Have You Tried Smart Light Bulbs Yet?

Smart light bulbs are the newest wave of smart technology. One of the coolest ways to use these intelligent fixtures in your home is to improve your wakeup routine. Pairing a smart bulb with an alarm clock will help you rise faster. You’ll experience a pleasant light source that mimics daylight while decreasing the noise needed to be alert whenever it is time to start your day.

From Incandescents to LEDS

The incandescent light bulb took Thomas Edison and his associates 2 years and 3,000 different theories to develop (1). The incandescent bulb works by using electricity to heat a thin filament until it is hot enough to glow, emitting light. Through trial-and-error, Edison “discovered a carbonized bamboo filament that could light for over 1,200 hours.” This carbon filament was what distinguished it from other competitors and eventually led to the patent being given to Edison. Although a breakthrough in science and a game changer in lighting at the time, the incandescent bulb was energy inefficient from the very beginning –  “Less than 10% of the electrical power supplied to the bulb is converted into visible light” (1). Most energy is lost as heat, as anyone knows who has touched an incandescent bulb that has been on for a period of time. 

Due to this energy inefficiency, the incandescent bulb has been largely replaced and even banned in some places. “The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 Tier I standards require a 25-30% increase in the energy efficiency of typical light bulbs beginning in 2012, and still greater improvements through Tier II standards starting in 2020” (2). These new measures are meant to “save consumers billions of dollars in electricity costs, offset the need to build new power plants and cut greenhouse gas emissions in the United States” (2).

The Evolution of Smart Bulbs

The need for more energy efficient lighting led to the emergence of compact fluorescent and light emitting diodes (LEDS). These bulbs have become especially popular and widely used in recent years. The LED has an electrical current that passes through a microchip, illuminating light sources to produce visible light. To prevent overheating, there is a heat sink. This unique design makes an LED bulb 90% more efficient than incandescent light bulbs (3).  

A really exciting advancement is smart bulbs, which are LEDs that connect to Wi-Fi. Smart bulbs have joined the smart electronic revolution along with smartphones, watches, key chains, and even washing machines. When smart bulbs are connected to an app on a phone and a Wi-Fi network, you can control lighting from anywhere. You can even change the color of the light, set the brightness of the light, and schedule the timer to turn lights on and off at desired times. These advancements could have a big impact on your sleep habits. 

Change Your Morning Routine with a Smart Light Bulb

Smart bulbs are an amazing way to maximize your wakeup routine Smart bulbs can be set according to:

• commute times
• daily sunrises
• your personal schedule
• sunset
• certain colors that help you fall asleep or wake up better

While the energy savings of LEDs  is amazing, the ability to personalize lighting to a person’s life makes them a remarkable and innovative member to the smart revolution. Just like other smart devices have changed your life for the better, a smart light bulb will become a bright spot in your wakeup routine.

1. https://www.bulbs.com/learning/history.aspx
2. https://www.everycrsreport.com/reports/RS22822.html
3. https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/lighting-choices-save-you-money#:~:text=LEDs%20use%20up%20to%2090,longer%20than%20traditional%20incandescent%20bulbs.