Latest news with #WiZ
New York Times
3 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
If You Love Moths (and You Should), Replace Your Porch Light With Something Better
If you care about the environment, you should care about moths. 'Without them, we would disappear from this planet in short order,' says Doug Tallamy, entomologist and author of several books about creating insect-friendly backyards. That's because insects, including moths, pollinate plants and feed other animals, especially birds and bats, which makes them a key part of the ecosystem. Moth caterpillars make up most of the diet of young birds, so without moths, there would be fewer chickadees, robins, and bluebirds in yards and parks. Bird populations are on the decline already; the United States has lost about 3 billion birds in the past 50 years. The world, meanwhile, is experiencing a massive decline in insect populations. 'Light pollution is one of the major causes of insect decline,' said Tallamy, alongside other factors including habitat loss and pesticides. Scientists believe that in nature, nighttime insects orient themselves to the ultraviolet light from the moon. In artificial lights, it's the blue wavelengths that mislead them. Left: My porch lamp at full white brightness. Right: Adjusting it to a warm yellow or orange doesn't impact how clearly I can see but saves a lot of moth lives. Grant Clauser/NYT Wirecutter So simply changing your lights from white and blue wavelengths to yellow ones can save countless insect lives. After I switched my front and back porches from bright white to orangey-yellow, I stopped seeing insects swirling around my lamps like a mosh pit. And there's evidence to back up the theory: A 2016 study presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science conference showed that warm-toned LED lights attracted significantly fewer insects than incandescent or fluorescent lights. Smart bulbs allow you to turn down the blue wavelengths, offering your moth friends a yellow light that is still bright enough for you to see by but won't turn your lamp into a Death Star. You can opt for either white tone-adjustable bulbs, which allow you to tune the light from cool white to warmer hues, or 100% color-adjustable bulbs, which are capable of producing millions of colors. The color-adjustment feature looks slightly different in each smart-bulb app. Choose either a warm yellow or a white that's less than 3,000 K. WiZ app for iOS, LIFX app for iOS, Wyze app for iOS Not all smart-bulb apps display color temperatures (as the app for our top-pick WiZ bulb does), but if yours does, it's best to select 3,000 K or lower, as the DarkSky Project, an advocacy group focused on the effects of light pollution on humans and wildlife, recommends. However, a warm yellow or orange light isn't the best for reading. When I want to sit outside in the evening to read a book, I use the Wirecutter-recommended Glocusent Bookmark Style Reading Light for supplemental light and leave the porch light in bug-safe mode.
Fashion Value Chain
5 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Signify Inaugurates the First Exclusive WiZ Store in Pune
Bringing the best of connected technologies to India, Signify, the world leader in lighting, has launched its first exclusive WiZ Store in Pune, this marks a significant milestone in the brand's expansion across the nation. With this launch, Signify redefines how consumers experience lighting by offering a fully connected, customizable, and intuitive smart lighting journey. C Arun Kumar, Head of Consumer Business – Signify Greater India, inaugurates the First WiZ store in Pune Located in one of India's most rapidly growing IT and real estate hubs-the WiZ Store is designed to resonate with the city's young, tech-savvy, and innovative audience. The store will showcase Philips Smart LED products powered by WiZ, enabling users to control lighting through apps, voice assistants, and smart switches. The store offers a hands-on experience of how smart lighting can seamlessly blend into modern lifestyles. The store features a vast selection of connected SKUs, offering a holistic shopping experience to customers. Signify inaugurates the first exclusive WiZ store in Pune Commenting on the power packed launch C Arun Kumar, Head of Consumer Business – Signify Greater India, said, 'The launch of our WiZ Store in Pune reflects our deep commitment to shaping the future of smart homes in India. Pune, with its thriving innovation ecosystem and forward-thinking consumers was a natural choice to introduce our most immersive connected lighting experience yet. Through the WiZ platform, we are empowering people to personalize their spaces with intuitive lighting that's not only functional but enhances their lifestyle and well-being. This store isn't just a retail space, it's a live experience centre that showcases how technology and design can work together to transform everyday living. Looking ahead, we see immense potential for smart lighting across India's rapidly urbanizing cities and our commitment is to support the growth by delivering innovative, connected solutions that enhance comfort, design, and sustainability.' The launch of the WiZ Store in Pune cements Signify's leadership in India's smartâ'lighting market. Leveraging the expertise in connected lighting, ongoing product innovation, and strategic collaborations with channel partners and design professionals, Signify is committed to delivering innovative, userâ'centric lighting solutions that meet the evolving needs of Indian homes and businesses. Address: Shop No 23, Gr Floor, Vision One Mall, Bhumkar Chowk Rd, near GINGER PUNE, Wakad, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Pune, Maharashtra 411033 For further information, please contact: Prachi Kaushik – Pavitra Amrit – About Signify Signify (Euronext: LIGHT) is the world leader in lighting for professionals, consumers and the Internet of Things. Our Philips products, Interact systems and data-enabled services deliver business value and transform life in homes, buildings and public spaces. In 2024, we had sales of EUR 6.1 billion, approximately 29,000 employees and a presence in over 70 countries. We unlock the extraordinary potential of light for brighter lives and a better world. We have been in the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index since our IPO for eight consecutive years and have achieved the EcoVadis Platinum rating for five consecutive years, placing Signify in the top one percent of companies assessed. News from Signify can be found in the Newsroom, on X, LinkedIn and Instagram. Information for investors is located on the Investor Relations page.
