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Your Light Switches Should Be Smarter Than Your Light Bulbs
Installing a ‘smart’ light switch instead of smart light bulbs saved me hundreds of dollars, and made it easier to control my connected home
The connected home market isn’t always obvious in how it benefits you, but I think lighting is one of the places it makes sense — if it’s done right.
I began installing “smart” bulbs in my home when I lived in Europe, slowly upgrading as I replaced burned-out lights. I admit to becoming something of an obsessive: I worked to add perfect lighting for each room, setting the bulbs to automatically turn on at the right time, and barked at Google Assistant to throw on mood lighting.
But when I recently moved to North America, there was a problem: None of my old bulbs worked. The voltage here is different, so I needed to start all over again.
Buying smart light bulbs is a significant investment. The most recognizable brand is Philips Hue, which makes LED bulbs that can be controlled via your phone and are generally priced at a eye-watering $49 per bulb. IKEA sells a cheaper, compatible bulb called TRÅDFRI for $29, but that will still make a dent in your wallet if you want to wire up your entire home.
