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10 Reasons Your Customers Will Want Light Control

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Nov 22, 2012 4:30:00 AM

homeworks qs driveway optionsFor a lot of consumers, light control isn’t the first thing on their mind when they are considering building or remodeling. There’s a good chance they’re looking to you for suggestions and solutions. And while they may be looking to spend as little as possible on light control, you can help them out by helping them understand that the money they spend up front on light control actually saves them more money in the long run.

Here are 10 often-overlooked light management facts you can share with your customers that will help them save money—even if they spend a little more with you!

Top 10 Reasons

1. Light Control Increases Comfort and Improves Productivity: Energy-saving light controls provide a comfortable and productive visual environment. And enhancing the comfort level can increase productivity. For example, Lutron’s Total Light Management™ solution provides better lighting that reduces energy consumption and can improve work quality.

                       

2. Dimmers Save Energy: Every Lutron dimmer automatically saves 4-9 percent in electricity—even at the highest lighting levels—compared to a standard on-off switch. And when your customers choose to dim their lights, they’ll save even more. The more they dim, the more they save. Conventional light switches only save electricity in the “off” position. Lutron dimmers and controls save energy 24/7.

 

3. All Light Sources Use Less Energy When Dimmed: Most consumers think of incandescent lights when they think of dimming. But all lighting sources (halogen, CFLs, and, LED bulbs) can be dimmed. A halogen light source that’s dimmed 35% reduces energy use by 28% while dimming an incandescent or halogen light will reduce energy use by about 20%!

 

4. Dimming Saves Energy and the Environment Without Sacrificing Comfort: It used to be that most energy-reducing solutions meant sacrificing something. The dimmers and other lighting controls you can offer customers allow them to adjust light levels for specific entertainment options, enhance ambiance, set a mood, and take advantage of daylight to reduce energy use.

 

5. Lutron Solutions Contribute to 37 out of 110 Possible Points in the LEED® 2009 NC Rating System: Because of their energy saving benefits and contributions toward minimizing environmental impact, Lutron lighting and shading controls can contribute significantly to achieving LEED building certification for new construction in categories such as: Sustainable Sites, Energy & Atmosphere, Material & Resources, Indoor Environmental Quality, and Innovative Design.

 

6. Using Dimmers Saves Money: Customers who use a Lutron dimmer in their home can save about $8.00 yearly over using a conventional switch. And if they dim the light by 50% (taking into account the extended life of the bulbs) they can save up to $30 a year.

 

7. Shading Solutions are Energy Efficient: Shading systems save energy by harvesting daylight and reducing the load on HVAC systems. Lutron uses sustainable materials that are either PVC-free or 100% recycled—resulting in some fabrics being certified by third-party organizations such as GREENGUARD® and Oeko-Tex®.

 

8. The Multiplied Impact: Lutron estimates that if every U.S. homeowner replaced just two conventional light switches with dimmers, the potential annual savings could be $1.5 billion in electricity and close to 25 billion pounds of CO2—the equivalent to taking more than 1 million cars off the road.

 

9. Lutron Systems Save Money and Energy Automatically: Automated systems like daylight and occupancy sensors and the HomeWorks® astronomic time clock can turn on customer’s lights according to changes in light or by the time of day.

 

10. Dimmers Extend Bulb Life: Dimmers reduce power to the lighting source or bulb—saving energy and extending bulb life. Incandescent and halogen bulbs last up to 20 times longer when used with a dimmer. Not only will customers save on energy use, they’ll purchase fewer bulbs—saving them even more.

 

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Topics: Lutron Dimmers, Lighting Control, Energy Efficiency, Energy Saving Lighting

Save Money and Improve Productivity with Commercial Lighting Solutions

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Sep 20, 2012 9:01:00 AM

commercial lutron lighting solutions california resized 600

Commercial Lighting Solutions

The businesses that own commercial properties are always looking for ways to improve their bottom line. Whether these companies manage their buildings themselves, or employ a professional property management service, they’re looking for ways to cut costs—and increase productivity.

More and more savvy property managers are looking at energy consumption—and specifically at lighting solutions to accomplish both. And you can play a big role in helping them achieve those goals.

Importance of Efficiency

Some of these property managers may not be aware that in the majority of office buildings, lighting accounts for 39% of that building’s annual electricity use. Usage can actually be higher than that in specialized settings such as healthcare facilities, where it’s 43% and in hotels where the figure jumps to 55%. It’s no wonder that having an energy-efficient workplace is increasingly important to businesses today.

