Fluorescent light brightness comparison

[91TTZ]

I always hear how much more efficient those compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) are than incandescent lights, but when they show the side by side comparison, the fluorescent light isn't nearly as bright.

I went to Lowe's the other day and they have a display comparing a row of CFLs to a row of 60 watt incandescent light bulbs. They claimed that they were equivalent in light output, but it wasn't even close! If anything, that display showed just how misleading the claim was.

I'm sure they're more efficient, but if they're going to claim that it's x times more efficient, then at least use bulbs of the same brightness.

 

[SSP]

I agree. We should be using lumens or candlepower over the old system anyway.

 

[Jeff7]

I wonder if they test the things when the tubes are completely straightened out, or what the deal is. I buy 23W CFL's in the hopes that they're at least as bright as a 75W incandescent, though they're said to be equal to a 100W bulb.

 

[Throckmorton]

It might look less bright because of the distribution of wavelengths coming from the CFL, especially considering the ambient lighting in the store