3 Ways Smart Lighting Can Increase Home Security

Affordability and accessibility are a few of the great reasons for your customers to consider smart lightning controls.

3 Ways Smart Lighting Can Increase Home Security

Home automation systems are becoming sleeker, more intuitive to use and more affordable. What most homeowners don’t realize is that a variety of today’s smart devices that offer added convenience and comfort to the home can also meet some security needs.

Most of today’s smart security systems allow for integration of devices like cameras and door locks, but are you adding lighting to the connected-home solutions mix?

While the undeniable “cool” factor has sparked the interest of many consumers, there is an added element of security that some home automation solutions provide that makes these devices all the more practical.

Wouldn’t your clients want their lights to turn off every time someone arms the alarm? Or automatically have lights turn on during an alarm for a safe exit, or flash exterior lights to alert emergency personnel?

Smart lighting is not strictly about lighting up the outside of the house every night, it can be about life safety and everyday convenience as well. Following are three reasons why it might be a bright idea to offer automated lighting to your residential customers:

1. Affordability

With increased consumer confidence and demand for both security integrations and smart home features, smart lighting provides customers with an affordable way to add both to their home.

Home technology is becoming a standard for builders and adding lighting controls is a marginal cost compared to a more complex, hardwired automation system.

Homes can be marketed as both a smart home and one with added security benefits. If a customer balks at high-end security systems or homebuilders are looking to save on costs but still provide security elements, smart lighting products like WiFi dimmers, switches and plug-in modules provide low cost of entry (as little as $40) and scalability as devices are added.

While wireless smart lighting controls do not offer as many options as traditional hardwired security systems would, timing interior and exterior lights to go on/off at certain times of the day and night can add some level of security.

smart lighting

Slick-looking switches and sophisticated but simple-to-use apps enhance automated lighting’s appeal.

2. Accessibility

Not only does smart lighting provide increased security measures while your customers are home, it also gives them the opportunity to remotely access their lighting anytime, anywhere through an app on their smartphone, as long as WiFi is available.

This provides another level of security, as homeowners can schedule lighting “scenes,” or preset commands for group(s) of lights, while they are away for an “at home” look.

Smart lighting apps, like Leviton’s My Leviton app (pictured above), can help ease homeowners’ minds by giving them the option to adjust the lighting or scheduling for their devices on the go.

Voice control also gives customers the added accessibility to their smart lighting products while at home aside from their smartphones. Voice commands like “Hey Alexa — Goodnight!” may adjust lights automatically to customers’ preferences within the app to a “Goodnight!” preset.

3. Added Convenience and ‘Cool’

While the technology and benefits of smart lighting controls can speak for themselves, there is something to be said about that “cool” factor that has increased the demand of these devices in recent years.

When you recommend smart lighting controls to your customers, you’re not only providing them with an element of security, but also a new, convenient, trending solution for their residences that can increase their interaction with and value of the homes.

It shows you are on top of tech trends and working as their trusted partner. Bottom line, security industry professionals should have the bigger picture on their mind when educating homeowners on the latest enhancements and connected devices that are available.

Smart home adoption is expected to top 60% by 2021, according to market research firm Statista. As this this trend continues, homeowners will be looking for more and more ideas to enlist smart home technology to increase the security of their home, and it will be important for the professionals in the security industry to continue learning about lighting controls in particular and the various ways associated smart devices — at all price points and featuring various functions — can play a role in security system integration.

Looking for some lighting inspiration? Check out the slideshow above!


Greg Rhoades is Director of Marketing, Leviton’s Energy Management, Controls & Automation business division.

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2 Responses to “3 Ways Smart Lighting Can Increase Home Security”

  1. It’s good to learn about the benefits of smart lighting. I like the fact that it can help us save money and give us more security at the same time. We definitely need more smart options in our house, for sure. Our home is too old right now.

  2. Frank Smith says:

    Great article! A very helpful overview of all the latest technology for smarter homes.

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