[April 20, 2012]

Lutron Offers Tips for Saving Energy at Home on Earth Day and Every Day

Did you know that lighting accounts for almost 15%* of the average homeowner's monthly electric bill? And that if every home in the US installed two dimmers in place of two standard light switches, the potential annual savings could be $1.2 billion in electricity and close to 25 billion pounds of CO2? That's the equivalent of taking more than one million cars off the road.

Lutron Maestro(R) Occupancy Sensing Switch (Photo: Lutron Electronics, Co., Inc.)

With a variety of products 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.

This Earth Day, it's time to keep that promise that you'll live a more energy-efficient lifestyle. Here are some tips from Lutron on how to start saving energy in your 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.

In fact, the new C.L dimmer (for use with dimmable CFLs, dimmable LEDs, incandescents and halogens) can save up to $30 in energy savings, per dimmer, per year for incandescent and halogen bulbs, and up to $50** in energy savings, per dimmer, per year, when the C.L dimmer is used with a dimmable CFL.

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 Collecion control high efficiency lighting, including fluorescents and LEDs. The collection includes the Aliante® 21" interior demi sconce-which has earned the Energy Star rating by the DOE/EPA.

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

The new Lutron plug-in appliance module allows for switching control of small appliances and other non-lighting loads. The module 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

Lutron puts temperature control where it makes sense in an easy to use, aesthetically pleasing design. 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.

Lutron products are available from $10 apiece at home improvement centers, lighting showrooms, electrical distributors, online and from local electrical and audio/video professionals.

About Lutron Electronics (www.lutron.com)

Lutron Electronics, headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures energy-saving lighting controls, automated window treatments and appliance modules for both residential and commercial applications. Its innovative, intuitive products can be used to control everything from a single light, to every light, shade and even stand-by power in a home or commercial building. They also save energy and make light bulbs last longer, making them an eco-friendly addition to the home and workplace. Founded in 1961, Lutron estimates that the installed base of its products saves the nation nearly 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utility costs per year. Lutron manufactures more than 16,000 energy-saving products, sold in more than 100 countries around the world.

* http://www.eia.doe.gov/tools/faqs/faq.cfm?id=96&t

**$50 savings based on replacing a switch with a Lutron C•L dimmer and replacing your incandescent bulbs with dimmable CFLs. Actual savings may vary depending on use and application. A high percentage of the savings derive from switching from the incandescent to the CFL. Typical residential savings are estimated to be $22 per year. Stated savings of $50 based on replacing (5) 65 W incandescent reflector lamps (rated at 1,500 hours each, costing $1.75 per lamp or (5) 3,000 hour halogen bulbs costing $3.35 per lamp) with (5) 16 W CFL reflector lamps (rated at 8,000 hours each, costing $11.49 per lamp) and dimming for 5 hrs per day with electricity cost of $0.1176/kWh. $50 savings further assumes lamps are dimmed to 50% perceived light level, corresponding to 40% reduction in power level.

***Impact Analysis: 2005 Update to the California Energy Efficiency Standards for Residential and Nonresidential Buildings; California Energy Commission.

****Lutron commissioned simulation by T.C. Chan Center for Building Simulation and Energy Studies, University of Pennsylvania, September 2008.

*****http://www.standby.lbl.gov/

******http://www.energystar.gov

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