Want to cut your energy bills and modernize your home in one fell swoop?
Smart lighting fixtures are quickly emerging as the answer for homeowners looking to save money and help the environment. The technology is maturing fast.
In fact…
Fixtures no longer just turn on and off on their own. They actively work to reduce wasted electricity while also giving homeowners total control over their home lighting environment.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- The importance of smart lighting for energy efficiency
- How these fixtures actually save you money
- Key features to look for when shopping
- How to get started with smart lighting
Smart Lighting for Energy Efficiency
Smart lighting fixtures bring together LED technology and intelligent controls to form the ideal energy-saving lighting solution for homes.
This matters because lighting makes up around 15% of a typical home’s electricity consumption. That’s a huge percentage of the monthly energy bill that can be dramatically reduced with a smarter approach.
According to the U.S. Department of Energy, LEDs use up to 90% less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. Smart controls take these savings even further.
In fact, the smart lighting market is projected to reach $56.63 billion by 2030. Clearly, both homeowners and businesses are taking energy efficiency seriously.
Impressive, huh?
Shopping for smart lighting fixtures gives homeowners access to technology that automatically adjusts brightness, responds to occupancy, and integrates with other smart home systems.
The result is a comprehensive approach to energy management that was impossible before the advent of smart lighting.
How Smart Lighting Fixtures Save You Money
Savings from smart lighting fixtures come from several different sources. Understanding each one maximizes the return on investment.
Automated Dimming: Smart fixtures automatically adjust brightness based on levels of natural daylight. When sunlight floods a room, the fixtures dim to compensate.
The result is no more accidents of lights running at full power when they’re not needed.
Occupancy Detection: Sensors built into smart lighting systems only allow lights to operate when someone is present in the room. Empty rooms stay dark.
The energy waste that comes from lights being left on accidentally is cut out entirely.
Scheduling Capabilities: Homeowners can program their smart lighting to turn on and off on a daily schedule.
Lights are automatically shut off when the family heads out for work or school. Lights return on just before the last person gets home.
Remote Control: Forgot to turn off the lights before a weekend getaway or vacation? Smart lighting fixtures can be controlled remotely using smartphone apps.
This allows lights to be turned off when a house sits empty for days or even weeks.
The combined result of these features is savings that really add up over time.
Commercial buildings with smart lighting controls see an average 25-40% reduction in electricity use just from automated dimming.
Key Smart Lighting Features That Help You Save
Not all smart lighting fixtures are created equal. Some give much better energy efficiency than others.
Key features separate the top performers from the rest of the field.
Daylight Harvesting: This feature measures the amount of natural light coming into a room using light sensors.
The output of the smart fixture is adjusted based on this measurement.
Rooms with large windows see tremendous gains from daylight harvesting because artificial light supplements rather than competes with natural light.
Geofencing Technology: Geofencing uses the location of smartphones to detect when residents are approaching or leaving the home.
The entire lighting system can then power down when a house is empty and turn on as residents approach.
Integration With Smart Thermostats: The best smart lighting fixtures also integrate with other smart home devices.
Connection to heating and cooling systems allows lighting to be part of a whole-home energy management strategy.
Color Temperature Adjustment: The best smart fixtures can shift the color temperature of their output throughout the day.
Warmer, evening tones use less energy while also helping people wind down and sleep better.
Voice Control Compatibility: Integration with voice assistants like Alexa or Google Home makes it easy to turn off multiple lights with a single voice command.
The ease of use these features deliver also increases the odds that homeowners will actually use them.
Getting Started With Smart Lighting
Making the switch to smart lighting fixtures isn’t all or nothing. Most homeowners start with a partial approach.
Begin With High Traffic Areas: Focus initial upgrades on the rooms where lights are used the most. Living rooms, kitchens, and home offices are often the best places to start due to the high level of daily use.
Pick Compatible Ecosystems: Before buying fixtures, choose which smart home platform you want to use. Google Home, Amazon Alexa, and Apple HomeKit each have their own ecosystems.
Select fixtures that will work with the rest of the chosen system to ensure everything communicates properly.
Retrofit Options: Many smart lighting solutions are compatible with existing fixtures. Smart bulbs and switches add intelligent controls without requiring entire fixtures to be replaced. Retrofit options can make a transition much more affordable.
Look For ENERGY STAR Certification: ENERGY STAR certification means products have met strict energy efficiency guidelines. They’ve been independently tested to ensure quality, performance, and real energy savings.
Plan For Expansion: Install a few key fixtures now but buy products that allow for easy expansion later on. Building out a full smart lighting solution over time spreads out the cost while still delivering savings each step of the way.
In Conclusion
Smart lighting fixtures are one of the most practical upgrades a homeowner can make to improve energy efficiency.
The technology has matured to the point where installation is simple and predictable.
LED efficiency combined with intelligent controls results in a lighting solution that adapts to the demands of daily life.
Lights work harder when needed and conserve energy when they’re not.
The result is measurable energy savings that really add up over time for homeowners who are serious about making a difference.
And the lower energy bills that come from installing smart lighting fixtures deliver an ROI that pays back the initial investment month after month.
Plus, the technology continues to improve while the cost of smart lighting fixtures is dropping year after year.
