There are many ways to get started with home automation. One of the easiest places to start is with your house lighting. Not only is it a smart option, but it is also a great way to save energy and money.
When we talk about getting started with smart lighting, we’re talking about smart light bulbs you use in place of your regular light bulbs. Many smart light bulbs feature WiFi and can be controlled by your smartphone or tablet. While that may sound simple, there’s so much more to these light bulbs. There are a number of different types of connected lights available, from color changing bulbs to other advanced options.
There are smart light bulbs that come in a number of color options and you can pick the color and brightness you want, and even recreate colors within a certain image you have on your phone. For example, you could schedule bright lights to turn on in the morning to help you wake up, dim the lights during dinner, and have them change colors and flash during a party. Some light bulbs even allow you to create your own smart recipe, such as having the lights flash a certain color every time you get an email.
The Philips Hue is considered by many to be the best option for smart lights, but it’s not the only option out there on the market. Elgato has created a wireless smart light bulb. That’s right – you don’t need a hub, just an iOS device to control it. And going a step beyond the smart bulb is LightwaveRF, which lets you control your entire home, not just your lights. The LightwaveRF unit replaces your sockets and switches. On it, are push-buttons and LED indicators. From your smart device, you can control anything that is plugged into these switches, whether it’s lighting, a computer, or a fan. You can even set routines based on your daily activities. Turn on the coffee maker every morning at 7am. Boot up your computer at 6pm so it’s up and running by the time you get home from work.
As you can see, there’s a smart light bulb option out there for everyone. Best of all, they are some of the easiest home automation solutions to install. Simply twist the bulb in and you’re ready to make your home smart!
Photo by: Sho Hashimoto
