Electrical dimmers are mechanisms that allow increasing or decreasing the intensity of light bulbs by regulating their energy. By not having a fixed intensity, light savings are achieved.

What is a dimmer and how does it impact light savings?

Dimmers, also known as dimmers or dimmers, are mechanisms that allow the brightness of lights to be adjusted on intermediate scales from low to high.

These variations in intensity are produced by increasing or decreasing the amount of electrical energy that reaches the bulb, thus reducing electricity consumption without having to turn off the light completely.

Each dimmer has a maximum load capacity, which corresponds to the sum of the power of all the lamps it will dim.

To find out what capacity your dimmer should have you only need to add up the watts of all the bulbs you plan to connect to the device and verify that it does not exceed the maximum capacity specified by the manufacturer.

Benefits of dimmers

The first and most obvious benefit of dimmers is light savings : as the intensity of the bulbs is reduced, electricity consumption is reduced proportionally.

This means that a light dimmed to 30% of its maximum intensity will use approximately 70% less energy.

Longer bulb life

A bulb that is always shining at its maximum intensity has a shorter life because it is subjected to permanent thermal and electrical stress. When the intensity of the brightness is played with, they operate with less voltage. This reduces the number of replacements, which is equivalent to maintenance and replacement savings.

Adaptability and comfort

Being able to adapt the brightness intensity of the bulbs according to our needs is one of the benefits of dimmers. Each moment of the day can have an adapted lighting.

In addition, the possibility of playing with lighting improves the comfort and aesthetics of spaces because you can create more welcoming or lively environments, without having to invest in additional lights.

Relief of visual fatigue

By adjusting the intensity of light, you can get the exact amount needed to see properly at every moment and according to the activity you are doing. This improves visual comfort and reduces stress and eye fatigue.

Adaptability to home automation systems

Smart dimmers can be managed and automated from centralized control systems such as apps on smartphones, tablets, computers or voice assistants such as Google Home, Apple Siri or Amazon Alexa.

Reducing energy demand during peak hours

If you have smart dimmers, during peak hours they will automatically adjust the brightness of light bulbs downward. This relieves the demand for electricity, eases the load on the grid and consumes less energy when it is most expensive.

Helps environmental sustainability

As energy consumption decreases, so does the demand for electricity production. This contributes to reducing our carbon footprint because less electricity needs to be generated to meet our needs.

What you should know about dimmers

Dimmers work with most lighting technologies. However, they are not compatible with all LED bulbs and compact fluorescent lamps.

In order for you to maximize the benefits of these energy-efficient technologies, you should make sure they are compatible.

Older dimmers, for example, do not work with modern lighting technologies. In that case, it is advisable to upgrade your dimming devices to make maximum savings on your electricity bill.

Another thing you should know about dimmers is that their quality affects the efficiency and the amount of energy savings. A class A dimmer will offer better settings and energy efficiency.

Tips for saving more electricity with your dimmers

While dimmers are a great tool for reducing electricity consumption, especially when combined with other energy-efficient technologies, there is always more you can do.

To achieve maximum light savings we recommend:

• Make the most of natural light. Open the curtains, raise the blinds and turn on the lights when necessary.
• Use the right intensity. The dimmer will be a saving factor as long as you use the dim light as much as possible.
• If your dimmer is compatible with energy-saving bulbs, do not hesitate to change the luminaires. The energy expenditure for this concept can be reduced up to 70%.
• Turn off the lights when you are not using them. If you do not have automation systems, remember to turn off the lights when you are not using them. This is the biggest saving you can make.