For years lighting controls have been marketed on convenience, security and the beauty they can create. Now, the green building movement places a spotlight on the energy-saving features of lighting controls, and provides builders and architects a fresh way of selling in a down market.

Of all the products in a new home, lighting control products might be the only ones designed specifically to save energy, not consume it. A dimmer switch here and an occupancy sensor there can result in substantial household energy savings of up to 20 percent, according to the California Energy Commission.

“In the past, from a manufacturer’s perspective, we weren’t telling people to put in lighting controls because they save energy,” says Gary Meshberg, business development manager, Lightolier Controls, and chairman of the Home Lighting Control Alliance. “But with rolling brownouts in California, rising oil prices, discussions of power grids, and so much attention on movies like ‘An Inconvenient Truth,’ energy has become the lead hook.

“We’ve all done a pretty bad job of getting the word out there,” Meshberg says, referring to manufacturers. “Now, through the Home Lighting Control Alliance, we’re battling the toggle switch. Dimmers save energy, save lamp life, and make rooms feel and look good, so why wouldn’t people put dimmers in their homes?”

Some lighting control manufacturers’ new goal is to make energy savings a pillar to support their products. “At a time when energy costs are soaring, you can save a considerable amount of energy. And there’s a feel-good aspect and social responsibility that comes with saving energy,” says Peter Hoagland, director, HLCA.

How Energy is Saved

A report by the California Energy Commission estimates lighting can represent up to 25 percent of a home’s energy bill. Such a big piece of pie deserves the attention lighting control can deliver.

Lighting control products can save energy in a variety of ways. Perhaps the most simple way is using a digital dimmer switch, Meshberg says. “Lighting controls in the past were rheostat-based, so the dimmer sucked any energy not directed to a lamp. Digital dimmers, however, deliver true energy savings. If you dim a lamp 50 percent, you will save about 40 percent of energy,” Meshberg explains.

“Another way to save energy with lighting controls is using timers,” Hoagland says. They can turn lights off so they’re not left on accidentally. A third way lighting control saves energy is through the use of vacancy sensors. A vacancy sensor turns lights on when people enter a space, and off when they leave. This also eliminates lights left on unwittingly, but it’s also a nice convenience.

One of the most compelling reasons people enjoy lighting control is the “All-off” button. Hitting it once assures a homeowner that all lights are turned off and eliminates all risk of leaving lights on and wasting energy.

Selling Lighting Control

Builders and architects can add advantage to their side by including lighting control in their homes. But selling lighting control, with all its benefits, isn’t always the slam dunk it might appear to be.