Smart lighting is revolutionising homes across Australia. Intelligent lighting systems provide lighting automation, controls, and energy savings in a convenient, eco-friendly package. With advanced LED bulbs and smart tech, Australian households can easily reduce energy consumption and costs.
Why Smart Lighting Saves Energy
Smart lighting offers multiple ways to slash energy use while maintaining pleasant illumination.
- Efficient LED bulbs – LEDs use up to 90% less energy than incandescent bulbs. They last years longer too.
- Automated controls – Smart bulbs turn off automatically when not needed. No more lights left on.
- Dimming and tuning – Smart lights can dim and change colour temperature, providing light only as bright and warm as needed.
- Remote access – Control lights via smartphone even when away from home. Never leave lights on unnecessarily again.
- Integration with sensors – Connect motion sensors, door/window sensors etc. Lights turn on only when needed based on home activity and occupancy.
- Utility company integration – Some smart lights integrate with utility tariff info, dimming lights during peak rate periods to save money.
- Insights and analytics – View energy usage reports to identify savings opportunities.
Studies by the U.S. Department of Energy found LED smart lighting can reduce lighting electricity usage in the average home by 50-75%. The savings are real.
Smart Vs Conventional Lighting In Australia
Australia is rapidly adopting smart lighting, driven by energy savings, technology improvements, and environmental awareness. But what exactly are the key differences between smart systems and conventional lighting?
Conventional Lighting
- Uses inefficient incandescent and CFL bulbs
- Manual controls via wall switches
- No remote control from smartphones
- No integration with other smart devices
- Bulbs burn out frequently
- Difficult to create lighting ‘scenes’ for activities
- No usage insights or energy optimisation
Smart Lighting
- Uses efficient LED bulbs
- Automated scheduling and controls
- Remote smartphone control from anywhere
- Integrates with other smart home devices
- Long bulb lifespans, up to 15 years
- Customisable lighting scenes for different needs
- Analytics provide energy usage insights
For the average home, smart lighting provides superior convenience, flexibility and energy savings compared to conventional lighting.
How To Choose Smart Lights
With growing diversity in the smart lighting market, how do savvy Aussie homeowners pick the right smart lighting? Here are key factors to consider:
1. Bulb Types
- Screw-in bulbs – Convenient retrofit for existing light fixtures
- Panels – For under/over cabinet lighting
- Lightstrips – For cove, accent, and task lighting
- Downlights – Recessed ceiling lights
- Lamps – Floor and table lamps
Choose smart bulb form factors to suit the type of lighting fixture. Screw-in bulbs offer flexibility for most existing fixtures. Consider newer options like panels and strips where appropriate.
2. Light Quality
- Lumens – Brightness of the smart lights
- Colour temperature – Warm white to cool daylight
- CRI – Colour rendering ability
- Dimmable – Smooth dimming capability
Ensure your smart bulbs provide sufficient brightness and a colour temperature to suit your activities and aesthetic. 90+ CRI provides true colour rendering. Dimming allows tuning light levels precisely.
3. Smart Features
- Scheduling/automation – Programmed on/off times, occupancy sensing
- Colour tuning – Adjustable colour temperature
- Multi-colour – RGB for decorative effects
- Voice control – Via Google Assistant, Siri, Alexa etc
- Smart ecosystem – Apple, Google, Amazon, SmartThings etc
Consider which smart lighting features will provide the most energy savings and home enhancement based on how your household uses lighting. Controls and tuning can yield big savings.
4. Energy Efficiency
- LED technology – Most efficient lighting now available
- Low standby power – Under 1W when bulb is ‘off’
- Energy monitoring – Check and minimise usage
Stick with LED technology for lighting efficiency. Check standby power consumption. Energy monitoring helps maximise savings.
5. Reliability
- Reputable brand – Trusted quality and performance
- Warranty period – At least 2 years
- Hub required? – Hub = extra cost but enhances performance
Choose an established lighting brand with a reputation for reliability and performance. Many offer at least a 2 year warranty on smart bulbs and components. Consider a hub for optimal connectivity.
6. Budget
- Individual bulbs – From around $10 each
- Multi-packs – Reduce per bulb cost
- Bundles with hub – Package deals available
- DIY Vs Pro install – Professional installation available
Shop around for smart lighting deals. Buying multi-packs or bundles with a hub can reduce per bulb costs. Factor in any installation costs if you need professional fitting.
Taking the time to evaluate these factors will lead to smart lighting choices tailored to your household’s needs and energy saving goals.
Smart Lighting Energy Savings Tips
Follow these handy tips to maximise energy and cost savings from your smart lighting:
- Set schedules to turn lights on/off automatically based on usage patterns. Adjust schedules seasonally as daylight hours change.
- Use motion sensors to turn lights on only when needed. Avoid lighting empty rooms.
- Connect exterior lights to smart switches. Turn off when not required for safety/visibility.
