Time to Turn On Smart Bulbs

The lightbulb has been around 140 years, and never been something to get excited about… until now.   Today, if you want more control in your life as well as creative and practical options that can transform the way you light up your home, well there’s the smart bulb.

The smart bulb uses LED and wireless technology that allows you to conveniently mange and program your lights using an app or voice assistant, set your desired mood, and even reduce your electric bills.

For example, if you, or your family members often forget to turn off the lights, with smart bulbs you can set schedules to automatically adjust the brightness, alter the color temperature from cool to warm, change color (Yes,  they make color changing bulbs!), and turn lights on/off.

Demand for smart lighting in the U.S. is expected to grow from less than $1 billion spent in 2018 to $4.4 billion by 2025.  The rise in popularity may be coinciding with an increase in the presence of voice assistants, like Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home, in homes.  Having this technology is an easy entry into accompanying home tech like the smart bulb.  And then there’s word of mouth, social media, and even brands are now doing a better job of educating customers and creating awareness.

When making your foray into the smart bulb world, be aware that some require a hub device (some included in a starter kit, but some sold separately).  Some brands work without a hub but need a Wi-Fi Router and at least a 2.4 GHz network for functionality.  And make sure your new bulb is compatible with your light fixture.  At the bare minimum, “a smart bulb should be programmable to turn on/off and dim when you are at home and away, have a dedicated app and integrate with a voice assistant,” says Google Assistant head of lighting Matt St. John.

And don’t be afraid to experiment.  Play with different settings, color temperatures, schemes and schedules.  Once you’ve decided on a look or scheme you like, automate the setting and scheduling with your app or smart home device.

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