Lighting costs account for around 15% of the average US homeowner’s monthly electric bill. Now if every home in the US exchanged two standard light switches with two dimmers , the expected annual national savings in electricity could be $1.2 billion, and close to 25 billion pounds of CO2? That’s the equivalent of taking more than one million cars off the road.
There are lots of products that help reduce the electricity bill, ranging from dimmers, to sensors, to automated shades and thermostats. Lutron Electronics makes it easy for homeowners to save energy throughout their homes, whether you want to update one room or an entire home.
Dimmers:
Installing dimmers is one of the easiest green home improvements you can make and it enhances ambiance and creates a mood for romance. The average homeowner can install one in 15 minutes or less. Every time you dim the lights you save energy. Dimming incandescent and halogen bulbs by 25%, for example, saves about 20% energy—and bulbs last longer, too. Dim more and you’ll save even more.
Lutron dimmers work with all types of light sources, from incandescents and halogens, to dimmable compact fluorescents (CFLs) and dimmable LEDs. In addition, Lutron has dimmers that automatically save 15% energy over a standard switch.
Occupancy/vacancy sensors:
An occupancy/vacancy sensor turns lights on automatically when you walk into a room and turns them off when you leave a room, saving up to 10% lighting energy. A sensor is ideal for rooms where lights are often inadvertently left on, such as a child’s room, garage or laundry room. Lutron has a full line of sensors, including wireless versions which are easy to install and have a 10-year battery life.
Energy-efficient Ivalo light fixtures:
CFLs and LEDs already use less energy than standard bulbs, so dimming these highly efficient bulbs saves additional energy. Fixtures in the Lutron Ivalo Collection control high efficiency lighting, including fluorescents and LEDs.
Automated shades:
Automated shades help lower cooling costs in the summer by blocking the heat that accompanies direct sunlight. Shades can also help reduce heating costs in winter by welcoming that same warmth during the day and providing additional insulation at night. In fact, adjusting your shades based on the season can save you 10–30% on heating and cooling costs. In addition, shades can provide privacy, increase security, and eliminate glare to enhance your visual environment—all while protecting furnishings, fine art, rugs and wood surfaces from harmful UV rays.
Small appliance control:
This new module allows for switching control of small appliances and other non-lighting loads. It receives commands from sensors or keypads to turn off standby power when the small appliance is not in use. Many electronics, such as A/V equipment, computers, and TVs, continue to draw electricity even when they are turned off. This standby power can amount to up to 10% of a home’s electricity use.
Temperature control:
With seeTemp, you can conveniently set the temperature back and save energy simply by pushing the “eco” button. Temperature control helps you save on heating and cooling costs. Simply setting back the temperature when a room is unoccupied can help you save significantly—up to 16% or more.
Ideal for retrofit applications, seeTemp can be mounted in locations that would not normally be appropriate for a thermostat, like exterior walls and sunny spaces. An accompanying wireless, remote, temperature sensor allows the temperature to be measured in the optimum location.
So, what do you think ?