10 Ways to Improve Lighting Control

Lights are a staple in every home, but that doesn’t mean your clients' switches should be like everyone else’s.

With a few simple tweaks, the fixtures can do more than simply illuminate their home. They can curb energy use, evoke ambiance, and protect the home.

Here are 10 simple ways to realize the full potential of your clients' lighting systems and how to add to the system to meet clients' needs.

Put Them on a Timer. Most families follow a routine weekday schedule: out the door at 7 a.m., back at 6 p.m. By putting their lights on a timer, they won’t have to remember to turn them off every time they leave for work or school. The timer can turn them back on so that the house is well-lit for their return.

Use an Astronomical Clock. Many people find that astronomical clocks are more effective at keeping the lights on a schedule. Astronomical timers base their on and off times on the rising and setting of the sun, so they’re able to compensate for seasonal changes.

Update with Dimmers. Experts say dimming a home's lights by just 25 percent can save 20 percent in energy use. Minimal dimming is often imperceptible to the naked eye.

Use What Nature Provides. The sun that shines through a home’s windows usually is enough to adequately illuminate a space. A sunlight sensor can tell certain lights to dim or turn off whenever there’s enough sunlight to handle the job.

Carve a Pathway. We’ve all groped our way to the kitchen or bathroom in the middle of the night. When connected to sensors and a control system, the light fixtures can illuminate a pathway to your clients' destination whenever they step out of bed or open the front door.

Integrate Security. A home’s lights and a security system work can well together, providing homes with an extra layer of protection. Say it’s after midnight when the backyard motion sensor detects someone or something in the backyard. It can signal the lights to flash in an attempt to scare away the intruder. The same thing can happen should the system detect a break in or a fire, but as a way to lead emergency crews to their house.

Put in Keypads. All those banks of light switches in their house can be replaced with one single keypad. Each button on the keypad can be assigned (and labeled) to a specific switch. They’ll no longer need to remember what switch controls which light. And one keypad looks better on the wall than a row of a half-dozen switches.

Set the Scene. Program the buttons on a keypad to dim and brighten groups of lights to specific intensity levels. These lighting scenes can be designed for special occasions (parties and holidays) common activities (movie time, dinner) or to simply enhance the appearance of the artwork and architecture of your clients' home.

Make a Statement. The keypads available with lighting control systems come in a variety of colors and styles. Choose ones that’ll complement their decorating scheme.

Install a Complete System. Lights can do all of the above, and more, when they’re connected to a lighting control system. So sell it that way. Other devices can be controlled by the system, giving the ability to turn on favorite music and dim the lights at the same time by pressing one button on a keypad.