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Dimming controls will also extend the lamp's life, which will save you cash over time. It can also save you the hassle of replacing bulbs in hard-to-reach places.
The real benefit is to lamp life. By dimming the light somewhat and turning it on with a soft fade, the lamps last a long time, like 3 to 4 years on a lamp that would normally last 6 months. That's really convenient because the light bulb always blows out when you don't have a spare.
It's all sorts of drama, convenience, and comfort, and energy, and lamp savings all wrapped into one.
Light can dictate the activity in the room it is illuminating. Bright light creates motion and a lot of activity. It's ideal for getting everyone going in the morning, but not for relaxing. For that, or if an intimate party is what you have in mind, keep the perimeter of the room a bit darker. The "campfire effect" will draw people to the brighter area at the center of the room. Trying to get folks to mingle at a large gathering? Brighten the accent lighting around the perimeter. It will encourage people to move around.
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Experiencing the environments varied lighting can create is really the key to understanding its importance in a room's décor.
It is one thing to say dimmers create an ambience, and it is another to see it for real. Why settle for 'on' and 'off' when you can have 'on,' 'off' and everything in-between?
Saving Energy.
Dimmer controls are not the only way to help save energy in your home. Here are a few other ideas:
1. Be sure to turn lights off when you are not using them.
2. Keep your outdoor lights energy-efficient by using timers to turn them on and off automatically. Or, choose lighting with photoelectric cells.
3. Select bulbs with the more efficient reflector bulbs, especially in task and accent lighting applications. (For example: An energy efficient 50W "R" bulb will emit as much light onto an area as a 100W "A" bulb.)
4. Fluorescent bulbs get more bang for their buck. A fluorescent bulb produces more light out of the electricity it uses than its incandescent partner does, so consider installing these lights wherever applicable. Now more versatile than ever, fluorescent
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bulbs can produce light color that is more similar to their warmer siblings. They are also available to accommodate a wide variety of lighting styles and functions.
What about Dimming Fluorescent Lights?
It is possible to dim fluorescent lights, but it has a different effect on a room. While incandescent bulbs create a warm, candlelight look as they dim, light from a fluorescent bulb remains cooler in color. Dimming won't increase the life of a fluorescent bulb, either.
It is much less expensive and more convenient to dim fluorescent lighting than ever before. Where fluorescent lighting is used in kitchens or dining rooms or family rooms, you can install it on a dimmer.
Altering fluorescent lighting is not as simple as just changing the switch, such as with incandescent bulbs.. A special fixture and compatible dimming control are necessary. And, although it is possible and more inexpensive than in the past, altering the level of fluorescent lighting remains at a higher cost level than controlling standard lighting.
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