customerservice@westernecs.com   |   (858) 564-0233

New Clean Energy Bill Presents Big Opportunity for Lighting Control Industry in California

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Oct 28, 2015 11:20:22 AM

ING_18980_00525-1

On October 7th, Governor Jerry Brown signed into law the Clean Energy and Pollution Reduction Act of 2015 (SB 350). This new bill provides ample opportunity for those in the lighting control arena as it has committed the state of California to use renewable energy for half its electricity and make existing buildings twice as energy efficient in just 15 years.

SB 350 will allow Californians to continue to save money through rebates and subsidies as they purchase electric vehicles, replace inefficient light bulbs and appliances, and install solar panels or double-paned windows. Perhaps the biggest change those in the lighting control industry will notice will come with the new update to Title 24 in 2016. Title 24, which dictates the minimum standards of new and retrofitted buildings, is updated every 3 years to reflect the capability of new green technologies.

The Clean Energy and Pollution Act has presented a huge opportunity for the lighting control industry. Making buildings twice as energy-efficient means investing in light control. Not only does light control increase comfort and productivity, it saves energy. Here are just a some of the many options that can provide energy-saving benefits for commercial applications:

 

Xeleum-Stairwell-Isolacted-Side1_NewXeleum Athena Series LED Stairwell Fixtures: 

The Athena Series LED Stairwell is specifically designed for use in stairwells where the space is often unoccupied for long periods of time. It reduces energy usage by up to 80% by automatically providing fully ON light levels only when the space is occupied and returns to power saving dim levels with the space is unoccupied. These fixtures function equally well in hallways, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or any area that is frequently unoccupied.

 

Lutron Whole Building Centralized Control Solutions:

Lutron whole building solutions like Quantum and GRAFIK 7000 allow facility managers to conveniently manage both electric light and daylight right from their desktop. Control, configure, monitor, and report on the lighting for any space in your building for maximum energy efficiency, comfort, and productivity.

 

DaylightSensorShades_WhatsNew

Daylight Autonomy from Lutron:

Shading solutions coupled with window sensors regulate daylight to optimize comfort and lower energy costs by harvesting daylight and reducing the load on HVAC systems. Window sensors automatically adjust shades in a space throughout the day based on the sun's position to prevent glare and enhance views.

 

Screen_Shot_2015-10-14_at_2.53.19_PM

Cree ZR Series:

The Cree ZR Series LED troffer delivers superios quality in an ultra-slim, sleek package at an affordable price. The ZR Series troffer can reduce energy consumption by more than half, and with standard 0-10V dimming or Cree SmartCast controls, can accelerate its already rapid two-year payback. 

 

These are just a few of the product solutions we can recommend. Most of the lines on our line cards have products that are compliant with new standards. For help with your project call us at 858-564-0233. 

Title-24-Compliant-logoBLACKWestern Lighting & Energy Controls is your best resource for information on new legislation and Title 24 requirements, and all the associated product solutions. We offer live local training to educate industry professionals about the benefits of lighting control so they have the necessary tools to determine the ideal solution for any customer and any space. Download the Title 24-2013 Commercial Application Guide for a summary of code requirements for lighting controls and receptacles, or watch our video of a training session on the newest Title 24 Building Energy Efficiency Standards. 

If you'd like to see what other training classes Western offers, check out our Training Schedule, or let us know if you'd like us to alert you to Training Schedule updates for Title 24 in 2016.

 

Read More

Topics: Lighting Control, Energy Efficiency, energy savings, saving energy

CREE LED lighting and how it works in conjunction with Lutron

Posted by Natalie Young

Apr 3, 2014 11:14:00 AM

cree-lutron-working-together

This article is the 3rd in a 4 part series on Prop 39 Funding. 
The California Clean Energy Jobs Act, known as Prop 39, was adopted in December 2013. The bill allocates funding to support energy efficiency and alternative energy projects, as well as improvements and repairs to help cut down on operating costs and improve health and safety conditions in public schools.
Over five years, schools will receive about $2.5 billion through the act.

 

Given recent research proving that a comfortable classroom is instrumental to student performance, many companies are striving to keep up with demand for the latest in technology to improve the learning environment. Two such innovators are CREE, Inc. and Lutron Electronics, developers of automated LED technology for classroom lighting solutions. Recognizing that proper lighting has been tied to increased student performance, higher standardized test scores, and reduced fatigue levels, these companies have partnered to design one the most ground-breaking illumination systems in the world. Each brings their own expertise to the table, combining state of the art LED lighting and “smart” technology that sensors room activity and light levels.

  • CREE LED Technology

A description of how CREE LED lighting works is central to understanding its advantages in educational institutions. The technology works by forcing electrical current through special energy conducting material. On the other end are light emitting diodes that become illuminated as part of the process. CREE excels at this innovative illumination solution, incorporating high efficiency lighting that’s eco-friendly and mercury free. LED technology comes with a low maintenance cost and, as such, is quickly replacing the wasteful incandescent bulbs and fluorescent bulbs of the past. 

  • Lutron Solutions for System Control

With an appreciation of how CREE LED lighting works to lower energy consumption and costs, you can see the benefits of programming its operations. Lutron has developed technology that enables users to gain control over their lighting, automating certain aspects of the solution while allowing for manual functions as necessary. The system incorporates sensors that measure occupancy in a classroom or read the illumination levels of natural light filtering in through the windows. These modules communicate with a ceiling mounted control box that dims or turns off the LED lighting in a room, thereby prolonging the life of the LED devices. Additional control boxes can be implemented that give users manual control to override the automatic operations.

