How We’re Living Green in Newport Beach with Smart Lighting

Many folks in Orange County are passionate about helping the environment. Maybe you also recycle diligently and bring reusable bags to the store. But what if a local technology installer could make your house more sustainable, saving substantial amounts of electricity each year? Smart lighting systems by Lutron incorporate automated dimming, motion sensors, timers, and motorized shades to reduce the amount of electricity you rely on. Not only will you help the environment, but you’ll save significantly on energy bills each year, too. How does it work? Read on to see why households in Newport Beach, CA, have already adopted Lutron lighting systems into their eco-friendly lifestyles.

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Save 20% Energy with Dimming

When you integrate smart LED bulbs into one Lutron system, you can fine-tune the brightness level right from the Lutron app or wall switches. Set all your lights to be slightly dimmer than the highest setting—and you’ll find that will be more comfortable and livable, too. LED light bulbs are roughly 80% more efficient than incandescent and fluorescent lights, consuming less energy, especially while dimmed. “Dimming your lights even 20% saves nearly 20% in energy,” says Dr. Ian Rowbottom, Lutron’s principal application engineer. “Dimming them more saves even more.” One of Lutron’s biggest clients, The New York Times, implemented light level ‘tuning’ and occupancy sensors in their downtown Manhattan building. The result? The New York Times Building saved 70% of its lighting electricity, saving $600,000 annually. That’s the equivalent of 3,300 tons of carbon emissions each year!  

Daylight Harvesting

You can always enjoy ample light in each room of your house with smart ‘daylight harvesting’ scenes. If the sun is beaming into your home office, for example, sensors will signal to your lights to turn off or dim. As the sun moves and the room grows darker, only then will lights gradually start to brighten again. Lights will only be on while you need them, and your shades will play with lights to ensure you’re making the most of the day.  

Occupancy Sensors

We all make the mistake of leaving lights on in empty rooms. If you walk to the kitchen for a mug of coffee, occupancy sensors can instantly brighten the room to a comfortable atmosphere. You’ll leave the room, and a few minutes later, lights will turn off. If everyone steps outside for a night at the beach, your empty house’s lights will turn off. But once someone walks inside, your LEDs will automatically turn on, so you won’t have to endure a pitch-black house. Coupled with lighting control on your phone, you’ll always be a step ahead.  

Tutorial Videos to Ensure You’re Making the Most of Your Lighting System

Lighting systems are great ways to manage the lights within your home intelligently. Lutron lighting systems provide solutions for any size home on any budget, so you’ll undoubtedly be able to find a system that works for your Laguna Beach, CA home. Keep reading our blog to see some of our favorite Lutron lighting system features. Plus check out the corresponding tutorials to learn how to use these features in your own home!

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Lutron Scenes

Whether you’re trying to boost your home’s security, conserve energy, or brighten up your holiday parties, scenes can help you control multiple lights on your property at once. With the tap of a button on a smart device or Lutron’s Pico remote, you can turn Lutron shades and lights to a predetermined setting. Program a “Good morning” scene to turn on the bedroom lighting, raise the motorized shades, and light your walking path into the kitchen so you can quickly get started on making breakfast. You can incorporate Lutron lighting scenes into your existing Control4 automation system, too, so you can even program the “Good morning” scene to play your favorite music or news channel with a tap. Watch this video to learn how to program scenes:    

Dimmers, Switches & Fans

You can control individual dimmers, light switches, and fans in your home using an app on your smart device. Each smart light in your Lutron lighting system is adjustable with the tap of a button. As you wind down for the evening and head to your entertainment room, you may want to dim the lights as you catch up on your favorite TV shows. Simply open the app, tap, and adjust the lighting to meet your needs. You can even use the Lutron app to adjust the speed on your ceiling fans. Take a look at this video to learn how to do that:    

We Tell You How Lutron Sets the Bar High in Automated Lighting

A 2017 Harris Poll asked 1,553 homeowners about their lighting preferences, and 91% cited reducing energy use was important. Despite that staggering statistic, 21% had no idea they could reduce their energy consumption by installing lighting controls in their homes. As a result of homeowners’ preferences, lighting control is taking the home automation industry by storm. You want the ability to regulate the level and quality of light in your home not only to save on energy, but also to complete specific tasks comfortably — the more control of when and where you can use light, the better. Keep reading to learn how Lutron has set the bar high for lighting control systems and why you should consider a system for your Newport Beach, CA home.

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Manage Daylight

You can manage daylight by regulating the amount of sunlight that enters your home. Use shades in conjunction with dimmers to not only create an inviting environment, but also to save energy. Your motorized shade fabrics not only compliment your design aesthetic but can filter the amount of daylight entering a room. You could always set an Away scene to make sure your shades are drawn and the thermostat isn’t running while you’re away. Talk about maximum energy savings. Daylight photosensors prevent outdoor lighting from operating during the daylight hours – you want your porch light on overnight, but there’s no need to keep it on during the day. You can adjust shades automatically with the time of day, too, raising to let light in and setting interior fixtures to dim. Occupancy sensors ensure lights aren’t left on when a room isn’t in use.

Comfort & Elegance

Lighting affects the mood of a room, so take charge of how your home feels. You can choose warm dimming for a cozy feeling; opt for bright, cool whites to keep you alert and awake for specific tasks. There’s no need to walk throughout your home, turning off the lights behind you as you prepare to head upstairs for bed. Simply tap a button on your smart device to switch the front porch light on and the downstairs lights off while you’re lying in bed! Instead of typical boring, white switches, you have a myriad of keypad plate finishes to choose from. We can even match your light switch plates to your existing interior design scheme. Not only is your Newport Beach-area home more convenient, it will exude elegance.

