You can turn on and off lights remotely from the kitchen, basement, or couch. “zones”You can easily monitor and control the light and color of your home and activity without even having to turn a dimming switch. These are just some of the reasons consumers are quickly adopting wireless and cloud-based home management systems and automated lighting.

Although these systems are not new, the ability of combining them with apps and energy-efficient lighting technology makes them even more useful. It’s actually allowing homeowners to make use of them in new ways. You can easily match your family’s lifestyle by using energy-saving lighting controls. Your smartphone or tablet can be used to remotely monitor and adjust lighting conditions throughout your home. Integration of motion sensors into lighting controls can allow you to automatically dim or turn off lights in unoccupied rooms. You can have lights flashing when the doorbell rings or your phone rings, in some cases. This will speed up response time.

This combination with Energy Star-certified, LED bulb technology will result in a faster payback. According to the Environmental Protection Agency LEDs use 75-80 percent less energy than traditional incandescent bulbs. This can help you save around $6 per bulb, or $14 per fixture, annually, on your energy bills. Even more savings can be made by adding lighting controls.

Some LED bulb solutions might look familiar, while others may not. This guide will help you. “bulb up”The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) can help you choose the best LED light for your home.NYSERDAAll you need is provided by. It has information on how to read the Lighting Facts label for LED packaging, charts about warm and cool lighting, and bulb shapes. There is also a calculator that will help you calculate how much money you can save by setting up specific bulb functions.

After you set up your LEDs, your automated lighting system, and other equipment, you will be able to reap the benefits. Energy Star-certified LEDs have a life expectancy of up to 49,000 hours. This is more than the standard 1,000 hour lifespan of an incandescent bulb. Have fun with futuristic apps long into the future.

For all the ways to save and be more energy efficient with Energy Star-certified LED bulbs, go to nyserda.ny.gov/led-savings.