Install Lighting Controls

Quick Facts Affordability Cost Savings CO2 Reduction Savings based on one timer/sensor on one light, keeping it off for an extra four hours per day.		Installing lighting controls, such as dimmers, timers, motion sensors and photocells, can be a simple and efficient means of reducing lighting energy use and costs. Affordability When you leave lights on unnecessarily, or illuminate areas excessively, your energy costs increase. Automatic lighting controls allow you to control the amount of lighting in an area and have it turn on just for the time it is needed. Cost savings Each hour that an unneeded light operates represents an unnecessary expense. Lighting controls provide the light when and where you need it, but turn if off where you don't, cutting annual costs significantly. Health & comfort Having lights and other appliances on timers can increase comfort and safety in the home. You can control lighting so it is on when and where you need it and ensure appliances are never left on accidentally. Motion sensors are a good choice for controlling outdoor security lighting. The motion sensor keeps the lights on as long as there is movement. After motion has stopped (the lapse time is adjustable), the detector switches the lights off. Environmental considerations Saving energy benefits the environment. Reduced energy demand decreases the need for new generation plants. Unnecessary lighting also pollutes our night sky, which can interfere with migrating birds navigational systems, as well as our ability to see the stars.

What you need to know

• You will need to use dimmable CFLs to work with automatic controls. Check the CFL packaging to ensure they are suitable.
• With timers you can save energy from your interior and exterior lighting, and even appliances, by turning them on and off at a pre-determined time. There are also less expensive timers that can be connected to lights to turn them off after a set period of time, depending on the capacity of the timer.
• Most modern timers are digital, easy to operate, affordable and can be programmed from 24 hours to seven days ahead. Many timers are plug-in products, so you do not need an electrician to install them. Find out more in the Lighting Buyer's Guide.
• Outdoor security lights can account for a large portion of overall energy costs for residential lighting and are often left on when not needed. Motion sensors can help reduce this energy use by only coming on when triggered by motion. Installing the sensor lights and setting the direction and lapse time can take some initial adjustments, but once they are set, they tend to be an easy and efficient way to light your entrance, driveway or other outdoor areas.
• Solar LED motion sensor lights use a small solar collector to charge an LED battery, making them highly energy efficient. Ensure you find a quality product that will collect enough light to keep charged.
• Photocells respond to light levels, making them especially good for outdoor or security lighting. They sense existing light and turn electric lights on when natural light levels are low or off when light levels are higher. They will also adjust lighting to changing seasons. If you need exterior lighting for only a portion of the night, you can use a photocell to turn lighting on and a time clock to turn it off.
• Dimmer switches are fairly easy to install. Some are digital and can be controlled remotely. There are also automatic dimmers that can be used indoors. These are especially useful near windows, where they will adjust their light levels throughout the day.

FAQ

I live on the coast where it is often cloudy. Would photocells still work or will they keep turning on and off as clouds move?
You can buy photocells that have delay mechanisms to reduce false triggering from cloud cover or a neighbour's lighting.