Know these smart lighting essentials to enhance your living experience!
Agreed, standard lighting is convenient for many but it can be boring too! With a simple turn on and off of tube lights or maybe a chandelier with dimming or a table lamp to set the vibe, but that’s all. Opting for home automation can provide a new life to your existing lighting and give your space a whole new look and feel! Smart lights are exciting, easy-to-operate, and add that ‘it’ factor which we all aim to achieve in our homes!
This guide will provide you with all the key essentials of a smart lighting system to keep your space updated with the latest technology and bring comfort and convenience too!
What is Smart Lighting?
Simply put, smart lighting is an advanced way to light your space with smart bulbs. You can control all lights in your home through an app that is installed in your smart devices like a smartphone. What’s even more convenient is that you can control the lights remotely the way you prefer. And you don’t require those old-style wall switches too!
You can not only turn the lights on and off with an easy touch but can also adjust the intensity of light too i.e.brighter or dimmer. What’s more? You can also opt for colored LED bulbs and introduce the color of your choice in your chosen room or area!
From introducing the correct level of brightness for working to setting the right mood for chilling; you can form any ambience with a smart lighting system. It means, you don’t need to spare your time to find the right lights for performing usual activities, smart lights allow you to get the right light with your smart device!
Common Types of Smart Lights For Your Home
Smart lights are an innovative and convenient way to upscale the lighting experience in your home. Thanks to technological advancements and The Internet of Things (IoT), smart light systems are more easily accessible and pocket-friendly than ever before!
Here are some common types of smart lighting systems available everywhere:
Smart Bulbs
Smart bulbs are basically LED bulbs which are controlled with a mobile app, hub, or voice command. These lights make a convenient solution for changing colors, brightness, and color temperature. These lights can be programmed to turn on and off with sensors or as per scheduled times.
Smart Switches
The traditional light switches can be replaced with smart switches and can be controlled with a mobile app, hub, or voice command. These technologically-advanced devices can turn on and off lights, control brightness, and even form schedules.
Smart Plugs
Smart plugs are ideally attached to the wall outlet and can be used to control the power supply of fans, lamps, or any chosen electrical devices. These plugs are controlled with a mobile app, hub, or voice command. They can be programmed to turn on and off with sensors or as per scheduled times.
Smart Lighting Strips
Smart lighting strips are also known as LED strips that can be added along walls, along PVC wall panels, on ceilings, or mounted under cabinets to form ambient lighting. These lights can be controlled with a mobile app, hub, or voice command. LED strips make a convenient option for changing color, brightness, and color temperature as per need or requirements!
Smart Lighting Fixtures
Smart lighting fixtures i.e.wall sconces, table lamps, and floor lights are integrated light options that can be with a mobile app, hub, or voice command. These fixtures make a convenient option for changing color, brightness, and color temperature as per need or requirements. Plus these can be programmed to turn on and off with sensors or as per scheduled times.
Benefits of Smart Lighting Systems
Smart lights with the Internet of Things (IoT) provide innumerable benefits that can elevate the lighting experience in homes and chosen spaces. Here are some of the key benefits of smart lighting systems:
Convenience - Smart lights can be easily controlled with a mobile app, hub, or voice command. It allows users to adjust the lighting system from anywhere and anytime.
Energy Efficiency - Smart lighting systems get automatically off when not required or with sensors for detecting occupancy. This feature helps consume less energy compared to conventional lights and is hence useful for getting lower electricity bills.
Customization - Smart lights make the best solution for creating a personalized and comforting lighting experience in homes and spaces. The smart light settings can be used as per the needs, moods, and preferences of the user.
Security - Smart lighting systems are crucial for improving the safety of spaces. With the automation of lights and stimulating occupancy, it gets easier to detect intruders and improve vigilance.
Aesthetics - Smart lighting systems are the best way to accentuate the decor and ambiance of the home. With changing colors, brightness, and color temperature, you can form any vibe or feel of your choice.
Valid Reasons To Opt for Smart Lighting
Here are some valid reasons to convert your conventional lights into smart lighting systems:
Automatic Lighting Controls Help To Reduce Electricity
For reducing energy consumption, smart lighting is the ideal choice. These lights are designed to be energy-convenient and are super convenient in usage. You don’t have to move an inch to operate these lights!
Since smart lights can be controlled remotely, you can minimize the unnecessary usage of energy and still receive the required comfort and convenience with it. In case you forget to switch off the lights and head outdoors, you can turn it off anytime and anywhere. That’s how you save energy the smart way!
