output-based labels for lamps

The days of referring to a compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) as being “equivalent to a 60-watt light bulb” may soon be over, as the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed new labels based on light output rather than energy consumption. The FTC is seeking public comments on new labels that emphasize lumens, not watts, as the measure of bulb brightness. This information, along with estimated energy cost, would appear on the front of the package. The back would display a “Lighting Facts” label modeled after the “Nutrition Facts” label for food packages, and first seen in the lighting market with LED lamps.