5 Reasons why you should include smart lighting on your next project

If you’re still using traditional light bulbs and switches in your home, you might not be aware of the large shift towards using smart lighting. Analysts expect the smart lighting market to increase by 25% in the next two years, which isn’t hard to believe considering the numerous advantages it has over traditional switches and dimmers.

Below, we have listed our top five reasons why we think you should include smart lighting in your next project (and hopefully ask us to design and install it for you).

Reason #1: Keypads to complement any interior

The only part of a lighting system a homeowner can see and interact with is a keypad on the wall, therefore, we think that’s where the journey to choosing a lighting system should begin!

We see many of our competitors edging their customers towards a specific lighting system, but this practice really limits the keypad choice, because only certain keypads work with certain systems. In reality, dimming performance is very similar across most lighting systems, so it makes sense to start with the keypads and then specify the relevant compatible system. We always say, let the keypads choose the system, don’t let the system choose the keypads.

The keypads available are numerous and there is a style and finish to suit nearly any interior. Our most popular keypads include Lutron, Rako, Crestron, Basalte and Gira but there are many more. For a free lighting keypad guide, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help you choose the perfect keypad for your project.

Gira

PBS4

Basalte

Sentido

Lutron

Alisse

Reason #2: Circadian lighting

Hype or essential feature? Well, we think the latter. Circadian lighting is a relatively new technology but has matured enough over recent years that we now think it should be considered for every new project. At the very least, we would recommend installing the additional cabling that is required to enable it in the future.

So, what is circadian lighting?

Human beings follow a 24-hour cycle that affects physical and mental behaviours. This natural biological clock, or circadian rhythm as it is known, primarily responds to changes in light; a good example of this is that we sleep during the night when it is dark, and we are awake during the day when it is light. Other attributes such as energy levels, alertness and tiredness are also linked to our circadian rhythm.

The problem is, artificial light can affect our natural circadian rhythm in a detrimental way. Circadian lighting attempts to solve this by mimicking the natural colour temperature and intensity of the Sun throughout the day by using specialised light fixtures with the primary aim of improving our well-being, comfort and productivity.

Smart lighting systems can be used to manually control the temperature of the light or used to automatically change the lighting based on the time of day or through the use of lighting scenes.

Below are some screenshots of Crestron’s implementation of circadian lighting as seen on their iPhone app.

If you're interested in circadian lighting, we have a fantastic blog post which goes into more detail. You can find it by clicking here.

Reason #3: Control the natural light in a room

Controlling the natural light in your home is just as important as artificial light. To enable this, we recommend adding automated shades, blinds, and curtain tracks to a project. When you think about it, it makes complete sense. A lighting system wouldn’t provide many benefits if a large window allowed a plethora of natural light in, would it?

So where do you start? Well, a bit of planning and design does need to go into each window at the design stage. Window treatments can be very bespoke and there are many options for you to consider. For example, if you’re looking for a minimal aesthetic, you might want to recess a shade, so the roll-up part is hidden from view. This would involve installing a recess bracket into the ceiling during construction, something which would definitely need to be planned pre-construction.

If at the design stage of your project, you’re not sure which window treatments you would like to include or even if your budget doesn’t stretch far enough to include them just yet, we would still highly recommend installing the cabling. This way, it makes it very easy to add them in the future.

Post-construction, the decision-making doesn’t stop. There is an abundance of design options available to suit any interior such as the fabric to use, the blackout capability of the fabric and even the hembar design in the case of roller shades.

Once installed, automated window treatments can be seamlessly controlled from the same keypads as the lights, providing great convenience to the homeowner. Automations can also be scheduled, for example, a scheduled event can be set up to lower the shades and dim the lights at a determined time every evening. Having the ability to control both the artificial and natural light in a home, provides complete control over an environment.

We think automated shades will soon be as prevalent in homes as electric windows are in cars. Once a luxury, but today, pretty much a standard feature.

Below is an image of a Lutron Palladiom automated shade.

Reason #4: Energy efficiency and cost-saving

At the time of writing, the UK is in the midst of an energy crisis, so energy efficiency and cost-saving are more important than ever. Lighting control systems obviously have an initial cost associated with them to install, but once they are installed, they are fantastic at saving energy and consequently, running costs.

Adding occupancy sensors to your project is one of the best ways to make a lighting system efficient. A simple scenario would be, if a room has been vacant for a set number of minutes, dim the lights or turn them off. If a room then becomes occupied, return the lights to the prior state that they were in. You can imagine over a day what this might save, but imagine what it could potentially save over the course of a year. Occupancy sensors have evolved to be very intelligent devices and can now detect human micro-movements such as breathing; therefore, the lighting system will truly know when a room is occupied and when it is vacant and act accordingly.

Other efficiency features include adjusting the light level depending on the natural light levels. For example, on a bright day, lights don’t need to be set at such a high level to achieve the same brightness as they would have to be at night. A smart lighting system can detect the natural light levels in a room, and adjust itself accordingly.

Energy efficiency is the number one feature we get asked about in regard to lighting systems and with energy prices reaching an all-time high, we think this trend will continue for some time to come.

Reason #5: It’s smart and fun!

I was going to make reason #5 security, but I’m not sure that security would actually be a top five reason for most people to consider when purchasing a lighting system. There’s a case to be made that in a large house, a lighting system mimicking someone being home could be a great security tool and deter a potential burglar, but I think for most people, the convenience and the smart features of a lighting system are probably more of a selling point.

Lighting systems can be integrated with a whole host of other devices making your home truly smart. Apple HomeKit, Google Home and Amazon Alexa all add voice capability and provide a platform for homeowners to create automated routines for themselves. You can create some very powerful automations right from your mobile phone. For example, a porch light can be set to turn on when the doorbell is pressed.

Set your own scenes, create your own automations and add to your system over time. The average homeowner is more tech-savvy than ever and we're delighted to see this development in home technology take off!

Bonus Reason:

A bonus reason for considering a lighting system is…. Some lighting keypads have built-in temperature probes and can be used as a room’s thermostat. This reduces wall clutter and also saves money. In a home with a dozen or more thermostats, this can provide a significant saving. 

Conclusion

There's no doubt that a lighting control system provides countless advantages over traditional light bulbs and switches. The real question is the balance between the cost of a lighting control system and the benefits that it may bring. If you're pondering this question, then feel free to get in touch for a free consultation and quotation for your next project. What have you got to lose?

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