modern-kitchen-interor-led-bulb-lighting
Smart LED bulbs put you in control of household lighting
Veda Dante, August
2017
Over the past decade, LED lighting has become a cheaper and cost-effective alternative to standard light bulbs. With a longer lifespan, reduce lifetime running cost and improved directional lighting, it’s clear to see why people are finally making the switch.
But, there’s more to these energy-efficient bulbs than meets the eye. Over the past few years, a new-wave of wireless smart LED lighting has swept the market. From the Philips Hue to LIFX and C by GE – these smart LED bulbs put you in charge of your household and outdoor lighting.
By replacing your current halogen or CFL bulb and installing a central hub, you can control your lights from the comfort of a smartphone or tablet. However, as Mike Andrews from ITA Electrical explains, this is only a fraction of what you can achieve with smart home LED lighting.\
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Making the switch to smart home LED lighting is a fantastic way to reduce your energy bills and enhance your lifestyle.[/caption]
Voice command
If you have a digital assistant like Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri or Google Assistant, you can use custom voice commands to control your smart LED lights. Simply give your smart light bulbs specific names and ask your digital assistant to scan the area for new devices. When it detects the new lights, they’ll be instantly added to the database. You can then ask the assistant to switch the lights on or off, dim or brighten the lights to your liking. You can also group lights together to control different rooms or sections of lighting. This is particularly useful if you want to separately control smart ceiling lights or lamps that exist in the same room.Control lights without a central hub
One downside to having smart LED lights is setting up the central hub. For most devices on the market, you need this hub to relay information from your smartphone to the light bulbs. However, if you want to avoid the hassle of buying and installing a central hub – the LIFX Gen 3 light bulbs can simply connect to your WiFi and be controlled straight away.Motion sensing
Want to save even more on your energy bills? The Smart Lamp LED Motion Sensor could be the answer. This smart bulb has an inbuilt PIR sensor that lights up when movement is detected. After 60 seconds of inactivity, it automatically switches off to conserve power. This energy-saving potential is ideal for homeowners looking to cut costs on their energy bills. It also works as an outdoor security light to protect your home from intruders. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWbMJJYosKE[/embed]Automated Scenes
Most smart home LEDs can be automated to create ‘scenes’ in the home. This means you can instruct the lights to perform specific functions at certain times of the day. This feature opens up a wealth of possibilities for the home. Having trouble sleeping? Schedule your lights to change to a warmer tone before you go to bed. Want to wake up feeling rested? Set an alarm on the app and have your lights gradually become brighter when morning arrives. If you have the Philips Hue Lights, you can even use GPS tracking to have your lights switch on as you walk towards the door. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="772"]