Commercial · Lighting Control
Big spaces. One hub. Total control.
A single Caséta hub can command a wall of high-bays. We use it to drive mass lighting on a competition volleyball court — every bank, every scene, from a phone. This guide covers commercial applications for Lutron Caséta, the energy-savings data behind it, and how its control types map to the Washington State Energy Code — for tenant improvements, single-zone rooms and light-commercial work.
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- 75
- fixtures on one Caséta hub
- ~17%
- of commercial electricity is lighting (EIA)
- Up to 60%
- lighting energy cut with controls (Lutron)
- 0
- reliance on your Wi-Fi
The Interactive Version
Run a whole facility's lighting from one hub
This is our own install: a competition volleyball facility where four banks of high-bays run from a single Caséta hub. Tap through the scenes the staff actually use.
Showing the Game scene.
Game scene
All four high-bay banks at full — competition light.
Match night: every bank at 100%. One tap from a phone or a Pico at the scorer's table — no walk to a distant panel of contactors.
Practice scene
Center courts lit, side banks resting.
Practice doesn't need competition light. Running two banks instead of four is the kind of everyday trim that makes controls pay — automated control can cut lighting energy up to 60% (Lutron).
Clean-up scene
Low, even light for the end of the night.
Enough light to sweep and pack up, nowhere near full power — and the crew triggers it from the same remote that runs game night.
Scheduled Off scene
The timeclock's job: zero hours of empty-court lighting.
The hub's astronomic timeclock shuts the courts down after hours automatically — auto shutoff is exactly what WSEC C405.2.2 asks commercial spaces to do.
Why it keeps working
Caséta runs on Lutron's Clear Connect radio — not your Wi-Fi. Scenes keep responding even when the internet is down.
From our own install
The volleyball court: mass lighting from one hub
We wired a competition volleyball facility so staff run every high-bay bank from a phone — game, practice and clean-up scenes, plus a scheduled auto-off so the courts are never lit empty overnight.
- Four fixture banks run from a single Caséta hub.
- One tap to switch game / practice / clean-up.
- Zero hours of empty-court lighting after hours.
- No cost in new low-voltage control wiring — fully retrofit.
The modern office
Built for the way offices actually work
Offices are where lighting control pays off fastest — and where the energy code asks the most. Three Caséta pieces do the heavy lifting, and every one installs wireless.
Pico remotes go just about anywhere
A Pico is a wireless, battery-powered control that mounts on any wall, sits on a desk, clips to a conference table or drops in a drawer — no gang box, no wire, no drywall patching. Put a light control exactly where people work: beside the door, at the desk, on the podium. It acts like a three-way switch anywhere, and it moves whenever the floor plan does.
Occupancy & vacancy sensors switch off empty rooms
Radio Powr Savr sensors detect when a private office, conference room, break room or restroom is occupied and switch or dim the lighting automatically — with no wiring to the sensor. This is the core of code-required occupant sensing (WSEC C405.2.1) and the single easiest source of everyday savings.
Controlled receptacles cut plug load
Washington's energy code requires at least 50% of receptacles in offices, conference rooms, break rooms and workstations to shut off automatically (WSEC C405.10). Caséta plug-in appliance modules switch task lights, monitors and space heaters on occupancy or a schedule — and for tenant-improvement and alteration projects, Seattle guidance recognizes a smart-plug approach where it meets both energy and electrical code.
The payback
Control isn't a cost — it's a meter running backward
Lighting is roughly 17% of a commercial building's electricity use — and most of it runs longer than it needs to. Occupancy sensing, scheduling and dimming target exactly that.
~17%
Lighting's share of a typical U.S. commercial building's electricity use.
U.S. EIA
Up to 60%
Automated controls — schedules, occupancy sensors and dimming — can cut lighting energy vs. manual switching.
Lutron
$0
New low-voltage control wiring — Caséta is wireless and retrofit-friendly.
Lutron
Figures vary by building, occupancy, fixtures and setup. Lutron percentages are manufacturer figures; EIA figures are U.S. national data. Full sources are listed at the end of this guide.
