What is Smart Lighting & Why is it the Future of our Homes

What is Smart lighting?


Intelligent, simple, and safe are some words used to describe Smart lighting. Often described by domestic lighting manufacturers as the future of lighting, Smart lighting is exactly what it sounds like: a more advanced and intelligent form of lighting technology providing a similar offering to what smartphones offer in the phone market. Smart lighting essentially uses advanced technology to light your home and contains software that connects it to an app and Smart accessories, such as voice assistants and Smart hubs.

With everything it can do, it's a no-brainer to equip your home with this lighting solution. Doing this would allow you to automate every light in your home, from ceiling and wall lights to desk lights, and control them remotely. This technology means the need to get up from your desk or chair to adjust your lights is behind you.

How does Smart lighting work?

Now you know the answer to “What is Smart lighting?” let’s discuss how it works. Smart lighting operates through Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or both. As it comes in many different forms, deciding what works best for your home will depend on your individual needs. Consider the devices you have in your home you can integrate your smart lighting with. You should also determine how far you want to make changes to the existing electrical system.

Smart lightbulbs are by far the most common and successful offering on the market. A Smart lightbulb is an LED lightbulb you can control remotely through Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. These lighting solutions can also offer scheduling features, motion sensing and RGB colour customisation, allowing you to match the light colour to the mood and atmosphere of the room. Smart lightbulbs are a great way to enhance your existing lights with little effort. By simply installing a Smart lightbulb into a compatible light socket, any light can be a Smart light.

Smart plugs are another way to implement Smart lighting into your home. Once plugged into your standard wall outlet, they will act as a Wi-Fi-enabled adapter and control the flow of electricity to other devices connected to them. Naturally, Smart plugs can be controlled via remote controls, apps, and voice assistants, and be used to operate desk lamps, floor lamps, and decorative lights.

Unlike Smart plugs, Smart switches are not adapters. They are installed in place of a traditional wall switch. They offer similar functions to that of Smart lighting, such as scheduling features or motion sensing, and work best with Smart lightbulbs.

How to control your Smart lighting:

As you now know, Smart lighting can be operated using remote control, app, and voice control. Lighting products within EGLO’s Connect Z range offer a combination of these options. For instance, our PARRAPOS-Z LED ceiling light from our Connect Z. range uses Bluetooth along with ZigBee 3.0 and can be operated using a free app (AwoX HomeControl).

Remote control: The easiest way to control your EGLO Connect Smart lighting. It includes all functions such as brightness, colour temperature, and mood.

App: Control through the App allows you to combine different Smart lighting fixtures into a group to change the room’s lighting with one action. It also lets you schedule your lighting, so it is ready for you once you return home

Voice control: Alexa and other voice assistants have become an integral part of everyday life for many people. This is no different for lighting, as switching your lights on and off can be achieved with a simple voice command. Furthermore, you can dim your Smart lighting with your voice assistant to create your desired atmosphere.

 

What are the benefits of Smart lighting?

Smart lighting is usually a bit more expensive upfront than traditional lighting options. However, its long-term benefits significantly outweigh its higher initial cost.

Lower energy use: Smart lightbulbs use CFL or LED lightbulbs instead of incandescent lightbulbs, allowing them to provide a more energy-efficient home lighting solution.

 

Longer life span: An incandescent lightbulb has an average lifespan of 750 to 2,000 hours, whereas LED Smart lights can work continuously for 35,000 to 50,000 hours, reducing the need to replace your lighting immediately.

 

Easy-to-use light customisation: Smart lightbulbs can be scheduled to turn on when you come home from work, dim toward the end of the day, or turn off at specific times. 

 

Fun settings and usage: Smart lighting is as fun as it is functional. Certain models can be set to change colour or alter a room’s mood. They also have different settings ranging from bright and efficient to relaxing and romantic. This is why many decorative lighting manufacturers in the UK agree that smart lighting makes a fun and exciting addition to any home.

Smart lighting: the future of our homes

Smartphones, tablets, and voice assistants like Alexa have ingrained themselves into everyday life, making us reliant on technology for many daily tasks. Lighting is an essential feature of any home, so it only makes sense for Smart lighting to follow in these footsteps. Smart lighting lets you automate an integral part of your home, adding to an easier and more convenient living space. Along with the fun novelty of colour-changing LEDs to jazz up your living space, it allows you to focus your attention elsewhere. Considering how Smart technology has taken over so many parts of our lives, the future of home lighting is certainly looking Smart. For high-quality Smart lighting solutions, look no further than EGLO. Explore our range of Smart lighting products or contact us today to transform your home.