Home Lighting Automation: What You Need to Know

Home lighting automation is probably more convenient than you expect.

Lighting Automation Saves Steps and Energy

The biggest benefits of any home automation, including lights, are energy savings and fewer steps. You can control the level of light plus set them to shut off automatically, and you don't have to walk to a wall switch to accomplish it.

Most lighting automation systems work with a hub, touchscreen, smartphone or all of them. That gives you some flexibility. Some are so simple that they're literally plug-and-play. And some are more sophisticated and require some initial programming and setup before they're ready to use.

Whether you need to download an app to control the lights or speak commands to a hub such as Amazon's Echo, the result is lighting that's simpler to use and more effective. It's different, but don't let that intimidate you. If you can screw in a lightbulb, you can use home lighting automation.

Smart lighting also makes homes safer.

Everyday Home Lighting Offers Lots of Choices

Probably the simplest form of home lighting automation is the smart light bulb. Phillips makes Hue for about $170, which PC Magazine says has been around long enough that it "works with just about every other system out there, from Amazon Echo to IFTTT (If This Then That) to Siri (using the Philips Hue Bridge 2.0)." Install the bulb - whichever brand you choose - and your hub or smartphone lets you turn lights on and off, dim them with precision and even change the light color.

BeOn bulbs cost about $200 for three LEDs that use home automation, plus they switch on when someone rings a doorbell and work when the power is out. Another option is the Belkin WeMo switch, which is a motion-sensor smart outlet where you can plug in any light, such as an ordinary lamp, and control it, including scheduling on and off times, using a smartphone or IFTTT.

A third option is built-in smart lighting, which usually requires professional installation. All of your fixtures, such as ceiling fans, recessed lighting, and chandeliers, can have practically any feature that you want. Imagine how handy it would be to have lights that switch on when you enter a room and switch off when you leave, hands-free.

Outdoor Lighting Can Also be Smart

Homeowners are getting a lot more creative with outdoor lighting. But instead of manually programmed timers and switches, you can control all of it using an app or voice-activated hub. The standard lights that you'd expect are available, such as floodlights for driveways and landscaping features plus mood lighting for your deck or patio. But there are other clever options that make outdoor entertaining more interesting.

Lumenplay offers expandable sets of string lights that start at around $50. Using a smartphone app, you can change the light color and choose a twinkling pattern and synch them to music. For about $31, you can add a PlayBulb light to your garden. It operates the same way as interior smart lightbulbs.

For a high-end experience, FX Luminaire systems cost between $200 and $700 for the power supply alone. But you can add an array of lights, including virtually everything imaginable for landscapes and home exteriors. Use a smartphone app to control each component separately.

Home automation keeps getting better all the time. Chances are if you can imagine it, it's available. Precision control that's simpler than operating an on/off wall switch is part of what makes lighting automation so nice. And energy savings is another bonus. You can even control lights away from home, in many cases.

When you're ready to upgrade your home's lighting to the 21st century's cutting-edge, let Rodenhiser help. We've served the Route 495 / 128 area since 1928, and we can make your home a marvel of lighting automation. Call us for expert electrical service today.