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

Why Should You Care About Residential Lighting Control?

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Nov 8, 2012 9:42:00 AM

lutron lighting control resized 600

Residential Lighting Control

It 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 today 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.

Saving Energy

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?

Click me

Read More

Topics: Residential Lighting Control, Lighting Control Systems, Residential

Lighting Systems: They’re Not Just for Seeing When It’s Dark

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Apr 17, 2012 7:19:00 AM

residential home lighting dimmerOnce upon a time if you walked into a dark room, you turned on a light so that you could see where you were going. If you wanted to read a book, maybe you turned on another light. Of course, if someone else wanted to watch TV in that same room, you probably had to go elsewhere so your reading light wouldn’t glare off the TV screen.

These days, lights aren’t just about driving out the darkness. Today’s lighting systems are part of a home’s overall design. They are as much about creating a home’s atmosphere as they are about enabling homeowners to see.

Today’s lighting systems—whether for individual rooms or for the whole home—are all about comfort, convenience, and energy efficiency. If you have customers that are building a new home, or remodeling an existing home, you can help them design a lighting system to meet their specific needs.

As their needs change throughout the day, their lighting should adapt as well; bright to read a book, dim for computer use or television viewing. You can make your customers aware of Lutron solutions that provide convenient access to light control, and create a comfortable atmosphere throughout the day.

What’s really great about Lutron solutions is that there is such a wide variety of color and style options that you’ll be able to suggest a solution that will fit with any décor. Your customers will never have to sacrifice design or style for functionality.

What your customers will really love is that this comfort, convenience, and style can actually save energy throughout their home.  Dimmers, occupancy sensors, whole home light control systems can help save energy—and money. And Lutron window solutions that manage daylight and help control heating and cooling costs.

Illuminate your customers about the impact that lighting systems have on their whole home. They’ll see their homebuilding or remodeling project in a whole new light!

Read More

Topics: Residential Lighting Control, Residential Lighting Solutions, lighting systems

5 Lighting Trends for 2012

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Mar 20, 2012 7:04:00 AM

lighting trends for 20125 Lighting Trends for 2012

Advances in lighting technologies (especially LEDs) have opened up the door to all kinds of interior lighting possibilities. The fact that LEDs are energy efficient and save money only adds to their appeal. One of the coolest things about LEDs is how widely they can be used—from very casual to very ornate applications. Here are a few of the trends we’re seeing lately.


  1. Contemporary lighting fixtures in neutral colors and pastels are being used to add soft, stylish accents to interiors.
  2. Nature inspired themes and ethnic motifs coupled with contemporary lighting fixtures, that incorporate Asian and African patterns and forms are stylish and interesting.
  3. Chic, elegant, contemporary lighting fixtures with shades made from silk, exotic leather, wool, or eco-friendly (recycled) felt are increasingly popular.
  4. Modern crystal abstract patterns complimented by silver and gold details add stylish accents are being used to create a personal, comfortable and cozy feel.
  5. Baroque style wall lights and table lamps have been updated to bring bright and lightweight designs into today’s homes.

 

As you can see, there’s not a single, unified trend or direction in today’s lighting options—other than making your home your own unique expression of your personality.

 

The unifying factor is homeowners’ desire to control their lighting conveniently, safely, and economically. Regardless of the specific lighting style that homeowners may choose, they want to be able to control their home lighting with the touch of a button. And they want more control than the ability to simply turn lights off and on as they pass by. They want dimming capabilities for individual rooms and hallways. And in many cases they want the ability to turn lights off and on remotely—even from the comfort of their bedroom.

 Click me

Whether your residential customers are looking for single room solutions, whole home solutions or shading solutions, Lutron has what they need—and we can help you find it and put it together for them.

Read More

Topics: lighting solutions, LED, Residential Lighting Control, Lighting Trends, Smart Home Lighting Control

Your Customers Are Looking for You: Are They Finding You?

Posted by Jimm Reifsnyder

Feb 28, 2012 9:48:00 AM

searching for lighting solutionsIt doesn’t really matter what your business is. You may be a builder or contractor. You might be a designer. You could be someone who specifies what systems get installed in new residential builds or commercial builds. Or maybe you’re a property manager that takes care of commercial or residential properties. Whatever you do, you’re always looking for new customers.

Things have changed over the past few years, however. Your potential customers are no longer waiting for you to come to them. They’re out there looking for you! And where are they looking for you? Fewer and fewer are turning to the yellow pages. They’re not watching TV or listening to the radio in hopes that your ad will pop up. So where are they looking?

You guessed it; they’re looking for you online. As a matter of fact, according to a 2010 tracking study done by BIA/Kelsey, 97 percent of consumers go to the Internet first to do their research before they buy. After they’ve done their research online, they buy locally. That’s a trend that’s only going to increase. Your customers are looking for you online. Are they finding you there?

Some people in business—especially businesses like the ones we’re all in—may argue that they don’t really do business online. They do their business face-to-face. That may be true, but if your potential customers can’t find you online, you’ll never get that face-to-face meeting.

Does that mean you have to suddenly become a website marketing and Internet guru in order to get the kind of business exposure you need? Fortunately, there are people and programs set up to help businesses like yours. You can have them work to make sure your customers are finding you online—and you can focus on running your business. One service we highly recommend is Netsertive Online Ad Program. They help businesses like yours get found online—and that leads to offline sales. We invite you to download a free brochure that explains how the Netsertive program works—and why it’s important for your business.

Why are we recommending this? What’s in it for us? The way we look at it, the better you do in your business, the better we do in ours. It’s that simple. If we can help you increase your sales, we benefit, too. So we invite you to check out Netservice to see if they can bring more business to you door.

Click me
Read More

Topics: Commercial Lighting Solutions, Residential Lighting Control, 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.

Read More

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

Click me

Read More

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

With Maestro Wireless, Everyone Wins!

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Jan 10, 2012 7:42:00 AM

maestro wireless chance to winIntroducing the Western Energy Control Solutions Product Knowledge Sweepstakes! Whenever you recommend Maestro Wireless system lighting controls to your customers, they win big time. That’s because Maestro Wireless technology offers impressive lighting control functionality and convenience for virtually any application—residential or commercial.

And now, whether you’re a lighting solutions distributor, a designer, or a contractor, you can win big too! Think you know your Lutron products? Here’s your chance to prove it. Every quarter, Western Energy Control Solutions will give you a chance to demonstrate your knowledge of Lutron products and solutions—and win great prizes. Just answer a few quick questions on our online form and we’ll let you know if you’ve won!

Feeling a little “iffy” about your product knowledge? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We’ll connect you to the appropriate product page so you can check out the information yourself. It’s your own online cheat-sheet!

This quarter’s prize is a RR-Multi Foundation kit valued at $4,299! With this kit, you’ll have everything you need to get your home (or your client’s home) up and running with RadioRA2. That means having the ability to control lights from your iPad, iPhone, or Android phone—wherever you are.

So brush up on your Lutron product knowledge and enter today to win!

Click me

Read More

Topics: Residential Lighting Control, Commercial Lighting Control, Maestro Wireless

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