Solar energy is playing an increasingly important role in helping Americans cut their power bills and depend less on fossil fuels. However, other technologies, including efficient new light bulbs, are also playing important roles in the nation's move toward cleaner energy.

In fact, this week the Federal Trade Commission reminded consumers that starting in mid-2011, light bulb packaging will change to measure the products' brightness in lumens as opposed to watts. This is because watts measure energy use as opposed to a bulb's actual brightness.

The FTC added that the new packaging will also tell consumers the estimated annual cost of using a particular kind of light bulb.

On the back of light bulb packages will be additional information that is reminiscent of the "nutrition facts" labels that shoppers currently find on food items.

That information will include details about brightness, the bulb's life expectancy, the bulb's mercury content, if applicable, and whether the bulb provides "warm" or "cool" light. The information comes at a time when consumers have more lighting options than ever, including highly efficient LED bulbs and compact fluorescent lights.