Smart LED bulbs consume less energy than traditional or conventional bulbs. A typical incandescent bulb is 60W for spotlights and 50W for candle bulbs. Whereas a smart bulb is 9.5W or 5.5W respectively. The general lighting application takes up to 19% of the world’s energy and adds to around 6% of greenhouse emissions. If everyone switches to smart lighting, then these numbers will lower considerably.
Also, if you wish to create a special ambiance in your balcony, backyard or other outdoor spaces, then the automatic sensor lights (daylight-linked smart response system lights) make the best possible solution. These lights have the feature of ‘sensing’ the sunlight and switching on and off accordingly. This way, you don’t need to worry about the lights being left on by mistake and these get on only when you need it. This automation system helps save a lot of money on your electricity bills!
Smart Lights Are Convenient Than Traditional Lights
For those who don’t prefer walking into a dark room or home, smart lighting is a comforting solution for them. Smart lights mostly have a sensor feature which identifies if there is any activity in the room and lights get on and off accordingly.
This feature is super convenient compared to traditional lights, wherein you have to walk towards the switchboard and on or off the lights manually. It is great for large homes or rooms where light switches are generally added to the hard-to-reach corners or places.
Also, with automatic light systems, kids don’t need to reach for the switches and this can make your home a much safer and more comforting place for the little ones.
Smart Lights Offer More Security
The safety and security of a home or office are a prime concern for all of us. Automatic lights serve as the perfect security measure for scaring burglars or intruders. By installing the sensors near the entrance, low wall or at any vulnerable spot; the same will trigger and avoid possible burglary and other mishaps.
For security and vigilance, you don’t need to have bright lights on at all times. The smart lights and automatic light sensors allow for enough illumination near the areas of your choice and add to the safety of your home.
Selection of Bulbs For Smart Lighting Systems
For a smart lighting system, you need to opt for LED bulbs only. These are available in two kinds - white and color-changing bulbs. These bulbs have a longer life span compared to traditional lights and consume less electricity. Smart lights are available with various features like occupancy sensors, motion-detection sensors, daylight sensors, and more. You can even customize these lights as per specific requirements.
Tips To Convert Normal Lights to Smart Lights
Here are some easy steps to convert the normal lights to smart lights:
Select Smart Light System - Opt for a smart light system that suits your need, preference, and budget. Make sure it is compatible with the existing wiring and system in your home.
Add Smart Switches and Plugs - Replace the existing, conventional bulbs, switches etc with smart ones. Get the lighting expert’s help for this work.
Connect to Network or Hub - Connect the smart light devices to the network or using your smartphone application or voice command. Ensure that the network is correctly configured and updated for smooth functioning.
Set Up schedules - Smart light systems can be programmed as per your requirements. Turn on and off the lights at specific times with sensors or as per your activity or behavior.
Enjoy the Lighting Automation - It is super convenient to control the smart lights using your mobile app, hub, or voice command. Your living experience will get enhanced with the comfort, convenience and customization features that smart light offers!
Smart Lighting System - Opportunities and Challenges
Know these opportunities and challenges that are associated with smart lighting systems:
Opportunities of Smart Lighting System
High demand - Smart homes and the Internet of Things (IOT) are a rising trend in today’s times. For this purpose, smart lighting systems make a must-add solution for spaces. Plus, the high demand for smart lights allows manufacturers and service providers to expand their businesses as well!
Enhance User Experience - With comfort and convenience at your fingertips, smart lighting systems provide a comfortable and convenient lighting experience in homes and chosen spaces. It adds to enhancing the quality of life.
Safety and security - With smart lights, you can improve the safety and security of your home and surroundings. It helps avoid burglaries and accidents and detects possible intruders.
Energy efficiency - Smart lighting systems help reduce energy consumption and lower electricity bills too. These are superior lighting choices that contribute to a sustainable environment and benefit society and nature as a whole.
Challenges of Smart Lighting System
Cost - Smart lights can be a bit more expensive than conventional lighting systems. So for budget-conscious buyers and businesses, it may not be a go-to choice.
Complexity - Smart lighting systems can make a complex choice for installation and maintenance. It requires help from technical expertise for proper set-up and specialized knowledge.
Privacy and Security - A smart light system can be exposed or vulnerable to data breaches and cyber-attacks. The same can expose the user’s confidential information and compromise their privacy and security
Interoperability - Smart lights by different manufacturers are mostly not interoperable. The same can limit the user’s choices to expand and customize their lighting systems
Also Read: 8 Handy Tips To Select The Right Switches For Your Home
