If you find yourself saying “watts up?” when weighing your bulb options, familiarize yourself with these lighting terms before deciding which bulb is right for you.

Kelvin – a measure of color temperature which describes the color quality of light and the warmth or coolness of light; the higher the temperature the whiter the light

Color rendering index (CRI) – a measure of the ability of a light source to reveal color; a CRI of 100 shows the true color; a light source with a CRI of 90+ is excellent; a CRI of 80-90 is considered good

Lumen – a measure of brightness; the higher the lumen, the brighter the light

Watt – a measure of energy use; a 60-watt incandescent bulb is equivalent to a 7-watt LED

LED – light-emitting diode; LED lamps are more energy efficient than incandescent lamps

Learn how to choose the right bulb in this video from ALA featuring Cathy Choi, president of Bulbrite Industries. For more lightbulb tips, go online to PickABulb.com or stop by an ALA-member lighting store to see all the options for putting your home in the best light.

Photo by Hinkley