7 Reasons You Should Replace Your Indoor Light Bulbs With Smart Ones

Lured in by the potential benefits of swapping your lights for smart bulbs? You’re not alone. Almost 50% of homeowners now have one smart-enabled feature within their living space. When you’re exploring a new option, hesitancy is normal. However, with smart bulbs, the pros outweigh the cons.

We spoke with two energy experts to understand the best perks of smart bulbs and why they make such a great investment.

Smart Bulbs Save Money

Smart bulbs are one smart home upgrade that is worth the money—one main reason being because it saves you on utility bills in the long run.

“Swapping to smart bulbs can yield big returns for homeowners,” says energy expert Dr. Naeem Turner-Bandele. “Lighting consumes approximately 10% of home electricity usage, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.”

There are a few ways that smart bulbs make this possible. One way is through automatic turn-off settings, according to applied scientist at Amazon and tech expert Amod Kant Agrawal. This way, your lights aren’t accidentally left on or lighting the room for no reason. Smart bulbs are often LED bulbs, which leads to better energy efficiency too.

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Smart Bulbs Save Energy

The LED format of a smart bulb is energy efficient and more sustainable. This is a huge perk for homeowners who are trying to reduce their footprint. With longer-lasting bulbs, you also get more usability out of one and won’t have to replace bulbs as often.

“Smart bulbs, which are made of LEDs, use up to 90% less energy than conventional bulbs, last tens of thousands of hours, and can give homeowners complete control over their lights’ brightness, color, and usage,” says Turner-Bandele.

They’re Convenient

Obviously, smart bulbs are convenient. You can set timers and control your lights through an app on your phone, tablet, or other smart device, giving you the ability to make adjustments from afar. You can check up on your energy usage throughout the month and turn off any lights that might’ve been left on.

You Get Control Over Timing and Brightness

Upgrading your house into a smart home totally boosts your comfort and complements your lifestyle. You don’t have to settle for one level of brightness in every room or opt for the standard bright, white light. When you’re away, you don’t have to set up clunky timers for safety or worry about how long a lamp has been left on.

“You can automate lighting controls based on when you’re home or away and set them to schedules,” says Turner-Bandele. “Homeowners can control these lights from their preferred devices or centralized home hubs.”

You can also cater to your favorite hobbies and activities. If you have an entertainment room, for instance, smart bulbs create the perfect experience.

“Some bulbs even sync with your TV, dynamically changing colors to mirror the content on screen, creating an immersive home theater experience that pulls you into the action,” says Agrawal.

Smart Bulbs Can Boost Home Value

When you’re comparing different home upgrades that boost property value, don’t overlook your lights. Hardwired systems present the risk of obsolescence and can be a pain if you want to completely change out lights. Smart bulbs, on the other hand, are much less effort with a big reward.

“Buyers are increasingly drawn to homes with built-in technology, and lighting is one of the most visible and easy-to-understand features,” says Agrawal. “A home equipped with intelligent lighting feels modern, efficient, and future-ready. It’s a small investment that can make a strong impression.”

You Can Mimic Natural Lighting

Long gone are the days when you could only control smart bulbs’ timer and on-off functionality through your device. Thanks to quite a few tech advances, you can do much more to set the atmosphere and tone of your home, and support your wellbeing.

“Today’s advanced bulbs can track the time of day and automatically adjust their color temperature to match your body’s natural circadian rhythm—cooler tones in the morning to promote alertness, warmer light in the evening to help you wind down,” says Agrawal.

Smart Bulbs Are Getting More Innovative

Agrawal points out that innovation is only going to grow. If you’re a fan of implementing high-tech features, there is an enormous future in upgrading your home in this respect.

“These bulbs are no longer just light sources—they can act as motion sensors by leveraging ambient wireless signals to detect presence and activity,” he says. “That’s a powerful upgrade without any extra hardware.”

Possible Downsides to Smart Bulbs

With any home upgrade, it’s important to explore all sides of it. While there are a number of great benefits, smart bulbs have a few disadvantages, too.

• Smart bulbs aren’t always great for homes with poor wifi connectivity or for homeowners who dislike using smart devices to control their home.
• Existing dimmer switches and custom fixtures can be tough to swap over.
• Any kind of smart device brings this risk with it, and smart bulbs aren’t excluded—they can even be hacked.

That said, both Agrawal and Dr. Turner-Bandele believe that the benefits outweigh the risks in almost all instances when it comes to getting smart bulbs in your home.