- When away from home, turn off all lights via the smartphone app. Never return to lights left on unnecessarily.
- Use multi-colour bulbs to set lighting scenes optimised for different activities – reading, watching TV, dining etc. Use minimum brightness needed.
- Use the coolest colour temperature that provides comfortable lighting. Avoid excessive warmer white light.
- Dim lights whenever possible. Human eyes adjust easily to lower light levels. Dimmable smart bulbs make this extra convenient.
- Check the energy usage reports from your smart lighting system. Identify times of excessive use and optimise settings.
- During daylight hours, maximise use of natural light and minimise use of artificial lighting where possible. Smart bulbs easily integrate with smart blinds/curtains to automate this.
- Replace any remaining inefficient incandescent bulbs used for decorative lighting with efficient smart LED equivalents to complete your energy upgrade.
Adopting some of these tips will help you realise the maximum savings possible from your smart lighting investment. Saving energy also means saving dollars.
Smart Lighting Control Options
Smart lighting opens up new possibilities for convenient, customised control of home illumination. Here are popular options Aussie households are using:
- Smartphone apps – Intuitive control from iOS and Android smartphones, anywhere with internet.
- Voice assistants – Use Siri, Google Assistant, Alexa etc for hands-free voice control.
- Smart speakers – Dedicated speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home work seamlessly with smart lights.
- Smart switches – Replace conventional switches for integrated smart lighting controls.
- Smart home hubs – Centralise multi-room smart lighting management and automation.
- Motion sensors – Detect occupancy and turn lights on/off accordingly.
- Light switches – Wall-mounted wireless smart switches for room control.
- Smart timers – Plug-in timers to automatically turn lights on/off by schedule.
- Smart plugs – Make ‘dumb’ lamps smart by plugging into a smart plug.
With everything from smartphones to dedicated smart home hubs, Aussie households enjoy options to control smart lighting in the way that best suits their lifestyle.
Choosing A Smart Lighting Brand
Homeowners in Australia are spoiled for choice when it comes to smart lighting brands. Here are some of the most popular:
- Philips Hue – The most established smart lighting brand with a wide range of quality bulbs and features.
- LIFX – Aussie brand with advanced smart bulbs boasting rich colours and robust app controls.
- Nanoleaf – Fun, futuristic modular wall panels with rhythm-synced colour changing effects.
- Sengled – Affordable smart lighting solutions perfect for smart home beginners.
- Yeelight – Feature-packed smart bulbs with customisation options via Xiaomi’s Mi Home app.
- Brilliant – Smart ceiling-recessed downlights with advanced features and smart home integration.
- WiZ – Smart bulbs with easy setup directly connecting to Wi-Fi without any hub required.
- Kogan – Budget-friendly smart globes from this popular online retailer.
With leading options from Philips, LIFX and more, Aussies can enjoy big brand smart lighting quality. Consider Sengled or Kogan for budget options.
Professional Installation Services
While DIY smart lighting installation is straightforward for basic setups, Australians can also utilise professional installation services for more complex configurations:
Benefits of professional installation
- Expert project scoping to meet unique needs
- Multi-room lighting designs and controls
- Integration with other smart home systems
- Troubleshooting connectivity issues
- Access to lighting types not available to consumers
Where to get professional installation
- Electricians – Many now offer smart lighting installation services
- Smart home specialists – End-to-end smart home integration
- Lighting stores – Some bigger lighting stores offer installation
For homeowners seeking seamless whole-home smart lighting with advanced features, professional installation can be worth the investment. Get multiple quotes to find the best provider.
Future Smart Lighting Innovations
Smart lighting technology continues to rapidly evolve. Exciting innovations on the horizon for Australian homes include:
- Healthier lighting – Smart lights tailored to natural circadian rhythms promoting better sleep, mood and health.
- Expanded voice control – More natural language interactions via assistants like Alexa and Siri.
- PoE lighting – Lighting and controls operating via Power over Ethernet for reduced cabling.
- Li-Fi integration – Ultra-fast wireless communication via LED light waves instead of Wi-Fi.
- Energy optimisation AI – Smart algorithms that constantly optimise lighting for minimal energy consumption.
- Solar integration – Smart solar-syncing lights that optimise usage when surplus solar energy is available.
Aussies can look forward to smarter, healthier and more sustainable lighting options emerging in the years ahead. The future is bright for eco-friendly illumination.
Wrap Up
Smart lighting gives Australians an easy pathway to slashing energy consumption and costs while enjoying superior lighting. By combining efficient LED bulbs with smart controls, automation and connectivity, homes become more sustainable.
With lighting accounting for around 10% of the average household’s energy use, the savings potential from upgrading to smart LEDs is significant. Smart lighting outperforms conventional lighting on almost every metric that matters.
Hopefully this guide has provided homeowners considering the switch to smart lighting with all the essential information needed to choose the system optimised for their needs and lifestyle. The future is indeed bright for intelligent, connected lighting solutions.
