Energy Adviser: Lightbulb smarts can test our savvy

We’ve come a long way from clapping lights on and off. Today, lightbulbs are getting smart. It used to be a boring necessity we ignored until it burned out, but technology is giving the humble light bulb a much brighter future.

“Recent residential lighting changes at a policy level have focused on reducing energy consumption,” said Matt Babbitts, energy services project manager for Clark Public Utilities. “Smart, or connected, bulbs are still about saving energy, but now there’s a focus on user convenience too.”

As with any new technology, the options can be confusing for consumers. LED bulbs forced us to change our thinking from watts (a measure of energy) to lumens (a measure of light). And with CFLs and LEDs on store shelves, many of us are continuing to learn how to speak lightbulb. To help, bulb makers have packaged these new technologies with descriptions like “60-watt equivalent” as we train our brains to compare correctly.

Smart lightbulbs offer the convenience of controlling lights when away from home, dimming remotely and even changing the color. They’re a step closer to the “connected home” — but manufacturers also must sort out what consumers are willing to buy, which is where smart bulbs are today.

At this early stage, new technology can be immature, less reliable, and expensive. Still, it’s easy to find smart lightbulbs, and they can range from around $15 up to $50. One attraction of smart bulbs is they can be an easy automation retrofit for older homes and allow consumers to start with one room. However, unless you’re an early adopter who tries out most new gadgets, you might want to think twice about screwing these techno-bulbs into every outlet.

Here’s why. Most of our parents trained us to shut the lights off. Yet many connected bulbs need to be on all the time. Sometimes they lose their connection. When that happens, you must cycle them manually, which means shutting them off and on a certain number of times. For other brands, it means troubleshooting them. If yours comes with an app and remote, then you may need to use the app for troubleshooting.

“New technologies often force us to change our behavior, which can be a benefit but also a frustration” Babbitts said. “Just experimenting with connected bulbs in one room allows households to try them out and adapt. Most smartphones have both Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities, so in theory, most connected bulbs should work with any connected phone.”

If you’re looking to outfit even one room or more in your home with connected lighting, you’ll find most stores offer an array of solutions. Sorting through these can get confusing. Be persistent, do your research and read the fine print. By doing so, you’ll find that for some brands, you also may need to replace light fixtures and wall switches. For others, you install a hub or get a special kit to install and use them. And, some need either an Android or iPhone.

Range can also be an issue. Some connect the phone and the bulb using Bluetooth and others Wi-Fi. This choice affects the distance from which you can control your lights. The Bluetooth range is roughly 32 feet, while Wi-Fi is much farther.

However, once a Wi-Fi bulb is installed, you can use a voice command app on a phone and turn lights on or off. Some brands even connect to Amazon’s Alexa or Google Home voice activated devices too.

“While not very popular just yet, smart bulbs can potentially help customers save energy,” Babbitts said. “How much depends on how effectively they use them.”

And for those who used to love The Clapper, smart bulbs can take remote control lighting to a whole new level.

Energy Adviser is written by Clark Public Utilities. Send questions to ecod@clarkpud.com or to Energy Adviser, c/o Clark Public Utilities, P.O. Box 8900, Vancouver, WA 98668.