Finally Upgraded My Living Room Lights—Anyone Else Tried Smart Bulbs?
- Totally agree about the phantom load thing. I noticed my energy monitor picking up a tiny draw even when the lights were “off.”
- I went with smart switches and regular LEDs in the end. Less to fiddle with, and I don’t have to worry about guests messing up the setup by flipping the wall switch.
- Zigbee’s been solid for me too, but I do wonder if the difference in power use is really that big? I haven’t measured it myself, just going off what people say online.
- Anyone else get weird lag sometimes? My WiFi bulbs can be a little slow to respond, which is kind of annoying when you just want the lights on right away…
Funny, I had the same issue with lag on my WiFi bulbs—sometimes I'd be standing there waving my arms like an idiot, waiting for the lights to catch up. Swapped a few out for Zigbee and it’s been smoother, but honestly, I’m still not convinced the energy savings are all that dramatic. Still, gotta admit, it’s nice not having to get off the couch just to dim the lights.
honestly, I’m still not convinced the energy savings are all that dramatic
I kind of wondered about that too. I mean, if you’re swapping out regular LEDs for smart bulbs, is there really a big difference on the bill? I’ve been tempted by the convenience, but the price for each bulb adds up fast. Sometimes I think a cheap dimmer switch and a little self-discipline with the light switch might save almost as much... Anyone else just stick with “dumb” LEDs and call it a day?
Sometimes I think a cheap dimmer switch and a little self-discipline with the light switch might save almost as much...
Honestly, you nailed it. I’ve built a few homes where folks went all-in on smart bulbs, and yeah, they’re cool—color changes, voice control, the whole nine yards. But from what I’ve seen, “dumb” LEDs plus a decent dimmer get you 90% of the way there for way less money. Unless you’re really into the tech side or need the automation, regular LEDs are still my go-to at home. My kids just need to remember to turn them off... that’s the real challenge.
I hear you on the “dumb” LEDs and dimmers. When we moved into our place last year, I got all excited about smart bulbs—set up a couple in the living room, played with the colors for a week, then honestly just set them to warm white and left it. The novelty wore off fast. My partner still grumbles every time the app glitches or the WiFi hiccups and we’re stuck in disco mode until it resets.
But I will say, having the lights on a schedule is handy when we’re out late or traveling. That’s probably the only real “smart” feature we use now. Otherwise, I’m with you—if someone could invent a switch that zaps my kids when they leave lights on, I’d buy that over any smart bulb.
Curious if anyone’s actually saved money on their electric bill after switching to smart bulbs? Or is it mostly just for convenience?