What can you suggest to your clients who manage commercial properties?

Start With Dimming the Lights: A business that dims its office lights can really save measureable amounts of money. Installing a single Lutron dimmer can actually save a business more than $85 each year. And the good news is that these commercial dimmers are designed to last at least 10 years. Not only does adding dimmers improve workspace comfort—it also improves the building owners’ return on investment.

Take It a Step at a Time With Individual Rooms: You can suggest installing single-room systems in heavily trafficked spaces to maximize energy savings and enhance that room's comfort level. You can then add features such as sensors that are integrated with lighting to further reduce operating costs. And you can even suggest a solution for the age-old problem of employees who forget to turn out the lights, by installing occupancy and vacancy sensors that will turn the lights out after periods of non-use—automatically.  

Give Clients the Big Picture: If you have a client who is really serious about energy savings, you may want to suggest a total light management solution for full energy efficiency. Of course it’s a bigger investment, but it produces correspondingly big results. The New York Times cut $600,000 from its annual lighting costs after installing the Lutron Quantum® system. And after installing EcoSystem®, a commercial property in Houston saved $50,000 on its electric lighting bill—and trimmed $16,000 off their bill due to a reduction in air conditioning expenses.

Click meLight control also decreases HVAC energy costs. Shading systems reduce the amount of solar heat gain that enters a space while reducing glare. Shades can also be controlled by Hyperion™ to automatically adjust shades based on the sun’s position throughout the day based on the season and building location and façade.

What’s really great is that when companies reduce uncomfortable hotspots and eliminate glare, they also improve productivity. It’s a win-win proposition!

 

You can help your commercial property management companies face some big challenges by recommending solution from a wide variety of solutions you have at your disposal.

 

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Topics: Commercial Lighting Solutions, Commercial Lighting Systems, Energy Efficiency, Energy Saving Lighting, Commercial Lighting Control

Shining the Spotlight on Dimming

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Sep 10, 2012 8:55:00 AM

dimming lutron led cfl

Lutron Dimmable CLF and LED Bulbs

The future of dimming in the lighting industry is actually pretty bright. As both industrial and residential consumers look for ways to curb their energy consumption—to minimize environmental impact and to cut costs—there is more demand for dimmable options.

dimmable cflAll that dimming, however, isn’t trouble-free—especially if consumers aren’t using adequate systems. Maybe you’ve had customers approach you with some of the following issues.

My Lights Won’t Turn On: Some customers may complain that sometimes after they dim their LED or CFL bulbs to a lower level the bulbs won’t turn on again until the dimmer’s slider is moved to a higher position. This is known as “pop-on,” and is particularly a problem for 3-way situations where lights can be operated from different locations besides the dimmer.

I Don’t Have as Much Range: Typically, LDE and CFL bulbs can’t dim as low as incandescent or halogen bulbs. Although the actual range is dictated by a bulb’s circuitry, dimmable CFLs generally dim down to 10% to 30% of measured light output, and dimmable can be dimmed as low as 5% to 15% 

I Have Trouble Setting the Dimmer: Sometimes LED or CFL bulbs will turn off prematurely—before the slider gets to the bottom position. That can make it very difficult for customers to set the desired dimmer level without bulbs turning off.

Sometimes My Lights Flicker or Turn Off Unexpectedly: CFL and LED bulbs can be affected by line voltage fluctuations (caused by turning on an air conditioner or a hairdryer) causing bulbs to flicker, dim, or turn off altogether.

 

How can you help your customers with these problems?

Click meLutron’s family of C·L dimmers for dimmable CFL and LED bulbs addresses all of these issues—incorporating HED Technology for improved performance of dimmable CFLs and LEDs. In contrast to conventional dimmers, these Lutron products:

  • Keep lights on during dimming
  • Ensure that lights turn on at all levels
  • Reduce or eliminate excessive flicker
  • Maintain light performance even during line voltage fluctuations

If you’d like more information—or if you have questions about these Lutron solutions—please give us a call at 1-855-588-7661 or shoot us an email.

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Topics: Dimmer Switches, Dimmable Lighting, Energy Saving Lighting, Residential Lighting Solutions

Six Reasons to Turn Your Customers and Clients on to LED Lighting

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Mar 13, 2012 6:13:00 AM

six reasons switch to led lightingSix Reasons to Turn Your Customers and Clients on to LED Lighting

You’re a lighting expert—at least that’s one way your customers and clients view you. Whether you distribute the light fixtures they use, specify them for a home or office, or install them; people expect you to steer them in the right direction. So why will customers and clients be happy when you turn them on to LEDs? Here are six reasons.

 

LED Lighting saves electricity—and money. More and more individuals (and companies) are concerned about energy use. And everybody loves it when they can save money. LED light bulbs are eight times more efficient than incandescent bulbs–and twice as efficient as compact florescent lights (CFLs). You can be an economic hero by saving your clients a lot of money.

LED lights are “kind” to sensitive materials. Because they don’t produce ultraviolet light, LED lights are safer for things like photos, artwork, and other sensitive materials. That means, unlike florescent or halogen lights, they won’t cause fading or aging.

LED lights don’t require warm up time. Florescent lights take time to get to full strength. CFL lights are much faster, but still have a bit of “lag” time before they reach full brightness. LED lights are at full brightness as soon as you turn them on.

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LED bulbs don’t have to be replaced as often. One LED light bulb will last longer than 30 incandescent bulbs. And even though CFLs last longer than incandescent bulbs, a single LED bulb will last longer than 6 compact fluorescents. As a matter of fact, an LED bulb can be in operation for more than 30,000 hours. LEDs are less sensitive to some of the things that destroy conventional bulbs, such as shock, vibration, and the extreme temperature changes.  Unlike florescent bulbs, they aren’t affected by being turned on and off frequently.

LED lights contain no mercury. That’s a big deal when it comes to disposing of bulbs. Fluorescent lights contain mercury and have to be disposed of as hazardous waste.

LED lights are really cool! Really! Because they operate at much lower temperatures than halogen and incandescent bulbs, the risk of fire is dramatically reduced.

 

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Topics: lighting solutions, LED, Lighting Control, Save Money with Energy, Energy Saving Lighting

Why The Right Ballast Matters (and How to Select the Right Ballast)

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Mar 6, 2012 7:00:00 AM

why the right ballast matters selection guideWhy The Right Ballast Matters (and How to Select the Right One)

Talking about the right ballast for a lighting system may not sound very sexy. But if you supply, install, or specify commercial lighting systems, it’s a big deal—especially when it comes to dimming, and saving money.

Educational, institutional, and commercial buildings use predominantly Fluorescent and LED lighting—in part because they meet energy-conscious design criteria such as ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1 standards and LEED® guidelines. The energy savings—and related cost savings—are often extremely important in these types of buildings. And one way to save energy and money is through dimming.

You already know that fluorescent lighting uses much less power than incandescent lighting. In fact, in a typical installation, a 32 W compact fluorescent lamp provides approximately the same light output as a 100 W incandescent lamp. But dimming of a fluorescent lamp makes it even more energy efficient. The same is true of LED light sources, because dimming can extend the already long life of LEDs.

While manual dimming of fluorescent lamps and LEDs saves energy, that’s really just the tip of the iceberg in economy.  By combining additional energy-saving strategies, you can help customers and clients maximize their savings. Here are some additional features you can offer.

 Occupancy/vacancy sensors can eliminate wasted energy by turning off lights in unoccupied spaces. Lutron EcoSystem® ballasts communicate through the EcoSystem digital link and are the only ballasts that can connect directly to wired occupancy/vacancy sensors. Other ballasts and drivers can also utilize wireless or wired occupancy/vacancy sensors with a QS sensor module.

Click meOptimize ballast efficiency with lower standby power with the EcoSystem H-Series that uses less than 1 W of power when the light source is off. You can also take advantage of luminous efficacy.  When you add more lamps per ballast, the required startup power is diffused over multiple lamps, conserving energy.

Know your space. You can achieve the greatest energy savings by determining the right number of lumens that are required for a specific space. That means you don’t over-light and area and waste energy. The ballast factor is the percentage of light output for a given lamp-ballast combination. By reducing the ballast factor, it is possible to achieve greater energy savings, meet lumen/foot2 specifications and even qualify for the ighest levels of LEED. Custom ballast factors are available for: EcoSystem H-Series, Hi-lume® 3D, EcoSystem and EcoSystem compact.

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So how do you select the right ballast? That, of course, depends on your specific need. Click to view the ballast select tool to find your perfect ballast!

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Topics: Commercial Lighting Systems, Energy Saving Lighting, Commercial Lighting Control, Ballast Selection

How to be a Super Hero Property Manager - Save Money With Energy

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Feb 21, 2012 9:41:00 AM

how to be a superhero property manager save money with energyIf you’re a property manager, you may not think of yourself as super hero material. It’s probably been a while since your clients—or their tenants—have referred to you that way. In their minds you may be “just the guy they call when things are broken.”

Maybe you’ll never achieve super hero status, but there are some things you can do that will boost the respect your get—and that can lead to more referral business.

Whether you specialize in commercial or residential property management, part of your responsibility is to maintain the property and to replace materials and systems that no longer function properly. You can suggest solutions that will save your clients money and make their tenants happier. For most landlords, there’s nothing better than contented tenants and more cash in their pockets.

Lutron has a lot of energy-saving lighting and electrical system solutions for both commercial and residential use. In many cases, their commercial lighting and shading solutions actually improve worker performance while saving energy and money. And their residential solutions provide increased comfort and safety while reducing energy consumption.

Your customers look to you to solve their property management problems. If you can exceed their expectations and provide them with solutions that make their lives better (and their tenants’ lives as well), they’ll think that’s super.

We can help you deliver the solutions that will make you look like a super hero property manager. Shoot us an email and let us know if you’re looking for ideas on commercial solutions or if you’re interested in residential solutions. We’ll be happy to help.

Maybe you’ll never get to wear that cape and mask, but when you need to ask your clients for referrals, there’s a good chance that they will give you super reviews!

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Topics: Commercial Lighting Solutions, Energy Saving Lighting, Residential Lighting Solutions

Going Green is Good for the Planet—and for Your Business: Energy Retrofitting

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Feb 14, 2012 9:17:00 AM

going green is good for the planet and for your business energy retrofittingA recent report from McGraw-Hill Construction projects that the market for nonresidential green building retrofits is poised to take off in a big way. That’s good news for designers, builders, and those who specify electrical solutions. The market for retrofit projects (including things such as the installation of energy-saving lighting, mechanical and electrical systems) is expected to grow to $10.1 billion-$15.1 billion by 2014. It’s expected that green buildings will account for 20 to 30 percent of the total U.S. retrofit and renovation market within five years.

It’s not really surprising, given that the United States currently has almost 80 billion square feet of commercial real estate that is ideal for energy efficient upgrades. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) paved the way for commercial property owners with policy mandates for federal building energy efficiency. ARRA allocated $4.5 billion to make federal buildings more energy efficient. While federal buildings constitute less than 3 percent of U.S. commercial space, the example ARRA set has motivated major companies to invest in green updates for their properties. Property managers, retrofit contractors, builders, and professionals that specify electrical solutions can’t afford to ignore such a significant part of the market.

Lutron has multiple energy-saving retrofit solutions that you can offer to your clients—whether you’re the company that specifies solution, designs the retrofit, or installs the solutions.

Lutron’s new Stairwell Retrofit Solution is a prime example. It utilizes a lighting fixture coupled with a Lutron digital dimming ballast that’s pre-programmed to occupied and unoccupied light levels specific to a project’s code requirements. The solution is designed to separate fixture and sensor components—providing the flexibility to determine occupancy sensor quantities, mounting configuration and placement requirements based on the stairwell design.

The result? Through high-end trim and occupancy sensing, the Stairwell Retrofit Solution enables buildings to use more than 80% less energy for lighting. That’s just one of many solutions you can make available to your clients. Shoot us an email for more information about how going green can be good for your business.

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Topics: Commercial Lighting Systems, Energy Saving Lighting, Residential Lighting Control

Commercial Lighting Solutions That Offer Maximum Control

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Jan 24, 2012 12:54:00 PM

commercial lighting control solutions that offer maximum controlIt’s no secret that businesses are looking to maximize resources at every turn. That means they’ll be looking to you for suggestions on how to use lighting solutions to improve comfort, increase productivity, and save energy.

Interestingly, there are studies that show when employees are given personal light control they often prefer to dim the lights. What’s great about that is that it increases energy savings, and enhances productivity. That’s why Lutron manual controls (including wall stations and personal remotes) are a great solution: the allow building occupants to control their lights.

