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Why Lighting Control?
Impact is undeniable
"Lighting is extremely important and easy to take for granted because it's always just there," stated Chris Casson Madden, interior decorating guru, in a recent article for HGTV. "It wasn't until college and I began studying photography did I gain the necessary respect for lighting and realize how it affects not only the look of a person or room, but how it can be used for full dramatic effect to create ambience, mood and mystery."
Two types of control
Since lighting is so important, controlling the light in your home should also be important. Lighting control takes many forms but most fall into two categories—local and whole house control. A light switch is a type of local lighting control. An occupancy sensor detecting motion in a room is another example. Additionally, most of us are also familiar with dusk or daylight sensors and lighting timers.
Whole house approach
The whole house approach is when lighting for the entire home is managed by a central system. This type of system was once a luxury only the wealthiest homeowners could afford. However, this kind of system is affordable for the average homeowner. Lighting programs can be designed to manage lighting for different times of the day, special events or occasional occurrences. Often, other devices, such as security systems, cameras, motorized blinds control, are connected to the centralized system.
Like the pros
Museums, theaters, and restaurants have traditionally used lighting to influence the behavior of their patrons. Spotlights grab your attention. Dimmed lighting relaxes. Bright lights energize. Now you can use lighting programs in the same way professionals do but at a fraction of the cost. Create lighting scenes for every day, special or seasonal events. Showcase your home's architectural features or family treasures. Give your home an extra punch of curb appeal by highlighting its exterior or landscaping. You can set the perfect mood for any day of the year.
Big savings
Not only can the benefits of a great lighting system be seen but the effects can be felt in the wallet as well. According to the American Lighting Association, household lighting accounts for 12-15% of our household utility bill. The Energy Conservation Enhancement Project at LSU (Louisiana State University) further estimates that 20% of all electricity produced in the United States is used for lighting. Unfortunately, 50% of this energy is wasted by inefficient lighting sources or careless consumers. With the steady rise in energy costs, most homeowners would agree that it's fiscally savvy and environmentally responsible to control usage.
Heating and cooling systems are typically the biggest household energy consumers. Systems can be configured to include thermostat and window blinds controls, ensuring optimum temperature settings throughout home, day or night, anytime of the year.
Further savings can also be realized by controlling the amount of wattage used by light bulbs. By installing dimming devices throughout your home, not only do you conserve electricity and save energy costs, but you extend the life of light bulbs too. This can be especially important when considering the inaccessibility of many lighting fixtures in both interior and exterior areas. Consider these statistics from the LSU study:
Benefits
Perhaps the greatest lifestyle benefits of a lighting control and home automation system are the safety and security features. You, your spouse and children will feel confident returning to a lighted home even on the darkest night. Keyless remote features can be programmed to turn on one or all of the house lights, open the garage door, and even deactivate the security system at your arrival. If you get up in the middle of the night, press a pathway button to light your way through the house. A preprogrammed vacation scene can even turn lights on and off randomly while you are away, discouraging intruders or vandals
Many demographers and futurists say this with regards to important home trends. The home will play an increasingly important role in family life, serving as the focus for entertainment, a haven from the stresses of modern life and, and is the single largest financial investment for most of us. People are looking for features that add convenience, comfort and style to their homes. We've got the products that can make these wishes a reality while enhancing the value of your biggest asset. Do you understand lighting control and home automation now?
