We already know that smart cities and automation go hand-in-hand - we couldn’t possibly dream of a smart city without the internet and automation! Just like every other smart-functioning service, a smart city also demands smart lighting. While regular/legacy lights can be used in smart cities, LEDs are certainly the smarter choice – considering how they are energy savers, affordable and long-lasting. Moreover, LEDs go very well with the iot sensors and micro-controllers that are required to make smart lights for a well-connected smart homes driven by IoT enabled home automation.
The Concept of Smart Lights
Smart lighting is not only about smart-functioning lights but also smartly-placed lighting. Since the main agenda is energy-saving for the future, smart lights are strategically placed only where they are needed, instead of being placed everywhere by the truck-load.
“McKinsey has projected that the market for Smart Lights will grow to $125B CAD by 2020 to comprise 80% of the total lighting market”. Smart lights typically work on the plug-and-play model which makes them very easy to install. With the smart-light system (since they’re all connected and operated via a main command center), predicting and managing power-cuts and replacement needs is cake-walk. This improves efficiency by about 300%.
As expected of wifi enabled bulbs or smart lighting, they can be made dim or bright with a simple command – yes, even street-lights! Office spaces and businesses, banks, ATMs, etc. which have their lights left on day and night (as part of their safety procedures), can now use the smart-light dimming option for optimum use, and still save at least 40% more energy.
Since smart bulbs come with a centralized command center, there is uniform distribution - which helps avoidance of spikes, monitoring of voltage and power levels, usage, and most importantly, no power theft. The invoicing becomes a transparent process and it’s a win-win deal for both the energy company and the consumer alike.
Smart Lights For Smart Homes - Made For Each Other
In the case of smart lighting in homes, it is definitely one of the key features of a smart home. Smart lights at home are wifi enabled bulbs connected with all electrical appliances, and based on the temperature of the thermostat, or the outside weather conditions, or the total power usage in the household, the smart bulbs share power accordingly.
Telensa is working on Smart lights which will switch on and off, go dim or bright, depending on surrounding noise & sounds. Not only that, even when the Led light bulb is switched off, it can still serve as a receiver of signals from other appliances (thanks to iot devices like sensors and processors) which is effectively conserving and transforming energy into different forms.
