The "equivalent watts" ratio comes from comparing the CFLs to standard incandescent bulbs. A '150 watt GE soft white incandescent' puts out the same amount of lumens as a '42 watt GE soft white CFL.'

They're cheap, easy, and they can provide results like these

http://boards.cannabis.com/showpost....6&postcount=44

http://boards.cannabis.com/showpost....&postcount=104

which is what got me hooked. :rasta: