By Sharon Eisworth, CentraLite Systems, Inc.
The lighting control industry has blossomed over the past few years. With both residential and commercial demands driving this growth, it will only get better. No longer will you merely be selling your customers lighting control, you’ll be selling them convenience, security and energy conservation. There are now lighting control products that offer all of this! Companies like CentraLite Systems, Inc. offer both lighting control systems as well as all-in-one home automation systems.
We live in the age of convenience. Everyone attempts to squeeze as much into a day as possible, we not only want, but demand time-saving products. Lighting Control systems meet this demand by providing a ‘time-saving’ convenience.
Who hasn’t turned-in for the night only to realize they forgot to turn off the kitchen lights or to check their kids’ bathroom? With lighting control, simply push the “Goodnight” button from the convenience of your bed and the lights go off. Whether you’re entertaining or simply having a movie night, who wants to spend their valuable time running around dimming lights for that “just-right” mood? Lighting control systems allow you to preset your scenes and never think about them again. Now with the touch of a button, your scene is set.
Years ago, if someone had said we’d all be carrying cell phones everywhere we went, I would have told you “you’re nuts”! Well, as you can see, I would have been wrong. Cell phones not only provide convenience, they offer added security. Lighting control systems afford added security and peace of mind. Imagine never having to enter a dark home again. Simply press a button on a keychain remote and before you ever enter your home, lights come on as the security system disarms. And when things go bump in the night, hit the “Alert” button and the lighting control system instantly turns on all the lights. Lighting control systems can provide this type of security and convenience.
With the rising cost of fuel, we’re all painfully aware of the need to conserve energy. Lighting control systems can help fulfill this need. They allow home owners to dim every light in the house to not only save energy, but save on bulb life as well. A light dimmed by 10 percent is scarcely noticeable to the user, but will save a hefty 10 percent of their bulb energy consumption. Add that saving to all the lights in the house and wow, you’re saving every time you use your lights.
Using the lighting control system’s astronomical clock to turn lights on or off at either sunrise or sunset is another way to save energy. No more unnecessary lights left on at night or while you’re away. Just press the “All Off” button at bedtime or when you leave the house to insure all lights are off and to conserve energy.
Convenience, security and energy conservation are key benefits to lighting control. As consumers become more aware of these benefits, the lighting control industry will enthusiastically meet their demands. When choosing lighting control systems, there are three main technologies from which to choose: Hardwired, Power Line and Radio Frequency.
Hardwired systems are the most reliable and are an excellent choice for new construction. Low voltage cables are run during construction and provide the fastest, most accurate communications.
Power Line Carrier (PLC) systems work well in existing homes because they utilize pre-existing wiring to send information. These are not as reliable as hardwired because other electronic items in the home can cause interference.
Radio Frequency (RF) systems also work well in existing homes and make a great retrofit. There is also reliability issues due to interference from other wireless devices used in the home.
Whether you choose Hardwired, PLC or RF, you’ll enjoy all the benefits a lighting control system can provide.
