One of our wholesalers is pushing a home automation system that will save electricity, extend the life of light bulbs, and provide security. I'm not against every new idea, but my email inbox is full of great ideas that need a little extra scrutiny.
My understanding is that the system dims lights to 80%, to save energy and extend the life of the bulb, and turns the lights on automatically to make the house look occupied.
Wouldn't it be better to use compact fluorescent lights to save energy?
When incandescent bulbs are no longer available, will it be cost efficient to use dimmable CFLs? Do they last longer if they are dimmed?
Isn't turning lights on when you are away the exact opposite of saving energy? Wouldn't an alarm system be energy efficient and a good deterrent to intruders?
