Power Tip: Watt is a Volt-Amp?

Lighting manufacturers often specify the power consumption of their light fixtures in watts, volt-amps (abbreviated as VA), or both. Given the common faulty generalization that watts and volt-amps are interchangeable, making sense of these distinct units can certainly be a challenge. We'll clear up the haze by highlighting the differences between watts and volt-amps with the help of a refreshing analogy.