The Benefits of Smart Bulbs – A Quick Guide to Smart Lighting
[vc_row equal_height=”yes”][vc_column][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_facebook type=”button_count”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″][vc_tweetmeme share_via=”YinzBuy”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/6″ css=”.vc_custom_1606731333432{margin-top: -5px !important;}”][vc_pinterest][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner][vc_column_text]Technology has changed rapidly, with product automation becoming one of the most popular and interactive commodities of today’s world. Today’s market is all about efficiency, and light bulbs are becoming one of the popular products that aim to achieve that. As a result, there are many benefits of having smart bulbs in your home, such as electric efficiency and comfortability.
But what is it exactly that smart bulbs do, and how can you use them? There are many awesome uses that smart bulbs can provide to you. Read on to learn all about smart bulbs and the benefits of smart lighting.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
What Do Smart Bulbs Do?
Smart bulbs are light bulbs that can be customized and controlled wirelessly from a smart device without the need for a manual light switch. Smart lighting works through the integration of various systems:
- Bluetooth
- WiFi
This allows for devices to be interconnected with each other and controlled through your phone. You no longer have to stand up and find the light switch to turn your lights on or off. In fact, smart lighting can be entirely programmed to turn on and off and change colors on set timers based on your needs.
For example, you can customize your smart bulb to be turned on whenever someone knocks or rings at your door or whenever someone comes into a room. No matter where you are, these bulbs also let you control them if you are far away from home (although not all devices support this type of feature).
Smart bulbs can have a lot of different customizable features depending on the type of bulb and what functions it offers:
- Speakers
- Built-in cameras
- Multiple colors
The point of smart bulbs is to make your house efficient. They make the behavior of your lights more comfortable to work with and easier to use.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
What Can You Connect Smart Bulbs to?
You can connect your smart bulbs to a variety of devices. Some smart lighting systems come with their own proprietary controlling app, but others are controlled from other smart devices you likely have already in your home.
- Smartphone
- Alexa or Google Home Assistant
- Hub
- Other smart bulbs or compatible smart devices, such as a motion sensor
With a variety of smart lighting devices on the market, not every single one of them uses the same method of connection. Therefore, not all mobile devices are able to connect to these types of lights. However, the most common smart devices listed above can control many of the most popular smart lighting systems on the market today.
Smartphone
Smartphones might be the easiest and most convenient way to use your smart light bulbs. After all, smartphones are always at the reach of your hand and stay with you wherever you go.
With a few touches of your screen, you can decide how much illumination you want in a room, what types of colors you prefer, and how you wish your smart bulb to behave.
Depending on the smart bulb, you can connect them via the internet or Bluetooth. For example, Wyze smart bulbs are able to be installed and controlled via WiFi. In order to use the Wyze bulb you purchased, you need to create a Wyze account and download the app.
This will allow you to set up and customize the smart light bulb whenever you wish.
Amazon Alexa / Home Assistant
Turning on your lights just with your voice is an easy management function that Alexa and other home assistants can do for you.
You can use a variety of home assistant devices, such as the Echo Dot, which is an economical Amazon smart device. Whether you are coming in with your groceries or otherwise have your hands full, just say, “Alexa, turn on the lights”. Your smart lighting system will light up the room, almost as if by magic.
Hub
While certain lights require only installing the app through a smartphone, there are also smart lights that require a hub. Many smart bulbs connect directly via WiFi or Bluetooth, while others require a hub for smart device control.
For instance, you have Sengled, which is a hub that allows you to control multiple smart home devices from your smartphone. In order to do this, you have to connect the Sengled hub to a router to be able to send messages to your smart devices.
If you have a hub that is connected through WiFi, you have other options that smart bulbs controlled by smart home devices do not have, such as the ability to control it away from home.
Other Smart Products
There are lots of ways to connect smart bulbs in your home, including other smart products. For example, by installing a motion sensor, it will turn on your smart lighting system when it detects movement. It can even be paired in combination with your door lock, so your smart lights turn on when you pull into the driveway or unlock your door.
