FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT SMART HOMES

We have put together a walkthrough video series showing all the features of your new thermostat

www.vibrantsmarthome.com/ecoee/

LED retrofitting means replacing your existing lighting with a new and better lighting technology, usually to increase the energy efficiency and the quality of light in the facility. Retrofitting is a term often used when converting older, outdated lighting technologies such as fluorescent, CFL and HID (metal halide) to a newer energy-efficient technology, like an LED system.

LED light bulbs use newer technology that make them more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs. Specifically, LED stands for “light emitting diode,” a diode being a certain electrical component. Although generally LEDs are better quality than incandescent bulbs, not all LEDs are created equal.

When you’re shopping for an LED light bulb, the best quality ones will provide the specifications that are most important to you. Consider the amount of light you need in the color of light you like, how the light emits from the bulb, the dimensions of the bulb and base, and the kind of warranty comes with the bulbs.

Important Specifications

Amount of light: Find LEDs with low wattage and high lumens. It should be easier to find LEDs with good wattage-lumen ratios than incandescent bulbs with good ratios. Investing in good wattage-lumen ratio LEDs can save you energy, and you’ll see the difference on your regular energy bill.

Color of light: When you’re looking for an LED light bulb, another thing to consider is the color of the light. Shades of white range from warm to cool; more yellow-y whites fall into the category of “soft white” while more blue-ish whites fall into the category of “daylight.” If you can find the CRI (color-rendering index) of the bulb, remember that the higher the CRI number, the greater the number of objects that will appear natural.

How light emits: While incandescent bulbs put off light in all directions, many LED bulbs are designed to send their light in one direction. If you’re looking for an LED comparable to 60-watt incandescent bulbs, find omnidirectional LEDs. They distribute the light around the bulb as well as from the top.

Dimension of bulb: The dimensions of LED bulbs are similar to standard incandescent bulbs, but not quite the same. Make sure that you get LED bulbs the size of your socket. Keep in mind that LEDs can also be heavier than incandescent bulbs, so you’ll want to be sure that your light fixture can support the extra weight.

Warranty: A good LED light bulb should come with at least a three- to five-year warranty, while the best LED bulbs have up to a 10-year warranty.

Manufacturers test a group of sample lamps by burning them continuously. Like other lamps, LEDs aren’t allowed to burn out. During the process, the lumen output diminishes. The point at which the lamps meet 70% of their original lumen output is the life hour rating. The lifespan is then calculated based on an average of 3-hours-a-day use. Therefore a 10,000 hour bulb will last roughly 9.1 years. We have found that most LED bulbs last longer than their manufacturer recommended lifespan.

Are you tired of buying bulbs that don’t match the same color as the old bulbs you had? Or even the other bulbs you have installed? Vibrant service specializes in installing light bulbs that will be consistent throughout your home. The goal for us is to make it easy on the eyes, not create “oh you changed a bulb” conversation starters.

Have you ever had someone stay at your property and turned the heat up to 80 in the winter, or 65 in the summer, and then never change it back? With a smart thermostat, you will never need to worry about that. You will have the ability to control the range of temperature someone can control. As long as the thermostat and one of your devices are connected to the internet, you can control the temperature from anywhere in the world.

Nest: https://workswith.nest.com/products

 

Ecobee: https://www.ecobee.com/ecobee-partnerships/

An automatic sprinkler control that connects to the internet and will allow you to control your sprinklers from any internet connected device. They pull accurate weather reports which means if it’s raining, you won’t be watering your yard at the same time. When your neighborhood gets a new watering restriction, you can simply add that information from your smart phone, tablet, or computer, and your sprinklers will not water during those times. Plus, you can take a picture of your yard associated with each zone on your system and remove the second guessing of what area is which zone. Custom labels for each zone help keep this more intuitive as well.