Because I’m the laziest person ever, I have discovered that I hate having to unplug my Christmas lights every night. (This is most likely because I get into bed and then remember that I need to turn them off.)
Luckily, technology’s gift to you and me this Christmas is a long list of timers and remote switches that will help you turn your lights off remotely and save energy along the way.
- Timers: Timers allow you to set a schedule that will dictate when your Christmas lights turn on and off. Look for a timer with a photocell mode (which means it turns on at dusk and off at a scheduled time) and is indoor and outdoor rated. A good example is the Honeywell Plug-In Timer.
- Remotes: For those less tech savvy, an outlet controller with a remote is a great option. Just plug it in to an outdoor socket, plug your Christmas lights into the strip, and voila. You can then turn your lights on and off manually from your bed or the couch. Check out the Heath Zenith Outdoor Strip Control with Remote.
- Lighting controls: The final option is a lighting or small appliance control. These nifty gadgets allow you to control lights, lamps, toasters, curling irons, coffee pots, and much more.
Once the Christmas lights have been packed away for the season, there are still a variety of ways to use it. When you choose a product with a monthly service fee, you can control them remotely from your computer, smartphone, or tablet. Another neat perk: No matter how far away you are, you can turn the lights at your home on and off from anywhere. The Vivint home automation package comes standard with one control and additional controls can be purchased a la carte.
