Selecting Lighting Dimmers for Your Home

Important Information

Dimming reduces the amount of light produced and energy consumed.

 

Purchasing

• To make certain that you are purchasing a quality product, choose products with the Energy Star® logo.
• Be sure to purchase bulbs and dimmers from a reputable manufacturer. Some dimmers may hum, buzz, or cause interference. This is less likely with dimmers manufactured by reputable companies.
• Portable (plug-in) dimming devices have no installation cost. For example, a table lamp may be plugged into a portable dimmer device.
• Dimmers for some light sources may need a special device called a driver.
• Some dimmers may require you to push the dimmer or slide it to the lowest position to turn it off completely.
• Remember! Dimming technology continues to develop. Dimmers are upgraded, just like computers and phones.
• See our fact sheet about Safe & Sustainable Lighting for more information on choosing the right bulb.

 

When Thinking of Dimming Effects, Consider...

• Color: How will the color of the light change when dimmed?
• Range: How evenly will the dimmer dim light from high to low?

 

When Thinking of Dimming Costs, Consider...

• Initial Cost: How much will the dimmer cost to purchase?
• Installation Cost: How much will the wiring and electrician cost?
• Dimmer Lifespn: How often will you have to replace the dimmer?
• Energy Savings: How much energy will the dimmer save?

 

Caution: Read all bulb, dimmer, ballast, and driver packages very carefully. Some CFLs and LEDs are not made for dimming.

 

Before You Buy: Some manufacturers publish lists of compatible components. Consult with an electrician, who can advise you about planning and can provide dimmer installation, comply with electrical codes in your area, and make certain that your lighting system is compatible and safe.

 

What the Package Can Tell You...

What type of light source will the dimmer dim?

• Specific types of dimmers are made for incandescent bulbs, compact fluorescent bulbs, and light emitting diodes.

 

How much longer will the bulb last if dimmed?

• Average lifespan (in hours) increases for most bulbs when dimmed, but actual length varies.

 

All of these things can tell you how much the lighting really costs!

 

Choose the dimmer that is right for you!

• People with a limited range of hand motion need a dimmer that works without grasping or twisting
• Any dimmer can change the mood of a room and save energy when used the right way.

 

Typical Dimmer Styles

 

Sources

Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association. (2009).  Dimming scre-in compact fluorescent lamps:  Residential application.

 

Energy Star. (2006). Building manual: Lighting. Retrieved from 6. Lighting

Energy Star. (n.d.). The Energy Star choose a light guide. Retrieved from
Light Bulbs 

Energy Star. (n.d.). What are LEDs? Retrieved from Learn About LED Lighting 

General Electric Company. (2010). Compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) FAQs. Retrieved
from Information on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs) and Mercury

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. (1999). fESNA lighting education:
Fundamental level [!ESNA ED-100]. New York: Author.

Illuminating Engineering Society of North America. (2008). Light and Design: A guide to
designing quality lighting for people and buildings [IES DG-18-08]. New York: Author.

 

Lutron Electronics Company. (2010). Top 10 energy savings benefits of light control.
Retrieved from Energy Savings

 

National Electrical Manufacturers Association. (2010). Solid state lighting for incandescent replacement: Best practices for dimming [LSD 49-2010]. Rosslyn, Virginia: Author.

Russell, S. (2008). The architecture of light: Architectural lighting design concepts and
techniques. La Jolla, California: Conceptnine Print Media.

U.S. Department of Energy. (2008). Future developments in LED dimming controls.
Retrieved from Energy Savings Estimates of Light Emitting Diodes in Niche Lighting Applications

U.S. Department of Energy. (2008). LED application series: Dimming LEDs.

U.S. Department of Energy. (2008). Standard dimming controls. Retrieved from
Lighting Conrols

U.S. Department of Energy. (2008). Using light-emitting diodes: Changes in color and efficacy with dimming.

U.S. Department of Energy. (2009). Using light-emitting diodes: Will LEDs solve the dimming problem? Retrieved from Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) for General Illumination

 

Whitehead, R. (2009). Residential lighting: A practical guide to beautiful and sustainable design (2nd Ed.). New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons.

Winchip, S. M. (2007). Sustainable design for interior environments. New York: Fairchild Books. 

 

Authors

Paulette Hebert, Ph.D.

Professor

Design, Housing, & Merchandising

 

Gina Peek, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor, Extension Specialist

Housing & Consumer Issues

 

Reviewers

Scott Frazier, Ph.D., P.E., C.E.M.

Oklahoma State University

Shirley Niemeyer, Ph.D.
University of Nebraska - Lincoln

 

Mike Vogel, Ph.D.

Montana State University

 

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