Much More Than Just A Switch!
News / 31.08.21
As any integrator will know, lighting is one of the major considerations when it comes to any home automation project. However, in recent years, with the advancement of LED lighting technology combined with numerous shading treatment options now available, the options are limitless. In addition, with the advent of Circadian lighting, system designers can develop solutions that can improve living standards and wellness in the home. Offering installers a real ability to set themselves apart from their competitors, lighting should be a major consideration for any installation, particularly as it can actually help improve the living conditions of the customer.
In Europe, Circadian Lighting has been mainly led by the commercial market to make office spaces more efficient by improving the well-being and concentration of workers. However, the US market has seen significant up take into the residential market, with brands such as Lutron and Savant leading the march by combining lighting (both white colour levels and colour schemes) with window treatments to deliver 24-hour solutions.
A recent addition to the Lutron range is its smart battery-operated window blinds. Working together with the lighting system, users can set up rooms in the house to keep a constant lighting scene throughout the day. As the sun passes by, the blinds automatically change the angle of closure to reduce any glare from the sun, whilst the internal lighting dims or brightens to compensate. Set up based on the home’s geographical placement in relation to the sun’s daily travel, seasonal settings mean that at any time throughout the course of the year, a room can have constant lighting levels, which is ideal for well-being and concentration, particularly in a Kitchen or study.
Savant Daylight Mode uses light intensity combined with subtle colour temperature changes to match the Circadian schedule that users can personalise to their homes. Throughout the course of the day, light intensity combined with colour hue alterations change based on the users wishes. For example, one might require a warmer light in the morning and evenings as the house wakes up or relaxes, whereas a cooler light is better placed mid-morning through to late afternoon. The changes are seamless, with no annoying sudden changes or requirements to alter the lighting once set up. Ideal for where a space requires a constant light for concentration, such as a study, or where an area receives a lot of footfall, such as a kitchen or hall-way, Daylight Mode from Savant has enabled installers the ability to not only supply lighting but also to help customers with their wellbeing.
When integrating these solutions with home automation, many systems now work over LAN networks and utilise the wiring infrastructure to set-up, control and fault-find. Making the installation significantly more straight forward than ever before, installers are also now able to dial into a customer’s system remotely to check and/or fix any issues. This is a very cost-effective way to offer customer support. Most systems are also able to link in with other smart home devices by offering relatively straight-forward integration with Alexa, Google Home or Apple Home Kit for basic voice control. However, the more sophisticated systems require their own proprietary set up software but once configured, can still be controlled by off-the-shelf VR devices.
Fundamentally, the choices are limitless and every integrator should be discussing lighting options with their clients. With the adaptation of the smartphone/tablet and smart home devices as control interfaces, consumers are getting used to using their devices to control and/or monitor their homes more than ever, such as with smart heating control (Nest, Hive etc), with lighting becoming the obvious next opportunity. In particular, as the retro-fitting of systems is now relatively simple and requires minimal disruption and installation, this is a great revenue opportunity for any installer, particularly as some manufactures now offer wireless solutions that incorporate battery technology that can last up to 5 years.
I believe that as customers become more aware of the possibilities open to them, they will be very open to investigating how light plays such a roll in the home. Crucially, installers need to educate themselves on what is available and how the different systems will suit particular properties. This knowledge, combined with the ability to educate the customer, will be a major factor over the coming years, with those installers that see lighting as an opportunity to increase their business, reaping the benefits.
Contact us to find out more about the lighting opportunities available or visit RGB’s stands at EILive! – Lutron #92, Savant #100 and RGB #93