New York Times
13-05-2025
- New York Times
5 Gadgets That Make It Easy to Save Energy, Water, and Money
You won't actually make much of a dent in your individual energy bill by turning LED light bulbs off. But for me, remembering to turn them off is a small and easy contribution to collective energy savings for everyone. (Full disclosure: My personal pet peeve happens to be when people leave lights on in an empty house.) Smart lighting makes tackling this tiny task fast and easy. The simplest way to automate lighting is to use smart bulbs: All you have to do is screw in a light bulb, connect it to your Wi-Fi, and then use its app to set it on a custom on-and-off schedule. All smart bulbs are LED bulbs, and they use at least 75% less energy than incandescents but last 25 times longer. They also bring a little extra savings by adding dimming, which can save another 40% of energy use. Smart bulbs can also be triggered on or off in response to other smart devices, to motion sensors, or even to your location (what tech companies call geofencing). Once they're set up that way, they maximize energy savings without your having to remember to turn them on or off. We like the WiZ 60W A19 Color LED Smart Bulb, which is bright and includes an array of festive color options. And when it comes to smart bulbs, this one is pretty inexpensive (about $11 each). WiZ smart bulbs can be dimmed, and they can be controlled remotely or set to run on a repeating schedule. And they have a circadian rhythm setting, which changes the quality of light automatically throughout the day. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter Another option — for the person who knows how to wire an outlet — is a smart in-wall light switch, which replaces your existing light switch to control lighting fixtures. My husband leaves in the dark each morning. So we use a TP-Link Kasa KS225 Matter Smart Wi-Fi Dimmer (Wirecutter's top pick) to automatically ensure he has a lighted path. And then we turn it off when he's gone, so it doesn't stay lit all day. If you're clinging to the bulbs and switches you already own, a smart plug tackles the same on-and-off and scheduling functions for lamps and small appliances, and you can still add regular money-saving LED bulbs. A smart plug is an inexpensive way to control lights: Our favorite, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25), costs under $9 per lamp. Smart plugs are also great for controlling holiday lights. These smart-home devices don't need permanent installation, so you can take them with you when you move. Take these steps to protect your home from mishaps and intruders when you leave for vacation. According to the EPA, everyday household leaks in the US account for about 1 trillion gallons of wasted water annually. That's equivalent to more than 1,500 Olympic-size swimming pools. To catch small leaks as soon as possible, you can add a smart leak sensor to monitor hot-water heaters, under sinks, behind toilets, around washing machines or dishwashers, and other leak-prone spots. When the sensor detects a leak, it will send a smartphone alert, so you can tend to the issue before it becomes a catastrophe. The YoLink Water Leak Sensor 4 uses a small, inexpensive hub that supports multiple sensor units around the house. Each unit has sensors on top (to detect drips from pipes) and underneath (for pooling water). The YoLink Water Leak Sensor can detect both dripping and pooling water, due to its top- and bottom-mounted probes. Marki Williams/NYT Wirecutter If you're seeking more-comprehensive control — especially for when you're away from home (or if you have a second home) — the Flo by Moen and the Phyn Plus are smart water shut-off valves that install on your water main. They can detect and alert you to sudden big leaks, as well as to smaller issues, like a cycling toilet or running spigot. If you don't respond to the alert, your water supply will be shut off as a precaution. You can turn it back on remotely, using an app, or manually, in person. Smart sprinkler controllers can control water waste outside by regulating the amount you use to irrigate your lawn or garden, based on your specific soil moisture and even plant types. We recommend the Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller because it uses hyper-local web-based weather information to adjust schedules automatically, so you won't be one of those people who water their lawn right before (or during) a rainstorm. If you don't have an in-ground sprinkler system, a smart hose timer works with regular garden hoses and a standard sprinkler or soaker hose. The US Energy Information Administration reports that more than half of a typical US household's energy consumption is