Washington State Energy Code · Commercial
Control strategies that speak the code's language
Washington's Commercial Energy Code (Chapter 51-11C WAC) requires automatic lighting controls in most commercial spaces. The 2021 edition is in effect statewide (effective March 15, 2024); a 2024 update is in rulemaking, with adoption targeted for late 2026. Here's how Caséta's control types line up with what inspectors look for.
| Code requirement | WSEC § | How Caséta delivers it |
|---|---|---|
| Occupant sensor controls | C405.2.1 | Radio Powr Savr occupancy / vacancy sensors turn lighting on or off automatically in offices, break rooms, restrooms and storage. |
| Time-switch / auto shutoff | C405.2.2 | The Smart Hub's astronomic timeclock automatically shuts lighting off after hours, with local override at a wall control or Pico. |
| Manual & local control | C405.2.3 | Wall dimmers and Pico remotes provide the readily-accessible manual control the code expects in each space. |
| Light-reduction (multi-level) | C405.2.4 | Continuous-range dimmers give step-down / partial-output control instead of simple on-off. |
| Daylight-responsive dimming | C405.2.5 | Scenes and schedules reduce output near windows; true closed-loop daylight harvesting steps up to a networked system. |
| Exterior & façade shutoff | C405.2.9 | Scheduled outdoor control turns façade and landscape lighting off after hours (target: within one hour of closing). |
| Controlled receptacles (plug-load) | C405.10 | Plug-in appliance modules switch receptacle-fed loads (task lights, monitors) on occupancy or schedule. Offices, conference rooms and workstations require 50% of receptacles controlled; a smart-plug approach is recognized for alterations that meet code. |
When a project scales up, we scale the system
Caséta is the right tool for tenant improvements, single-zone rooms and light-commercial work. Some code triggers call for a networked platform: contiguous open offices over 5,000 sq ft require luminaire-level or networked lighting control (C405.2.8 / C405.2.7), new buildings 25,000 sq ft and larger must measure and report energy use, and lighting controls must pass independent functional testing / commissioning (C408). For those scopes we specify Lutron's commercial line — Vive or RadioRA — purpose-built for code-compliant networked control. Same manufacturer, same install crew, right-sized to the job.
Informational only. Applicable code sections, thresholds and compliance paths depend on occupancy type, space size, project scope and the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ). Final control design and compliance are determined by the permitted construction documents and your local inspector.
Where it fits
Commercial spaces Caséta was made for
Professional-grade wireless control for tenant improvements, single-zone rooms and light-commercial jobs — installed fast, with no new low-voltage wiring. A sample of what our team puts it on:
- Private & shared offices
- Occupancy control dims or kills lights when a room empties.
- Conference & AV rooms
- “Present,” “Meet,” “Off” scenes that dim for the screen at a tap.
- Open work areas
- Zoned dimming and after-hours shutoff for bullpens and studios.
- Break & lunch rooms
- Vacancy sensors so nobody has to remember the switch.
- Retail & showrooms
- Scenes that flatter product by day, drop to security levels at close.
- Restaurants & cafés
- Warm dinner dimming, brighter for cleaning, on a daily schedule.
- Medical & dental
- Exam-room presets and vacancy control in ops and treatment rooms.
- Salons & spas
- Soft treatment lighting with bright-for-detail overrides.
- Fitness & yoga studios
- Class scenes — high-energy vs. cool-down — set by the instructor.
- Gyms & athletic courts
- Mass high-bay control with game / practice / clean scenes.
- Houses of worship
- Service, event and cleaning scenes across a large sanctuary.
- Classrooms & training
- Presentation dimming and daylight-side dimming near windows.
- Warehouses & shops
- Occupancy control in aisles and bays that are often empty.
- Corridors & restrooms
- Vacancy sensing plus off-hour shutoff to trim wasted runtime.
- Lobbies & reception
- Timeclock scenes that welcome by day and secure by night.
- Exterior, façade & lots
- Sunset-to-close schedules and automatic façade shutoff after hours.
- Hotels & short-term rentals
- Welcome scenes, checkout shutoff and automated occupancy simulation.
- Property-management commons
- Amenity rooms, gyms and hallways controlled and scheduled centrally.
- Tenant improvements
- Fast, wireless control for build-outs on tight timelines.
- Community & rec centers
- Multipurpose rooms and courts with per-activity scenes.
Straight answers
Commercial Caséta — frequently asked questions
Can Lutron Caséta be used in a commercial building?
Yes. Caséta is professional-grade wireless control well suited to tenant improvements, single-zone rooms, small offices, retail, restaurants, studios and athletic spaces — and one hub supports up to 75 devices. For larger, code-driven projects that need networked control across a big building, we step up to Lutron's commercial line, Vive or RadioRA.