  • Partners in Luminary Innovation


CREE and Lutron recently partnered to coordinate efforts to introduce proper lighting in schools, resulting in improved student performance, teacher job satisfaction, and reduced energy costs. Lutron’s innovative “smart” technology is embedded into CREE’s pioneering LEDs to create the most advanced lighting solution available. Students and staff are exposed to higher quality illumination, decreased eye strain, headaches and fatigue. Studies have also shown how CREE LED lighting works to increase productivity and elevate alertness levels, especially in mid-morning and mid-afternoon when the human body's circadian rhythms cause grogginess. 

At the same time, the product of the CREE - Lutron partnership has resulted in lowered energy costs for educational institutions where the technology has been implemented. Not only are electric bills lower, but the cost of broken bulbs and other maintenance expenses are reduced.

By combining the CREE's energy efficiency and high quality illumination LEDs with the innovative automation technology developed by Lutron, the companies have come together to create a superbly advanced lighting system. The benefits of installing these solutions in the classroom are an improved educational experience that's conducive to learning.

Read More

Topics: cree, lutron, dimming, energy savings, fluorescent light alternative

Where Do SOCAL Homeowners Want Light Control? Everywhere!

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Dec 17, 2013 4:30:00 AM

Where do SOCAL homeowners want light control everywhere

Once upon a time, a “light control system” meant that a homeowner got up out of his chair, walked around the house, and turned off unnecessary lights manually. Those days are long gone. Today’s homeowner wants control over the lighting in every area of her home. And she doesn’t just want to turn lights on or off: She wants to control the ambience and have the lighting match the activity in any given room.

If you design, install or specify lighting systems, you can help your clients get the lighting—and control—they want for every situation in any room. And you may even be able to help them find solutions for situations they hadn’t thought of. And we can help. Here are just a few of the applications we can help you offer your clients:

Home Theater/Family Room

With a light and shade control system, a wall dimmer or a wireless control, your clients can turn their family room into a home theater experience. They’ll be able to dim lights to the perfect level, recreating that moment when the lights go down and the show begins in the theatre.

Home Office

If your client is planning a home office, you can help him make business hours more enjoyable, productive and efficient with built-in light and shade controls.  He’ll be able to easily dim lamps or overhead lights for any task, or to control natural light to reduce glare on the computer screen by adjusting the height of window shades at the touch of a button.

Kitchen

Help clients make the heart of their home more versatile. Show them how the use of dimmers or a total control system, can make the kitchen a space that’s ideal for cooking, dining, entertaining, or even doing homework. You can help them set the perfect light level for any activity and control daylight with automated shades. You can even give them the option of adding temperature control to maximize comfort.

Basement

Whether your clients plan to use their basement as a playroom, a storage area, an entertainment space or a combination of all of them, you can help them create the perfect light control solution. Dimmers can help set the right light level and occupancy sensors can help them save energy and money by ensuring lights are turned off automatically when the room is unoccupied.

Utility Room

Speaking of saving energy, how many times do homeowners leave the lights on in seldom used rooms like a utility room. With an occupancy or vacancy sensor you can help customers save by ensuring that lights will turn off automatically after a room has been vacated.

And More

You can offer clients solutions for children’s rooms, guest rooms, bathrooms and even special solutions for families who have elderly family members living with them.

We’ve got great Lutron solutions for each of the areas mentioned here—and more. Give me a call at 310-948-9818, or shoot me a note at jimm@westernecs.com. We’ll be happy to help you find the right lighting control solutions for any of your Southern California residential clients!

Read More

Topics: energy control, energy savings, Southern California residential lighting, whole home lighting solutions

Remote-Controlled Shading Solutions: Luxury Or Affordable Necessity For Your SoCal Home?

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

May 7, 2013 4:30:00 AM

Remote controlled shading solutions luxury or affordable necessity for your socal homeRemote-controlled shading systems have been around for a while. Many homeowners, however, tend to think of them as an expensive luxury item that’s simply out of their price range. But as remote shade technology has advanced, systems have become more affordable. And when you add in the energy savings that these systems offer, it may be time to take another look.

Lutron® offers a remarkably affordable solution through its Serena remote-controlled shades. These “honeycomb” shades save energy by insulating windows and doubling the thermal resistance (or “R” value) of your windows by trapping heat in the air pockets. What’s also nice is that this provides an “all-season” solution:

These shades block the sun’s harsh rays in the summer (keeping air-conditioned rooms cool) and also keep warm air from escaping through the windows in the winter.

Where would a shading solution add comfort, aesthetic appeal and energy savings in your home?

  • In the nursery. By quietly and gently lowering shades with a wireless control you can set the mood for naptime. And because the shades are easy to control with a single touch, you can lower shades to block bright daylight—even while holding a sleepy baby.
  • In the bathroom. Close your shades with the touch of a button to provide the privacy you want. Then with another touch, open the shades to enjoy the view while you’re soaking. 
  • In the sunroom. Sunrooms are great for letting natural light into your home. But sometimes the intensity of the light is a bit too much for reading or even lounging. A remote controlled system allows you to close (or raise) your shades from anywhere in the room.
  • In the media room. There’s nothing more irritating that trying to watch a movie or work on the computer when there’s sunlight glaring on the screen. But you don’t want your media room to look like a dark cave all the time. A remote shade system lets you easily control the amount of light you want at any time.

 In hard-to-reach places. If you have a room with high windows—or windows that are hard to get at for any reason—you know how frustrating it is when unwanted light comes through. A remote system enables you to control lighting—even in hard-to-access places.

Another great feature of Serena shades is that they are available in more than 50 colors and five textures—giving you plenty of options from which to choose. You can find more information about Serena remote controlled shades here. Or shoot me a note with specific questions and I’ll get back to you with the answers.

Read More

Topics: southern California shading systems, energy savings, sunroom, bathroom, nursery, media room

Southern California Lighting Blog

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

Subscribe to Email Updates

Recent Posts

Posts by Topic

see all