In my development work, I’m always looking for ways to use technology to solve everyday problems. My home is no different, and it all started more than 10 years ago with one very annoying light switch.
The light switch at the bottom of the stairs
We had just moved into a temporary apartment while we waited for our house to become available. It was a little downtown spot that used to be a law office, and when you walked in the front door, you went straight up a staircase.
Since it wasn’t ours, we couldn’t change much. And the switch for the main hallway light was at the bottom of those stairs.
It didn’t take long to get really tired of walking all the way downstairs every night just to turn off a light. So I started looking for a fix. A timer? Something like the Clapper? Anything that would let me turn off that light without the trip down the stairs.
The bulb that changed everything
While searching online, I found a smart light bulb made by GE. I screwed it in, set a time for it to turn on and a time for it to turn off, and that was it. No more stairs.
My first thought was, where has this been all my life?
That one little bulb sent me down a path I’m still on today. Over time, I slowly switched all of my lights to smart lights, and later added other smart devices too.
What life with smart lights looks like now
Here’s what that slow switch has given us:
- No more coming home to a dark house. Lights come on before we get home, every time.
- Lights only run when they need to. Schedules and timers keep lights and other devices from running all day, which helps make the house more energy efficient.
- Bedtime is easy. No more walking room to room turning off every light someone left on.
- Control from the couch. Turn lights on or off without getting up.
My wife thought I was nuts back then. Now, years later, she’s the one who gets irritated when a light loses its Wi-Fi connection and doesn’t respond. Having to walk over and flip a switch by hand makes her feel like a Neanderthal.
What it could look like for you
Smart lights aren’t just a gadget. They can make your home work better for you:
- A safer home. Never walk into a dark house, and set lights to turn on and off while you’re out of town so it looks like someone’s home.
- Fewer battles over the light bill. Kids leaving lights on isn’t the end of the world when you can turn them off from your phone, or have them turn off on a schedule.
- Better routines. Set lights to dim or shut off at bedtime as a nudge to actually go to bed on time.
Start with one bulb
My best advice is to start small. Pick one light bulb and one problem you’re tired of dealing with. Maybe it’s a light you always forget to turn off, a dark entryway, or a lamp you wish came on by itself.
Once you see how much easier that one thing gets, you’ll start spotting other small time savers all over the house. From there you can move on to smart switches, plugs, cameras and so much more. There’s a lot available these days.
Start at a lower price point
If you’re thinking about getting into smart home tech, it’s much nicer to start without spending a lot. Check out the smart home deals on cDeals, including smart bulbs and other devices that make a great first step.
