Home automation can create efficiencies and lower your electricity bill when lights are set to be switched off when not in use; however, some owners find they start using some lights more than before. For example, with the ease of setting lights to come on and dusk or programming lights to operate when you’re not at home to discourage perpetrators, electricity usage can increase. A simple way to help control utility costs is by using LED lighting.
LED stands for a light-emitting diode. After the industry experimented with several energy-efficient options to replace incandescent light bulbs, most consumers express extreme satisfaction with LED.
LED light bulbs aren’t new. The technology was invented in the 1960s by a scientist named Nick Holonyak Jr. at General Electric. They initially called it “The Magic One.” Technology in LED bulbs has improved dramatically since those days. Light is created when an electric current passes through a microchip (the diode).
Benefits of using LED lighting in your home automation system:
Long lifespan. LED lights have an average lifespan of 50,000 hours (that’s 40 times longer than an incandescent bulb!). That translates to six to twelve years of use. Since you rarely need to replace these bulbs, they are great solutions for high ceilings and hard-to-reach places.
- Energy efficiency. Consumers that convert to 100% LED lighting have realized 60-70% greater energy efficiency. That translates to a nice savings on electricity bills.
- Better for the environment. LED lights can provide as much lighting as fluorescent bulbs but without using harmful mercury in their construction. Because they last longer, there will be fewer of these bulbs entering our landfills.
- Instant light. LEDs illuminate at full brightness when you turn them on rather than requiring time to warm up. Similar to an incandescent bulb, they can be turned on and off rapidly. They also work very well in cold conditions.
- No heat. LED lights emit almost zero heat or UV rays. This makes them extremely safe to use in all locations, including illuminating works of art.
- Dimmable. Unlike fluorescent bulbs, you can dim LED bulbs to nearly 5% of their brightness. When LED lights are dimmed, they perform more efficiently and can save owners even more money.
- Design flexibility. LED lights are tiny, which means you can use them in many interior designs. For example, small over-the-counter hanging lights are powerful enough to light up a kitchen island, or LED rope lights are an excellent choice for no-heat under cabinet lighting.
Designing the perfect home automation system is as easy as visiting Accurate Electronic Interiors.
Whether you’re getting ready to install your first home automation system or you’ve decided it’s time to modernize a system already in place, talk with our professionals at Accurate Electronic Interiors. We are Southern Oregon’s first choice in home theater and SMART home electronics design and installation. Our teams install quality electronic systems that seamlessly automate your home theater, window coverings, lighting, outlets, surveillance system, and more. Visit our showroom or give us a call to learn more about how we can make your life easier.