What is Light Control?

Quality lighting is an important aspect of our daily life, and is often taken for granted. Light control is the ability to regulate the level and quality of light in a given space for specific tasks or situations. Controlling light properly not only enhances the experience, it helps to save energy by using light when and where it is needed most.

The Benefits of Dimming In the average home, most light controls are a simple on/off switch, rather than a dimmer. This means that whether it's the middle of the day or it's nighttime, your fixtures are putting out the exact same amount of light. In fact, light switches are one of the few appliances that only have two settings – on and off. Through dimming, users can control the quantity of light their fixtures provide to fit specific tasks, moods, or situations. This not only improves the experience, but also saves wasted energy in the process. Daylight Harvesting   In addition to managing electric light, regulating the amount of daylight that enters a space is an important aspect of light control. By using shades in conjunction with dimmers, Lutron systems can create the perfect balance between the two sources of light to save energy and create an inviting environment. Dimming modifies the quantity of electric lights, which in turn are complimented by the proper shade fabric and control that filters daylight. Together they save energy while providing the right amount of light for specific tasks or situations. Total Light Control True light control reaches further than shading and dimmers. Lutron light management systems and equipment can make lighting a vibrant and vital part of any space. Daylight sensors, for example, can automatically adjust shades and overhead lights to maintain the perfect look throughout the day, while occupancy sensors can ensure that lights are never left on when a room is not in use.

The Best Benefits of Under Cabinet Lighting

 

Compared to other lighting fixtures throughout your home, installing under cabinet lighting may seem like an unnecessary enhancement. However, there's no denying that under cabinet lighting offers homeowners plenty of advantages.

More illumination

The best benefit associated with under cabinet lighting is its most obvious: more light!

Kitchens are among the most important areas of the home for illumination. From cooking to cleaning, under cabinet lighting will get rid of any pesky shadows and make it that much easier to complete your tasks.

Unique design

Under cabinet lighting isn't just practical, however. It also provides kitchens with a unique look and feel. If you're wondering how to incorporate lighting design into your décor, consider your options when it comes to under cabinet lighting.

Increased value

Upgrades like under cabinet lighting add value to your home, creating another point you can highlight if you ever decide to sell. This is especially true over other types of lighting upgrades, as kitchens and bathrooms are typically the two areas of a home that provide the largest return on investment.

Benefits of ENERGY STAR® qualified LED and CFL lamps

Benefits of ENERGY STAR® qualified LED and CFL lamps

There are many, many benefits to switching to Energy Star® qualified CFL or LED lamps. They are good for the environment, using less resources because they are so efficient, and last far longer than older technologies. And it’s not just our environment that benefits; due to their efficiency, they are far and away less costly to operate, saving everyone money on every energy bill we receive. 

About Energy Star® Energy Star is a voluntary government-backed program sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE). Energy Star protects the environment by helping us to identify and promote energy-efficient products which reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It is the national symbol of energy efficiency.

Energy Star® lamps

• Reduce energy consumption, saving you money. By switching from a 60W incandescent bulb to a 13W CFL, you will save about $62 over the lifetime of the CFL! Replace the incandescent bulb with an LED and you’ll save $143 over the life of the LED bulb!* 

• Last longer. A CFL lamp lasts almost 10 times longer than an incandescent bulb, while an LED lamp lasts almost 20 times as long. You save trips to the store which saves time and money. 

• Lessen the impact on the environment. Using Energy Star qualified lamps use less energy thus reducing greenhouse gasses and impact on the earth.

• They can be recycled. CFL and LED lamps are recyclable which keeps materials out of landfills. 

• Produce less heat. CFL and LED technology uses energy more efficiently, so less heat is emitted. Less heat production means lower cooling bills. 

• Save time. Replace lamps less frequently and make less trips to the store.

 
* Savings based on $0.12 per kWh for 3 hours per day with a 12,000 hour CFL and a 25,000 hour LED. Actual savings will vary depending on current electric rates and actual hours of use

Choosing the right LED or CFL Where to use an Energy Star® LED or CFL 

• High use areas kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms and outdoor fixtures. 

• Use in hard to reach fixtures so you don’t have to replace them so frequently. 

• Where you need more light without exceeding the maximum rated wattage of the fixture.

