Lutron HomeWorks

As possibly the best-known Smart Home lighting provider on the planet, Lutron has become somewhat of an industry standard over the last decade. Pioneering the idea of wholehome lighting control via its ‘HomeWorks’ brand, the USbased company has developed an unparalleled capability to adjust and control lighting whilst simultaneously interfacing it with home entertainment and security systems.

Once available solely in new homes, HomeWorks can now be installed in older and historic homes as well as in extensions or renovations. Using RF (Radio Frequency) control mechanisms, the product range has been extended to include like-for-like dimmers and switches offering far greater control than standard household electrical devices, even using existing wiring.

Of course, those constructing new accommodation can opt for the company’s more dynamic solutions. Available in a variety of finishes and colours (it is even possible to have custommatched faceplates when integrating the product into existing décor), common controls include elegant keypads with engraved buttons displaying fuctions, backlit digital control panels and tactile sliding dimmer switches. The message here is that the look you want can be readily achieved without sacrificing even a degree of functionality.

Highlights of the system include one-touch programming (a series of interrelated activities take place – eg wall and ceiling lights dim to off as recess floor lights begin to glow), vacation mode (a setting that plays back real-life lighting events to give the impression that a home is occupied), power failure memory (the system uses technology which retains information even when power is suddenly lost), conditional logic (HomeWorks provides the capability to activate events only if specific conditions are met – eg driveway sensors turn on exterior lighting only if it is dark), astronomical clock (multiple events can be triggered at specific times of day or relative to sunrise/ sunset as the system is programmed with global positioning data – it even accounts for daylight saving time) and telephone interface (allowing up to ten different functions or events to be controlled via any touchtone telephone keypad, with customised voice messages to guide the process and confirm actions).