Quality Lighting Enhances Home Value

In the past five years, LED lighting and Smart control have suddenly been in the forefront of electrical innovation. Such lighting doesn’t just offer comfort, control,  and security. It also increases the value of your home.

The big push in LED lighting

There has been a big push toward LED lighting, not only because LED lighting offers more light per watt, but it’s cheaper than other forms of traditional lighting. Also, the longevity of LED bulbs is tremendous (think 30,000 to 50,000-hour lifespan), which adds economic value and more than a little convenience.

How can we use this innovation to our advantage?

First of all, LED lighting will operate in either interior or exterior applications, and since it has become more flexible, it’s now possible to adjust the brightness and the color.  As lighting manufacturers expand the functions of LED applications, there will be more variety in angle, distribution, beam shape, and hue.

Lighting goes wireless

Furthermore, home management, including lighting, is turning toward wireless technology. With the Hue (by Philips) and similar systems, a homeowner can now control their environment from a cell phone or tablet. Lighting can now be programmed or changed from your mobile phone to adjust to your family’s needs, create ambiance, or provide security when and where you need it. Lighting can also be customized to enhance your daily routines. For example, you can activate lights when you’re away from home, turn on entry lights when you arrive home late at night, or even change the colors to softer, warmer hues when it’s time for your family to wind down for the evening.

Interactive

More advanced systems can integrate your lighting system to interact with video games, movies, and music. There is tremendous flexibility and ease of operation, like being able to turn the porch light on from your car and off from your bed (“Hey, Siri! Turn off the lights.”). You can program lights to change during certain events, on a regular schedule, or when you wish or create ambiance in each room, with a spectrum of millions of colors. You can then switch them all off when you leave home, or after you’ve already gone.

In short, we’re living in an age when you can actually control the kind of light you want when you want it or don’t want it, as the case may be. The possibilities, after you spend a couple of hundred dollars on the initial starter kit, offer amazing sensory options. You can download apps which turn your lights into party lights, have fireworks effects, or have the colors change every time your team scores. All this and your electric bill may go down because you can control when the lights turn off or lower the brightness.

A system like the Philips Hue is the top of the line, although there are lower-priced alternatives, as well as systems which work with Bluetooth technology instead of through a router. When one considers the added aesthetic appeal this kind of lighting offers, Smart lighting starts to make sense as a long-term value option which can contribute to our quality of life.

Hue Starter kits are available at Best Buy.

When you need a licensed electrician for commercial or residential electrical needs, call Zimmerman Electric at 310-378-1323.