Lights can also be paired together to control multiple smart bulbs at once. For instance, these smart pathway lights chain up to 5 lights together. Illuminate your entire walkway with just one click on your phone.
Smart bulbs from the same manufacturer generally allow you to control them from the same app as well. Add some outdoor smart bulbs to your pathway lights, and turn on all your exterior lights at the same time from the same place. This allows for safety and convenience all in one![/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Can You Control Smart Bulbs Away from Home?
In most cases, you can control smart bulbs if you are away from home. However, it all depends on the type of smart bulb that you are using. Some examples of smart light systems that can be controlled while you are away from home are below.
- Philips Hue Bridge
- LIFX
- DiyHue emulator
It is useful to have control over your home smart lighting system because you can program it based on your ideal parameters. If you do not want people to think your house is empty, you can have your lights come on when someone rings your doorbell. You can also program a night light to come on for a pet who might be at home.
If your smart lights are not connected to WiFi but connect to a hub that is, you can still control them while away from home.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Do Smart Bulbs Work without WiFi?
Some smart bulbs can work without WiFi, instead using a Bluetooth connection for functionality. Bulbs that do use WiFi may also have a backup system that allows for partial functionality when WiFi is unavailable.
Even if a backup is equipped, not all smart light systems will operate at full functionality without WiFi.
- Lights still operate even if the internet is down, but customizations and schedules will be affected if they are not connected to WiFi.
- Without WiFi, the ability to control your lights remotely is disabled. Even with Bluetooth, you’ll have to be in close proximity to regain control.
- Due to Alexa using your internet connection, you will be unable to use voice commands if your wireless is down.
Your smart lighting system’s reliance on WiFi depends on the model you have.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Do Smart Bulbs Use a Lot of Electricity?
Smart bulbs do not use a lot of electricity. While they do consume a small amount even when they are turned off, you will not see a significant increase in electricity usage. If you are upgrading from traditional bulbs, you may even see a decrease in your electric bill.
If you are switching between regular LED bulbs to smart LED bulbs, there will be a tiny increase in electricity consumption that you might not even notice. However, if you are switching from traditional non-LED to LED smart bulbs, you will notice that your bulbs are using less energy than before:
| Bulb Type | Energy Consumption | Annual Cost | ||
| Incandescent | 60 Watts | $14.58 | ||
| Compact Fluorescent | 15 Watts | $3.65 | ||
| Regular LED | 6 Watts | $1.46 | ||
| Smart LED | 7 Watts | $1.70 | ||
| *Based on a standard 60W or equivalent bulb | ||||
| **Using average price of 13.31 cents per kWh in the United States | ||||
| ***Assuming an average of 5 hours per day of usage | ||||
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
How Long Do Smart Bulbs Last?
Most smart bulbs are LED. On average, LED smart bulbs can last from 15 to 25 years each.
- LED bulbs last longer than fluorescent or incandescent light bulbs.
- LED lights are 90 percent more efficient than other types of non-smart bulbs.
These long-lasting bulbs can save you a lot of money in the long run if you are thinking of replacing your old, traditional non-LED bulbs with smart light bulbs.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]
Do Smart Bulbs Work with Normal Switches?
Yes, smart bulbs do work with normal switches as any traditional light bulb would. You can flip the switch and turn the light on or off. Some smart bulbs are available in a dimmable option as well, for use specifically with dimmer switches.
One of the best features of smart lights is the variety of ways in which you can control them:
- From your smartphone.
- Via voice control, with the help of a home assistant.
- By hand, using a manual light switch.
It is up to you whether or not you want to use a smart bulb through a wall switch or through your smartphone. Having both available is great as well, since a wall switch can also provide backup during a WiFi outage.
You can also use smart switches as an alternative to smart lights. In this case, the switches themselves provide the smart controls, while using your existing lights. If you want to make the jump and install a smart switch, check out our in-depth look at the Kasa smart switch.
At the end of the day, choose whatever works best for you and feels optimal for your smart house efficiency.
As noted on our Affiliate Disclaimer page, links to products inside this blog could lead to sales commissions (at no additional cost to you) which allow this site to continue operations.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row]