Does Caséta meet the Washington State Energy Code for commercial lighting?
Caséta delivers the control strategies the code is built around — occupant sensing, automatic scheduled shutoff, multi-level dimming, local manual control and exterior/façade shutoff — which map to sections of the 2021 Washington State Energy Code, Commercial Provisions (Ch. 51-11C WAC, effective March 15, 2024). Full compliance depends on occupancy type, space size, scope and the authority having jurisdiction; larger scopes requiring luminaire-level or networked controls and independent commissioning use Lutron's commercial systems.
How much can lighting controls save a business?
Lighting is about 17% of a typical U.S. commercial building's electricity use, per the U.S. Energy Information Administration — and most of it runs longer than it needs to. Per Lutron, automated controls — occupancy sensing, scheduling and dimming — can cut lighting energy by up to 60% versus manual switching.
Can I control many lights or high-bays from one hub?
Yes. One Caséta hub controls up to 75 devices, and scenes command whole banks of fixtures at once — as with the competition volleyball facility we wired, where staff run every high-bay bank from a phone with game, practice and clean-up scenes and a scheduled auto-off.
Does commercial Caséta need Wi-Fi to work?
No. Caséta runs on Lutron's Clear Connect radio, not your Wi-Fi. Control stays local and keeps working even if the internet or network is down — important for retail, restaurants and facilities that can't afford lights they can't control.
Does Caséta support the controlled receptacles offices need?
It can, on the right projects. Washington's energy code requires at least 50% of receptacles in offices, conference rooms, break rooms and workstations to switch off automatically (WSEC C405.10). Caséta plug-in appliance modules turn receptacle-fed loads — task lights, monitors, space heaters — on and off by occupancy or schedule, and Seattle guidance recognizes a smart-plug approach for alterations that meet energy and electrical code. New construction typically uses hard-wired controlled receptacles, which our electricians install and commission.
Who installs commercial Lutron lighting control near Seattle, Everett and Mount Vernon?
Eco Electric — a licensed Washington electrical, plumbing and HVAC contractor operating since 2012 — designs, installs and programs Lutron Caséta and Lutron commercial lighting control across the Seattle, Everett and Mount Vernon areas.
Continue exploring
Lutron Caséta for your home →
The residential guide — every benefit, room by room, with the energy data behind it.
Commercial services overview →
Licensed commercial plumbing & electrical across the Puget Sound.
Commercial EV charging →
Level 2 banks, load management, and make-ready work for fleets and tenants.
Lutron — the brand page →
Why we install Lutron, in the electrical brand catalog.
Sources & further reading
The figures and code references in this guide come from Lutron, Washington State and independent, high-authority energy sources, linked below.
Lutron (manufacturer)
- Caséta system capabilities and the up-to-60% controls-savings figure — Lutron — Caséta Smart Lighting
- Lutron's commercial platforms (Vive, RadioRA) for networked, code-driven scopes — Lutron — Commercial Lighting Solutions
Washington State Energy Code
- 2021 code editions in effect statewide (effective March 15, 2024); 2024 update in rulemaking — Washington State Building Code Council
- 2021 WSEC Commercial Provisions — §C405 lighting controls (full text) — 2021 WSEC, Commercial Provisions — up.codes viewer
- Controlled receptacles: ≥50% automatic receptacle control in offices, conference rooms, break rooms and workstations — WAC 51-11C-40510 (Section C405.10)
- Occupant sensor controls required in enclosed offices, conference rooms, break rooms, restrooms and more; open-plan offices over 5,000 sq ft step up to C405.2.8 — WAC 51-11C-405021 (Section C405.2.1)
Energy data
- Lighting ≈17% of commercial-building electricity use — U.S. EIA — Electricity use for lighting (FAQ)
Lutron®, Caséta®, Pico®, Clear Connect®, Radio Powr Savr®, Vive® and RadioRA® are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lutron Electronics Co., Inc. Eco Electric is an independent licensed contractor and installer and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Lutron Electronics. Product capabilities and device limits reflect Lutron published specifications and may change. Energy-code references are provided for general information only and are not a compliance determination.
Let's light your space smarter.
From a single conference room to a full athletic facility, our licensed commercial electricians design, install and program the right Lutron system — and hand you the app.