smart light switches & window shades
Over the last few years I have dove head first into testing smart home tech, both from a personal love of tech in general, and so I know what I can confidently recommend to my clients…and there are no shortage of products out there, as we all know.
Of any decision I made in my home, it might surprise you how much I belabored this one, but when you consider how much you actually interact with your light switches it becomes very important…especially when you want all your smart devices to be able to ‘talk’ cross-platform; meaning what other companies does Lutron play nice with.
Here is what I wanted to ensure for my home:
the light switches worked like a ‘normal’ switch, so when I have guests or if the internet goes out my home still functions as it should, and guests to have to guess how to turn on the lights
voice control via Amazon Alexa. I choose Alexa as my voice hub, so everything ‘smart’ in my home needs to interact with her well
a good app experience. I have used a number of different products that I have liked, but the app UI was terrible; from getting devices recognized, to setting up scenes for multiple things to happen at once it was just a disaster
Lutron passes all of these requirements with flying colors, plus the switches look great. And, on top of all of that they also offer a smart-shade product (Serena) that not only meets 1, 2, 3 above, but also works right from within the same Lutron app you use to control your lights.
Smart Away
Look like you’re home even when you’re not. Use Smart Away to randomly turn your lights on and off throughout the evening to give the illusion that you are home — even if you’re out for the night or away for the week.
caséta switches
With Caséta smart dimmers, you don’t need to buy smart bulbs to enjoy smart lighting. And since each dimmer switch can control multiple bulbs, you get a lot more control with a lot less investment.
Scheduling
Set the lights to turn on or off at a specific time of day. Or, use our Sunset Tracker to control the lights without fail — even when the season changes, and you gain or lose an hour.
Scenes
Control one or multiple lights at the same time by creating a scene — so you can transform a room from “Game Night” brightness to “Movie Time” mood in no time. And when it’s bedtime, turn off all the lights right from your bed.
serena shades
Conveniently control shades in a room with the remote, or from anywhere in the world with your smart phone (via the free Lutron App and Smart Bridge).
Integrate shades with Lutron’s Caséta® Wireless line of lighting controls for even more comfort and convenience.
Shades move quietly and at the same speed, for perfect alignment.
Battery power means no wires, low maintenance, and easy installation.
Shades use store-bought batteries and feature industry-leading performance, so you’ll rarely have to replace the batteries. Learn More
Exclusive headrail and bracket designs make for easy and quick battery changes without removing the shade. Learn More
Clear Connect® Wireless radio frequency technology provides flawless operation without line-of-sight communication. Additional window coverings won’t block the signal and cell phones or other wireless devices don’t interfere