COOPERSBURG, Penn.– According to the 2013 Dodge Construction Outlook, commercial building starts are expected to increase 12% in 2013. As the commercial construction market slowly rebounds, building owners and facility managers are closely monitoring both their building budgets and return on investment. The latest automated shading innovation from lighting control pioneer Lutron Electronics offers an installed cost savings of 30 percent per shade panel when compared to existing market solutions.

Ideal for large commercial applications, the new roller 300™ drive with Lutron Intelligent Façade Technology™ (LIFT), the company’s latest automated shading solution, is capable of controlling 300 square feet of fabric from one low-voltage shade drive. 

“The use of one versus multiple shade drives to cover the same space and Lutron’s low-voltage wiring system has economic advantages from both material and labor standpoints,” said Ed Blair, Vice-President and General Manager at Lutron. “LIFT provides affordable control of an entire bay of shades powered by our robust, low-voltage shading technology,” he said.

Designed to fit within the Lutron standard 5” pocket, LIFT is a coupled shade system that uses the new roller 300 low-voltage drive, and operates up to six 5’x10’ panels of Lutron’s Classico™ commercial roller shade fabric.  LIFT is a versatile solution ideal for curtain-wall applications in commercial office buildings, hospitals, universities and more.

LIFT can be controlled from in-room keypads or via Lutron’s Hyperion™ solar-adaptive technology, which automatically responds to changing daylight levels and environmental conditions for a balance of comfort and energy savings. The shade panels on each LIFT system, as well as adjacent shades, will always raise and lower in perfect alignment, providing visual appeal from all angles.

While automated shades are not specifically required in commercial construction, building and energy codes dictate that buildings must employ some form of daylight control, whether through dynamic (automated shading systems) or static (fixed overhangs) means. Roller 300 with LIFT can:

· Earn LEED points and contribute to LEED certification

· Help meet current and future requirements for industry regulation

· Assist in qualifying installations for regional rebates and incentives

Available now, roller 300 features include 60 in-lbs torque, 3.6”/sec linear speed, <50 dBA of audible noise and the option of Lutron Intelligent Hembar Alignment (IHA).

About Lutron Electronics (www.lutron.com)
Lutron Electronics, headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, designs and manufactures energy-saving lighting controls, automated window treatments and appliance modules for both residential and commercial applications. Its innovative, intuitive products can be used to control everything from a single light, to every light, shade and even stand-by power in a home or commercial building. Lutron products make any space more versatile, while enhancing ambiance, comfort and productivity. They also save energy and make light bulbs last longer, making them an eco-friendly addition to the home and workplace. Founded in 1961, Lutron estimates that the installed base of its products saves the nation nearly 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utility costs per year. Lutron manufactures more than 16,000 energy-saving products, sold in more than 100 countries around the world.