Hey everyone! I’ve been thinking about optimizing my outdoor lighting setup and wanted to share my ideas and gather some feedback. I’ve been running a few exterior lights on a dusk-to-dawn schedule for years now, but I’m looking to add some smart tech to save energy and reduce bulb degradation. I have a couple of 5000k 100w equivalent LED lights at the front and back of my house, and three over the garage. I’m in a pretty rural area, so security is a big consideration, but I’d love to cut back on unnecessary energy use.
I was thinking of upgrading to some RGB bulbs—maybe the Hue or Lifx variety—and adding a couple of high-mounted floodlights. Motion sensors would definitely be part of the mix. My plan is to dim the lights to around 60w equivalent warm white from dusk until 11pm. After that, I’d like them to come on full brightness if a car drives down the driveway or motion is detected around a specific light. I’d also like them to switch to cool white during the night to help deter potential intruders.
I’d love to hear what others are doing with their outdoor lighting setups! How do you balance security, energy efficiency, and convenience? What kinds of lights and automation systems have worked well for you? Any tips on motion sensor placement or avoiding false triggers? I’m also curious about which bulbs and floodlights people recommend for this kind of setup.
Oh, and if anyone has experience with scheduling and automation for outdoor lights, I’d be grateful for any advice or best practices! I’m really excited about the possibilities here, and I can’t wait to dive into some cool new automations. Let’s brainstorm together! 
