By Bob Gatton
In this era of energy awareness, experts remind us that a great way to cut down the cost of lighting our homes is to install dimmers. Yet the average home in the United States has 32 light switches—and only 1.2 dimmers*, usually in the dining room. That leaves a market for dimmers of at least 28 per home (we'll assume few people want dimmers in the garage)—room for a 1400% increase in this inexpensive but thoughtful upgrade to the homes you build.
Selling whole house lighting control can be challenging, though. Most customers have never spent any time in a house with this type of system, but it is one of those products that after you have lived with it, you never want to live without it.
When I am doing a media room for a client, I usually install a single remote-controllable dimmer in the room, even if I was unable to sell the customer on the benefits controlling all of the lights in the home. I integrate the dimmer with a universal remote control so that, for example, when they select "Play DVD," the light in the room slowly dims as the movie starts. Sure enough, more often than not, I'll get a call from the client requesting installation of a more elaborate system of lighting controls within a few months.
No dim bulbs
There are several benefits to incorporating lighting control into a home automation system. The first is the inherent value of being able to control the quality of lighting. Dimming lights allows one to control the mood in a room more closely. The lighting can be a "full blast" if someone is working on crafts, or it can be lowered if people are watching a movie.
Dimming lights also cuts energy usage and prolongs the life of the light bulbs. According to Lutron Electronics Co., an incandescent bulb dimmed by just 25 percent uses 20 percent less electricity and quadruples the life of the bulb. A bulb dimmed 50 percent uses 40 percent less electricity—and the bulb lasts 20 times longer*. Automatically closing drapes or lowering shades during summer days can reduce air-conditioning costs significantly.
Lighting-control systems also can add to the security of the house. Lights can be programmed to turn on and off automatically when you are away from home, mimicking your activity patterns when you are home and making it appear that you actually are there. A home that looks occupied is the number one deterrent to burglars. You also can turn on the lights in your house from the car or even the office, ensuring a safe and welcoming arrival home.
Many lighting control systems can be connected to security systems. One option, for example, if an intruder is detected, is to have every interior and exterior light flash. Not many thieves would want to stay in a house full of flashing lights—especially since they make it so easy for the police to spot the house quickly.
Installation and programming are different for each company's products, but they are usually not difficult. Most home theater installers and many electricians are experienced in designing and installing at least one company's product.
If you want to upgrade your customers to whole-house lighting control, try adding a few good-quality dimmer switches, such as the Lutron Maestro IR (about $60), in some unexpected places first—the powder room, the kitchen, and the master bedroom, perhaps. Provide printed information about the energy savings and security features as well as the "Wow!" factor that a well-lit room adds to a house—something you can illustrate with professional photographs of the same room taken at different levels of well-designed lighting to achieve certain effects. With any luck, the client will understand that this is a relatively small investment that has a big payback in energy savings and enjoyment.
* Statistics in this article courtesy of Lutron Electronics Company
Resources:
CentraLite
Leviton.com
Lutron Electronics Co.
Vantage Controls
Bob Gatton is a Knoxville, Tenn.-based home-theater and -electronics consultant and writer.
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