AUTOMATED LIGHTING AND TEMPERATURE CONTROLS: ARE THEY WORTH IT?

It's pretty cool to be able to press a button or set a timer and have your lights and home temperature adjust to exactly what you'd like. While the cool factor alone may not be worth the investment, there are several other factors that are. Safety and energy efficiency are just a few.

One particular project we've done at Fiske Electric underscores the safety benefits that automated lighting can provide. We had a family with a child who faced mobility and health challenges, and often needed to navigate the hallway at night. The family was concerned about safety and ease of movement.

To address this, we installed Lutron’s automated lighting system. Now, motion sensors light up the path from the child's room to the parents' room and the bathroom. This system not only brought comfort and independence to the child, but also relieved the parents' worry about nighttime falls or accidents.

In this case, the peace of mind was worth the investment, several times over. But what else would make automated lighting and temperature controls worth it? Here are the top five we hear from our customers:

1. Arriving home at night: Automated lights can be programmed to turn on when you arrive home, ensuring you never have to enter a dark house with arms full of groceries. 

   
   

2. Vacation mode: Keep your home safe while you're away by setting lights to turn on and off at typical times, simulating someone at home.

   
   

3. Waking up and going to bed: Set lights to gradually brighten in the morning to help you wake up naturally, and dim in the evening to help you wind down.

   
   

4. Energy efficiency: Temperature controls adjust the heating or cooling based on time of day or when you are home or away, saving energy, reducing utility bills, and extending the lifespan of your HVAC systems.

   
   

5. Hands-free control: Control lighting and temperature through voice commands using smart-home assistants, ideal when your hands are full or you’re occupied with tasks. Plus, with Lutron's in-app controls, you can manage your home's environment from anywhere, ensuring it's always just how you like it when you arrive.

Lutron is one of the leading providers of this type of home automation, and Fiske Electric is a Lutron-certified company. We're knowledgeable in all of their systems, but the coolest part is that you don't need a full-blown system to reap the benefits of automation: there are small things we can add to your home for safety and convenience. Get started here.