In , Doc
wrote:

Just got a 4-pack of the Walmart "Great Value" version of these energy-
saver style fluorescent 23w bulbs which they claim are equivalent to a
100w incandescent bulb. Not even close. It's about like a 40w bulb.

Are the name brand bulbs of this type any better?

Philips, GE and Sylvania 23 watt ones as well as those other brands
prevalent in home centers (such as N:Vision) generally achieve 1600 lumens
after warming up for a minute or two. Higher color temperature
versions achieve closer to 1500 lumens. 1600 lumens is close to the
output of a "double life" 100 watt incandescent. A "full blast" 100W 120V
incandescent achieves 1670-1750 lumens.

I like to think of 23 watt CFLs as being about halfway between a 75 watt
and a 100 watt "standard" incandescent (750 hours) in "real-world" light
output.

- Don Klipstein )