Survey: U.S. Homeowners Are Worried About Home Security This Holiday Travel Season

Survey reveals smart lighting control may be the key to achieving peace of mind while away

COOPERSBURG, Pa (Nov. 14, 2018) – More than half (55%) of Americans said they will be concerned about the security of their home when they travel this holiday season, with one third (33%) expecting to feel anxious. This is according to the new Travel Mindfulness Report, a survey released today by the maker of Caséta by Lutron smart lighting control.

How to Achieve Travel Mindfulness
In advance of the busy holiday travel season, the survey asked U.S. homeowners about the barriers preventing them from achieving peace of mind while traveling. Nearly half (48%) would choose travel mindfulness – the ability to stay present and in the moment while away – over winning $1,000 in the lottery.

Luckily, there’s a solution for helping homeowners relax while they’re away: a smart lighting control system that makes it look like someone is home. That’s especially good news because 1 in 3 Americans (30% of the total U.S. population) plan to travel this holiday season.

“Sometimes you need to connect a little to disconnect a lot,” says Pax Tandon, Philadelphia-based mindfulness expert and author of Mindfulness Matters. “When traveling, it’s hard to relax when there’s that nagging feeling that something might be amiss at home. Smart lighting can give travelers peace of mind - and peace of mind keeps us in the moment.”

Taking Action with Lighting
A large majority of Americans (85%) have taken steps to make it look like their home is occupied when it isn’t, including leaving a light on at all times, or at strategic times, to protect their home and family (65%). Simply keeping the lights on when on vacation may not cut it—but turning lights on and off at irregular intervals – a Caséta by Lutron smart lighting control system feature – can help make your home look occupied and ensure you unwind while traveling.

Additional takeaways from the Travel Mindfulness report include:

Lighting is Key to Peace of Mind

1. The majority of Americans (67%) associate “peace of mind” most closely with “feeling safe and secure”.
2. 38% have worried about whether or not they left the lights on or off.

Fast Tech Adopters

1. The majority of Americans (60%) already have a smart home device, with about one in three (34%) having smart lighting controls.

The Light Life

1. More than two-thirds (69%) of Americans agree that being able to control their lights remotely would make traveling more enjoyable.
2. 79% would like the ability to program lights to randomly turn on and off in the evening to make it look like someone’s home.
3. 68% would like to control the lighting for their family while they’re traveling on business.

A Happy Home

1. More than half (56%) of Americans say a well-lit home gives them peace of mind when they return from a trip.

“Holiday travel is meant to be a joyful and relaxing experience, but because of fears around what’s happening back home, we’re not able to be as present as we’d like to be,” says Tandon. “There are actionable steps we can all take to stay in the moment, like breathing exercises and meditation, and the more “unexpected,” like using smart home technology to help to ensure that even while traveling, we can be in control.”

About Caséta by Lutron
Caséta by Lutron, a smart lighting control system that is easy to install and use, offers full control of home lighting through a dimmer or switch on the wall, the free Lutron app, a Lutron Pico remote control, or via voice assistants like Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, or Google Home. Users can schedule their lights to turn on and off, giving the impression that they’re home and helping them focus on what really matters: taking time with each other. The Caséta by Lutron smart lighting control system is available in select stores nationwide and online and is priced from under $100. Visit www.casetawireless.com to learn more. Visit www.casetawireless.com to learn more.

About Lutron Electronics
Founded in 1961, Lutron Electronics is headquartered in Coopersburg, Pennsylvania. From dimmers for the home, to lighting management systems for entire buildings, the company offers more than 15,000 energy-saving products, sold in more than 100 countries. In the US alone, Lutron products save an estimated 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion in utility costs per year. The company’s early inventions— including the first solid-state electronic dimmer invented by Lutron’s founder, Joel Spira—are now at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in Washington, DC. Visit www.lutron.com to learn more.

About the Travel Mindfulness Report
This survey was conducted by Morar/HPI Research for Lutron Electronics. The survey yielded responses from 1,000 U.S. homeowners between the ages of 33–55, over-indexing in the Philadelphia metro market.

Contact
Denise Penagos
M Booth
denisep@mbooth.com
212-539-3269
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