With newer light bulbs designed to use less energy, wattage is no longer a reliable way to gauge a light bulb's brightness. That takes lumens. Lumens measure brightness. A standard 60-watt incandescent bulb, for example, produces about 800 lumens of light.By comparison, a CFL bulb produces that same 800 lumens using less than 15 watts.umens = brightnesswatts = energy. Light bulbs are getting better. Newer bulbs â like halogen incandescents, CFLs and LEDs â last longer and use less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs, saving you money on your energy bills.