used for space heating and air conditioning. Of course, that can vary based on your location (the Northeast and Midwest use more on average), the type of dwelling (apartments consume less), and the number of people in your household. If you're in one of the areas where electricity costs are higher, a smart thermostat can optimize your home's heating and cooling to balance comfort with energy savings. Our pick, the Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium, is the most efficient smart thermostat we've tested. It has plenty of settings that allow you to fine-tune your environment. The included remote temperature-and-presence sensor allows you to control conditions around your home. And it can be set so you don't have to adjust the temperature when you leave or arrive home, and you aren't needlessly blasting the AC or heat all day. It also turns the system back on before you get home, so in the summer you won't arrive to an oven (and regret being energy-conscious). If you don't have central air, a smart air conditioner or a standard window unit with a smart plug can give you additional control, so you're not wasting cool air when no one is home to appreciate it. The Ecobee Smart Thermostat Premium works with remote sensors to help balance the temperature throughout your home. Michael Hession/NYT Wirecutter A smart ceiling fan can be another great option. I find my bedroom fan to be an absolute must for summer (and some winter) sleeping. According to the US Department of Energy, if you use a ceiling fan, you can raise the thermostat setting in summer months about 4 degrees Fahrenheit before you'll even perceive a difference in comfort. Smart fans, like those from Big Ass Fans and Hunter, also include presence sensors, so they run only when someone is in the room. They can also be integrated with a smart thermostat to maximize savings even further (we haven't yet tested such models). If you already have ceiling fans installed, you can upgrade their capabilities with a smart switch, such as the Lutron Caséta Smart Fan Control. It works with most existing fans (though it does require the use of a Caséta Smart Bridge), and it can respond to triggers from an app or other smart devices, such as thermostats or temperature sensors. If a ceiling fan just isn't a good fit, a room fan with a smart plug is an easy and affordable option. It's no surprise that one big way summer heat infiltrates your home is right through your windows. Smart shades and blinds tend to be expensive, but they are convenient and effective: They can block or absorb the sun's rays to help keep things cooler, without needing to flip on the AC. Models like those from SmartWings and Lutron can be set to raise and lower (or to open and close) based on a daily schedule, or on a whim using voice commands to a smart speaker or your phone. Many older electrical appliances and gadgets — including computer speakers, TVs, coffee makers, and more — continue to draw power even when they aren't in use, a phenomenon referred to as phantom or 'vampire' energy. A variety of smart plugs can control lights, fans, air purifiers, and pretty much all other electronic devices inside and outside the house. Michael Murtaugh/NYT Wirecutter According to the US Department of Energy, all of the various vampires in your home account for about 5% to 10% of energy use. And though this isn't a massive one-time outlay, over time it adds up. If you're not sure what you're consuming (or you already know and want to do something about it), many smart plugs — including our top pick, the TP-Link Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Plug Slim (EP25) — can monitor, in real time, the energy use of any device you plug into it. If you need to power several devices, a smart power strip, such as the TP-Link HS300 Kasa Smart Wi-Fi Power Strip, can track up to six devices individually. Just plug in whichever energy hog you wish (your old plasma TV, an audio system), and schedule the strip to cut the power completely when the device isn't in use. This article was edited by Jon Chase and Grant Clauser. These smart-home devices don't need permanent installation, so you can take them with you when you move. Smart thermostats like our pick, the Ecobee Premium , can make your home's HVAC more energy efficient without sacrificing your comfort. Nest thermostats are the gateway to smart-home life. An in-wall smart outlet replaces a traditional electrical outlet and makes automation a permanent part of your home. Our pick is the Geeni Current+Charge . What I Cover I write about everything from smart lighting and home security to Wi-Fi cameras and smart bird feeders. I've also covered ice cream sandwiches, robot vacuums, and snoring.
