All Articles Tagged Lighting Control Spotlight

Tom LeBlanc | 02/23 09:53 AM, 0 Comments

There are no two ways about it. Lighting control is difficult to demonstrate. Unlike audio, video and home automation where a salesperson can press a button to fill a room with sound and kick start a movie, lighting control is largely about scope. Less of a “wow!” factor and more of an “ah ha!” factor, lighting control sales require demonstrating convenience, safety and energy-savings. Without an entire house, it’s hard for dealers to demonstrate the benefits of whole-house lighting control. As such, some go to great lengths to create the… View this story

Jason Knott | 02/22 08:59 AM, 1 Comment

Lots of home technologies boost convenience. Others improve aesthetics. And others reduce energy costs. Lighting control is one of the few that can do all three. So why is lighting control's penetration rate so weak in new and existing homes? Erik Anderson, national sales manager of residential construction for Lutron Electronics, says the industry needs to improve its salesmanship. "There is a paradigm shift taking place in the industry for integrators. They need to shift their focus from new construction to existing homes," says Anderson. "The days of selling lots… View this story

Steven Castle | 02/19 07:04 AM, 0 Comments

Motorized window treatments can be green. Shades and drapes that open or close at the press of a button can save your clients energy by keeping a room cool in the summer months, warm in the winter or illuminate it with natural light. This is nothing new. The motorized window treatment crowd has been touting the energy efficiency of its products for decades. Only no one cared. Until now. How times change. Now saving energy is fashionable. And that makes motorized shades and drapes more than a high-end convenience. The… View this story

Jason Knott | 02/16 10:48 AM, 0 Comments

One of the greatest deterrents to nighttime residential crime is illumination. In a well-illuminated home, a thief cannot use darkness to conceal himself. Only 36 percent of residential burglaries occur at night, according to FBI statistics. Why? During the day, a house is much more likely to be empty. So why aren’t more security systems linked to lighting control? It’s a question Rich Matthews, residential sales director at Lutron, is asking. “For security dealers, lighting control is an enhancement to their alarm system,” he says, adding that connection is simple… View this story

Daryl Delano | 02/15 08:21 AM, 0 Comments

Brand Analysis reports are available for CEProVIP and CE Pro Plus members. EH Research offers an in-depth look at more than 40 product categories throughout the year. Here is an example of one of the many benefits of being a CE Pro Plus member. Click here to learn more about CE Pro Plus. Lutron is by far the lighting control brand used most frequently by installers, according to EH Research’s annual Brand Awareness, Use and Preference survey. Leviton, Crestron, Control4 and HAI rounded out the Top 5 most used lighting… View this story

Lisa Montgomery | 02/15 07:50 AM, 0 Comments

There are many variables that can impact the performance of a lighting control system. The amount of sunlight your clients' homes receive, the layout and size of the residence and even how the buttons on the controls all deserve careful consideration. Here are a few key things you’ll want to do (and not do) when your client is ready to invest in a lighting control system. Do plan for 3-way switches. In a hallway or staircase, for example, put a keypad at both ends - so they can turn the… View this story

Lisa Montgomery | 02/15 07:24 AM, 0 Comments

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… View this story

Steven Castle | 02/15 07:13 AM, 3 Comments

Thinking of buying energy-efficient LED fixtures to present to your client's as home lighting solutions? There are a lot of LED lights on the market today, but buyer beware. Here are some items to consider. Good, long-lasting LED lights are also available and will generally cost more. Where’s the power supply? Most LEDs require low-voltage, so they must have an AC-to-DC adapter, transformer, or power supply to operate them. These can be internal or external to the fixture. Color Temperature, or Correlated Color Temperature (CCT) refers to the appearance of… View this story