Sometimes, however, there are things that a business or commercial property needs to automate. Lutron has businesses covered there as well, with a wide range of automated controls that include occupancy/vacancy sensors that can automatically turn lights on when a space becomes occupied or vacancy sensors can dim or turn off lights when spaces are unoccupied. Reliable automated time clocks come with a highly desirable scheduling feature that adjusts lights or shades at certain times of the day or in relation to sunrise and sunset.

You can also help your control how daylight affects rooms by offering daylight sensors that automatically adjust lighting levels based on the amount of daylight in a specific room.  You can give them control with automated shades to control heat gain and glare. And Lutron daylight sensors will enhance their energy savings by automatically adjusting the amount of light based on how much daylight is present.

With Single Room solutions from Lutron, you can help your commercial clients take control of their lighting needs—and their energy use.

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Topics: Commercial Lighting Systems, Energy Saving Lighting, Commercial Lighting Control

Make Your Lighting Solutions Personal

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Jan 17, 2012 7:17:00 AM

make your lighting solutions personalAn increasing number of homeowners are looking for lighting solutions that will help make their homes more uniquely theirs. At times they may be looking for a solution for the entire home. But sometimes they just want a solution for a single room in the house. You can offer them solutions that fit those special rooms.                     

One of the challenges homeowners face (and you do, too, as a contractor, distributor, or designer offering suggestions) is that many rooms serve multiple purposes. That means the lighting solution needs to be adaptable—allowing homeowners to personalize the light in any room and adjust them effortlessly to accommodate a variety of tasks. In the kitchen, for instance, your customers can adjust overhead, under cabinet, and sink lights with the touch of a button for food preparation, dining or clean up.

Dimming lights can help homeowners create different moods in different rooms. In the bedroom, for instance, homeowners can turn on a reading light and close the drapes from their bedside.

 They can also transform a room by setting the perfect atmosphere for entertaining—such as transforming a family room into a home theater experience. Or—on a more personal level—they can turn their bathroom into a soothing spa retreat. And with Lutron’s variety of stylish colors and finishes, you can help customers match their décor.

You can help your customers “think outside the box” a little bit with the placement of their controls. Who said controlling lights had to be limited to a spot on the wall? Show them how they can adjust their lights or ceiling fan from their bedside, or turn house lights on or off from their car. You can even suggest they use an occupancy sensor to turn lights off automatically.

Your customers are looking for ideas to make their home more personal. With Lutron, you’ve got solutions for them!

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Topics: Energy Saving Lighting, Residential Lighting Control, Smart Home Lighting Control

Why Should You Care About Residential Lighting Control in Los Angeles?

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Nov 15, 2011 6:39:00 AM

residential lighting control in los angelesIt used to be that lighting was one of the last things a homeowner thought about when building or remodeling a home. But today’s consumers are more aware than ever of the impact that lighting has on their homes. Whether you’re a distributor, a contractor, or designer that specifies what lighting goes into a new build or remodel—you want to be able to deliver what your customers want.

Customers care about saving. Homeowners today are concerned about saving money. Lighting can account for as much as 20 percent of a household’s yearly electricity usage. No wonder homeowners are more and more concerned about what kind of lighting is going into their homes.

Customers are serious about saving energy. The whole “green building” and “green remodeling” movement has picked up a lot of momentum. Not only are homeowners interested in the financial savings that come from using less energy but they’re also interested in reducing their impact on the environment. Lighting control that reduces energy use is a big deal to an increasing number of homeowners.

Customers care about comfort. Energy savings and financial savings aren’t the only things homeowners want from their lighting systems. Lighting plays an increasingly larger role in helping to create just the right mood and ambiance for every room in a house. Homeowners want to be able to customize their lighting—for individual rooms and for specific activities. That means they want to be able to adjust their lights for things as different as reading a book, watching a movie, making dinner, or helping kids with homework.

Why should you care? If you’re able to provide customers with what they want, you’ll be the “go-to-source” for all their lighting needs. The good news is that light controls—such as dimmers, occupancy sensors, and daylight sensors that can have a big impact on a home’s electric bill and ability to create the right mood—are simple to install and easy to retrofit into any space.

What controls are your customers asking for?

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Topics: Lighting Control, Energy Saving Lighting, Smart Home Lighting Control

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This blog provides the latest news and information about Western Lighting & Energy Controls, its product lines, and other information to the lighitng industry.

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