This is the technology Philips has adopted for its Hue lineup, but it’s not the only one. Zigbee: Bulbs that use the popular smart-home networking protocol require a bridge to communicate with your home Wi-Fi network.Three control technologies continue to vie for leadership in the smart bulb market (Z-Wave is a major contender in smart lighting, but you won’t encounter it in bulbs-just in switches, plug-in modules, control panels, and smart-home hubs). On the other hand, white smart bulbs are less expensive than color bulbs, making it more affordable to roll them out in multiple rooms. White smart bulbs downplay the party features that are a staple of color-tunable bulbs. Note, however, that not every white LED smart bulb is color-temperature-tunable. Warm light is relaxing, and is best after the sun goes down. Cool light that’s closer to blue has an energizing effect, and is best in the morning.

White light is also important in its own right, as today there is plenty of science to show how various shades of white-with variations in color temperature-impact our psychological state. Even then, you’ll probably want to turn them all back to white after the celebration. It’s fun stuff, but the reality is that most of us will rarely find much of a need to turn all the lights in the house blue or red-unless it’s time to celebrate our team winning the World Series. With their rainbow of hues and myriad party tricks, color LEDs get all the press in the world of smart lighting. Our guide to shopping for smart bulbs and other forms of smart lighting sources White LED bulbs are smart, too

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