How to Install a Leviton Light Switch

Single pole light switches are the most common switches found in homes. A single pole switch controls a light or lights from one location. Single pole switches have two screw terminals, and some single pole switches also come with a green screw for the ground wire. Leviton offers Decora style and traditional toggle style single pole switches.

Tools Needed

Steps

Warning: To avoid fire, shock, or death, turn off power at the circuit breaker or fuse and test that the power is off, using a voltage tester, before wiring!

1) Remove the wall plate using a flat head screwdriver, then remove the old light switch from the wall box.

2) There should be three wires coming out of the wall box. Using your pliers, make a "shephard's hook" at the end of each wire.

3) Take the bare copper or green wire (ground wire) and connect it to the green screw (ground screw) on the side of the switch. Make sure the hook goes on clockwise. This will help tighten the wire in the next step. 

4) Using your phillips screwdriver, tighten the ground screw onto the wire.

5) Now you can connect the two remaining wires to the two remaining screws on your light switch (either wire to either screw). Again, ensure the hooks are connected clockwise and tighten the screws with your screwdriver.

6) Before placing the switch back into the wall box, take a peice of electrical tape and tape over the terminal screws. This will prevent any unwanted contact between the screws and the side of the wall box.

7) Using your phillips screwdriver, mount the light switch back onto the wall box using the screws provided. If you are installing a toggle switch, make sure the ON/OFF writing is the right way up(to save confusion later!).

8) Fasten the wall plate on top of the switch with your flat head screwdriver. Tip: leave the slots in the wall plate screws vertical to prevent dust collecting in the screws.

9) Now you're ready to turn the power back on at the circuit breaker and test your work!

Lumark's SF Falcon Floodlight

SF Falcon

The Lumark® SF Falcon is a stylish and rugged floodlight that combines value and performance with a soft, architecturally appealing form. This soft rounded corner, die-cast aluminum construction is excellent for applications that have high visibility and where a uniform beam distribution is desired. The SF Falcon floodlight can be wall, ground, or pole mounted, making it ideal for all commercial, industrial, and residential low wattage floodlighting applications.

Features:

• Stylish, rugged, compact floodlight for commercial or residential use
• Dark bronze weather and abrasion-resistant, die-cast aluminum housing
• Stainless steel latch provides easy access for relamping
• Full-circumference silicone gasket seals out external contaminants
• Formed-aluminum, hammered reflector for optimized beam efficiency
• Knuckle or trunnion-mount ideal for ground or wall mounting
• Rugged knuckle mount fits 1/2" NPS outlet box
• Metal halide, high pressure sodium and compact fluorescent

Decorative Juno Pendant Lights

Juno Decorative Pendant Kits include everything you need for simple professional installation and offer a choice of energy-efficient LEDs or economical halogen. Kit contents include mounting canopy with transformer, coaxial LED or halogen cordset with lamp, and exquisite glass or metal shade with a satin-nickel plated finial. The unique canopy design permits pendant height adjustment without cutting the cord … extra cord simply coils up into the canopy.

Juno Decorative LED Pendant Kits

Juno LED pendants produce brilliant white, dimmable light equivalent to 20-watt halogen but consume just a quarter of the energy. And with a 50,000-hour rated service life, they last up to 20-times longer. Eco-friendly LEDs offer warm, elegant, 2700K illumination and contain no toxic mercury, lead, or PCBs.

Juno Decorative Halogen Pendant Kits

Halogen pendants offer warm, natural illumination and consume less energy and last longer than other incandescent light sources. The 50-watt, T4 halogen bi-pin lamp illuminates the elegant pendant shade and offers bright, dimmable lighting for tables, countertops, and other work surfaces. 

Save Energy with Lumark Crosstour LED Wall Pack Series

GREAT OPPORTUNITY to Enjoy 85% Energy Savings with Crosstour Outdoor Wall Mount Lighting

Superior optical control with uniform energy-conscious illumination

Lumark Crosstour™ LED Wall Pack Series of luminaries provides an architectural style with super bright, energy efficient LEDs. The low-profile, rugged die-cast aluminum construction, universal back box, stainless steel hardware along with a sealed and gasketed optical compartment make the Crosstour impervious to contaminants.