Voice Control

Lutron lighting can also integrate with your voice control assistants like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. There’s no need to tap a button on your wall keypad or find your smartphone. Simply say, “Hey Google, dim the living room” to dim the lights in your living room. You can also say, “Alexa, good morning” to raise your motorized shades, turn on the bedroom light, and start playing your favorite news station. Not everything needs to be operated by voice control, though, and preprogrammed scenes can always be controlled with your wall keypad or via a smartphone app.

3 Ways Lutron Offers More than Smart Light Bulbs

When you hear the term smart lighting, what comes to mind? Many homeowners think it means incorporating energy-efficient, smart light bulbs that don’t need to be controlled manually with a traditional light switch. Lutron lighting systems are so much more than that! Imagine walking into your Huntington Beach, CA home and the lights working in sync with your motorized shades to control the amount of light within your home. Plus, you can update your old-fashioned light switch plates to match your décor, all while you bring improved comfort and convenience to your home. Read on to learn three ways Lutron offers more than smart light bulbs.

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Elegance & Ambiance

Lutron lighting systems control light beautifully in your California home. Light dimming technology helps you transform the mood of any room, ensuring your romantic dinner for two is just that – romantically lit without harsh lighting. Your outdoor entertainment spaces can transform into relaxing areas with dimmed or colorful lighting, too, with only a tap of a button on a wall keypad or smart device app. You can even bring elegance to your lighting controls, opting for stylish style, color and finish options that complement your interior décor. Options include the Palladiom line for an architectural aesthetic and minimalistic design that’s customizable and backlit to the GRAFIK T slider with intuitive sliding touch control that adds style to your space. Finishes range from bright chrome to antique brass to ivory to aluminum – you’re sure to find something perfect for your home.

Programmed Scenes

You can program you Lutron lighting to astronomical clocks, so outdoor lighting can turn on automatically on at dusk or off at sunrise, ensuring no wasting energy costs. With the tap of a finger on a remote or wall keypad, you can set an Away scene that turns some lights on or off and lowers shades for improved security while you’re gone from your Huntington Beach-area home.

Occupancy Sensors

Maestro sensors can determine occupancy or vacancy in any room location once installed. Rooms that are notorious for lights being left on, such as the laundry room or garage, will turn on automatically when you enter a space and turn off after a designated amount of time. Major, minor, and fine motion can be detected, depending on your preferred settings. This is also valuable for indoor security, with any motion detected triggering indoor lights to turn on and startle burglars. If you’re ready to make your California home more elegant, convenient, and safe, call Launch Systems today at (949) 515-7030 or fill out our contact form. We look forward to working with you!

Add more value to your home construction project with lighting automation

Are you designing a luxury home for a client? While there are many essential elements to add, lighting remains one of the most crucial parts of any home design. A Lutron lighting system adds life to any home, going beyond lighting fixtures to deliver lighting automation that transforms your client’s lifestyle. Beyond aesthetics, how the system is controlled and its convenience to homeowners matters the most. Lutron is one of the top lighting control brands in the world when it comes to both commercial and residential applications.  Read on to discover how their solutions can add value to your home project in San Juan Capistrano or Orange County, CA.

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State-of-the-Art Lighting Solution

The best time to integrate a lighting control system is during the construction phase, before walls are put up. This will allow the greatest flexibility in design and application without significantly extending project timelines or budgets. A lutron lighting system will not only highlight architectural features of your project indoor and out, but the hassle free controls allow homeowners to set the perfect lighting for any application at the press of a button. Lutron also offers premium keypads that blend seamlessly into any space.They are available in multiple button configurations and finishes to match your unique design goals.

Complete Customization

As a builder, your goal is to match your client’s vision. Whether you’re working on an architect’s plan or striving to meet a homeowner’s requirements, you can achieve any extent of customization with Lutron lighting control. You can create custom scenes from individual rooms to the entire space to adjust the home’s lighting with a  single button press. It is possible to dim the lights or change their colors as needed. Of course, for added convenience, homeowners can choose various control options including on-wall keypads, touchpads, mobile apps and voice control.

Improved Wellness

More and more people are becoming aware of the effects of lighting on wellness. Lutron offers lighting solutions that improve wellness by adjusting the light’s hues and correlated color temperatures. During the day, cool white light makes your body feel energized, while in the evening, the warm tones help the body rest. It is the perfect lighting solution desired by many homeowners. As a luxury home contractor, you can considerably improve the project’s value by adding Lutron lighting. So, are you ready to add a Lutron lighting system in your next San Juan Capistrano project? Launch Systems is a certified Lutron dealer and offers the best lighting control solutions for residential spaces. Get in touch today to start your project. Call us at (949) 515-7030 or reach out using the live chat option.

Enhance Your Home Beauty With Lutron Lights

Home lighting is extremely important. How a space is lit impacts how welcoming it feels and can even influence if you feel relaxed or energized. Traditional lighting solutions aren’t really adaptable and may not be able to provide the lighting your home needs and deserves. That’s why many homeowners use smart lighting systems for increased control and customization.

Lutron lighting systems are some of the best lighting control systems on the market. They allow homeowners to tune their lights and have total control over them. That way, your home is always lit exactly how you like. Discover what Lutron can do for your home in Coto De Caza, CA.

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1. Customized Control

Your lighting system installation will include in-wall keypads and touchpads that will allow you to easily turn your lights on and off, as well as adjust the brightness, tone, etc. But you’ll also be able to control them right from your phone. You can download the Lutron Homeworks app and turn on lights, adjust them, and create preset scenes. So if you forget to turn off the upstairs lights before you leave for work, it’s no problem. Just go to the HomeWorks app and turn it off from there.

Lutron lights also work with a variety of smart home automation platforms. So you’ll be able to control your lights from the same dashboard you use to control the rest of your smart home tech.