100lmW

100lmW refers to a luminous efficacy rating, indicating the efficiency with which a light source produces visible light. The "lm" stands for lumens, which is the SI unit of luminous flux, measuring the total quantity of visible light emitted by a source per unit of time. The "W" stands for watts, the SI unit of power, representing the rate at which energy is consumed. Therefore, 100lmW means that a light source produces 100 lumens of light for every watt of electrical power it consumes.

This metric is crucial for comparing the energy efficiency of different lighting technologies. For instance, traditional incandescent bulbs have very low luminous efficacies, often in the range of 10-17lmW. Halogen lamps are slightly better, typically around 15-25lmW. Fluorescent lamps offer a significant improvement, usually ranging from 50-100lmW, depending on the type and ballast.

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have the highest luminous efficacies among common lighting technologies, with many modern LEDs exceeding 100lmW, and some reaching well over 150lmW or even 200lmW in laboratory conditions. A higher lmW value indicates a more efficient light source, meaning it produces more light for the same amount of energy used, or the same amount of light using less energy. This translates to lower electricity bills and a reduced environmental impact for lighting applications. When evaluating lighting products, the lmW rating provides a standardized way to assess their performance and energy savings potential.