also i noticed alot of CFL bulbs say 15 watt equivalent to 60 watt bulb. i need the actual bulb watts, not what it replaces, right?? the highest watts i could find was a 150 watt cfl. it looked like an energy bulb on steroids. then again.. im not sure if it was equivalent to 150 watts or was 150. >>>>>>>>

The 150W CFL is a 42 watt bulb, the watts are the power consumption you need to look at total lumens. A typical 40W flourescent shop light produces 2800-3200 lumens. They comparison is with an incandescent bulb which produces far less lumens per watt then a CFL or HPS/MH set up. LED's use even less power consumption while producing more light/lumens per watt then either incandescent or CFL's.