Melville, N.Y.-based Leviton Manufacturing Co.'s Make the Switch promotional campaign is designed to create awareness of green electrical devices that can be installed in place of standard light switches in homes and business environments to conserve electricity and protect the environment. The campaign kicks off on April 22, the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Webinar training on energy-saving residential and commercial products will be conducted on Earth Day.
In addition, Leviton's Make the Switch campaign includes discount pricing on a wide variety of residential and commercial grade green products, along with high-impact merchandising displays, take ones, Web advertising, live Webinar training, a public relations campaign, videos, promotional items, counter mats, and in-store banners. To participate, distributors place a stocking order for $500 or more on qualified Leviton lighting control products and instantly earn a 10% discount on the order.
Make the Switch is targeted to consumers, contractors, specifiers, builders, and other electrical professionals and is designed to promote traffic to distributor counters and Web sites. In support of the campaign, Leviton is sponsoring a series of public service Webinars for contractors, distributors, and other trade professionals, links to a video on green living, and a going green section on its Web site with information on the featured products to show how easily they can be installed in place of standard light switches. A key element of the campaign is contractor education: Messaging to contractors informs them that by installing green products they can "sell up" higher margin products to their residential and commercial customers.
"Our ecosystem is at far greater peril than it was four decades ago when Earth Day was first celebrated, " says Jay Sherman, director of residential marketing for Leviton. "Climate change, pollution, landfill overload and other contaminants form a toxic combination of environmental hazards that jeopardize our planet and future generations. Today, we have an unprecedented opportunity to build a clean energy economy that will help protect our environment but we must each do our part now to safeguard the earth’s resources. "
Leviton's Make the Switch campaign advocates that consumers replace residential light switches with dimmers, timer switches, compact fluorescent lampholders, and occupancy sensors. Leviton is also urging commercial facilities managers to install occupancy sensors in areas where significant energy savings can be achieved through automated lighting control. The campaign presents opportunities for industry professionals to find out about new products that are easy to install and that can dramatically reduce their customers' energy usage, while adding to their own bottom line. Occupancy sensor, dimmer, and timer switch installations yield higher margins than simple electrical switches for both contractors and distributors.
Leviton urges electrical professionals to recommend that their customers install Energy Star-qualified appliances, insulation, and windows in construction projects and remind customers to turn back thermostats during the day when no one is home.
