Most lighting products available for homes, especially since the move to LED technology, reach their maximum brightness before they reach their maximum current draw. What this means in practice is that your lights are using more energy than they need to be to provide ample light for the room.
All Nero dimmers feature the ability to adjust the upper and lower limit for the output, allowing you to configure your smart home to help you save on your power bill.
An example
If we take a 10W LED as an example and assume it is running for around 6 hours per day we get the results below. We have used an average Australian power price of 25c/kWh for anytime use and 35c/kWh for peak usage as many homes are on time of use metering on which most lighting use will fall within the Peak and Shoulder tariffs.
| Dimmer Level | Energy Use (instant) | Energy Use (annual) | Anytime Price | Peak Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | 10W | 21.9kWh | $5.47 | $7.66 |
| 80% | 9W | 19.71kWh | $4.93 | $6.90 |
These numbers are based on a Brightgreen D700+ series downlight. Different manufacturers lights perform differently. Lower cost downlights tend to have a less smooth current ramp and as such will often save more energy when restricted than premium models.
How did we decide on 80%? We used a light meter to measure how much light was output from the downlights at different dimming levels and chose 80% because the lux measurement was almost identical to the lights at 100% output. If you don't have access to a light meter you can use an app and a phone camera. The specific numbers are not as important as the difference between the readings.
For this single LED downlight we are looking at a saving of 54c anytime usage or 76c at peak tariffs. While these savings seem insignificant on their own, they can quickly add up across your home. Combined with other energy-saving ideas you can begin to make a significant impact on your annual energy bills and your carbon footprint.
| # of Downlights | 100% Annual Use | 80% Annual Use | Saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 (average apartment) |
Peak: $76.70 Anytime: $54.70 |
Peak: $69.00 Anytime: $49.30 |
Peak: $7.70 Anytime: $5.40 |
| 20 (average small home) |
Peak: $153.20 Anytime: $109.40 |
Peak: $138.00 Anytime: $98.60 |
Peak: $15.20 Anytime: $10.80 |
| 30 (average medium home) |
Peak: $229.80 Anytime: $164.10 |
Peak: $207.00 Anytime: $147.90 |
Peak: $22.80 Anytime: $16.20 |
| 40 (average large home) |
Peak: $306.40 Anytime: $218.80 |
Peak: $276.00 Anytime: $197.20 |
Peak: $30.40 Anytime: $21.60 |
| 50 (luxury home) |
Peak: $383.00 Anytime: $273.50 |
Peak: $345.00 Anytime: $246.50 |
Peak: $38.00 Anytime: $27.00 |
How to limit your dimmers
- Find the appropriate dimming parameters for your device. For a Nero Dim or Nero 0-10V Dimmer that is 60 for minimum and 61 for maximum.
- Follow the steps to configure the parameter in your device.
- Save the parameter and confirm it has set. Once it has successfully set your light will not exceed the specified limit (80% in the example above), even if you set it to 100% in the Nero App or a third-party app.
- If your lights are already on, turn them off and then on again for the output to apply the new limits.