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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

10 Reasons Your California Customers Will Want Lighting Control

Posted by Matt Sedlock

Nov 22, 2011 6:08:00 AM

10 reasons your california customers will want lighting controlFor a lot of consumers, lighting 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!

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: Lighting Control, Dimmer Switches, LEED

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.

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