Australia-based smart lighting brand LIFX, (lately acquired by Buddy Technologies) has announced the launch of LIFX Clean, the world’s first antibacterial, germicidal smart light that is already being tested for efficiency against the COVID-19.
It works as a standard LIFX smart bulb but includes an additional feature that emits HEV light from its specially designed LEDs to kill bacteria and sanitize surfaces. Imagine this bulb in your bathroom, you just turn it on and it starts disinfecting the space while you sleep in your bedroom; it can even be configured in a daily schedule. Interestingly, the light has been tested to be safe for humans, pets, and plants, unlike the UV lights.
LIFX vouches for this to be the “world’s first consumer disinfecting smart light with overnight disinfectant kill rates of up to 99.99% for certain bacteria.” Hospitals, medical and correctional facilities have already begun receiving the non-smart variants of these bulbs and the company is now making the tech available to customers.
What is LIFX Clean?
LIFX Clean is like an ordinary smart bulb with dedicated 405 nanometer High Energy Visible (HEV) light LEDs to emit light at a wavelength of 405nm that has germicidal properties. A shining light of this wavelength on a surface will kill certain bacteria and microbes. The degree of disinfecting the surface increases with proximity and time. The closer and longer the light is to a surface the better it will be in killing germs.
Testing
LIFX Clean has passed laboratory efficacy testing conducted by the Department of Chemistry and Biotechnology at the Swinburne University of Technology in Australia. It has also been tested to meet the IEC 62471 standard for the photobiological safety of lamps at UL Verification Services in Guangzhou, China. These tests ensure, there is no risk from the light to skin or eyes.
LIFX Clean is currently in the testing queue for efficacy against the SARS-CoV-2 virus (which causes the COVID-19 disease). There are no claims of the light being effective in any antiviral capacity, but we are hopeful it can be proven so in the near future. Though LIFX turns down the possibility in the first models going out for retail in the next quarter.
Also Read: OLEV Pure BioAir Lamp Sanitizes the Air With UV-C Light
How to use it?
LIFX Clean can be used as a regular light in fact it has all the features of a LIFX A60 smart bulb, including the 1200 lumens output, colored light, and LEDs that can last nearly 22.8 years. The smart bulb is fully compatible with major voice assistant platforms like Amazon Alexa, Google, and Apple HomeKit. Other features include integrations with SmartThings, Microsoft, IFTTT, Flic, Brilliant, Razer, Logitech, and more.
As a germicidal light, LIFX Clean is expected to be used in three primary ways. ‘Minimize’ will help reduce bacterial growth in an open space; ‘Timed’ will help kill bacteria on a targeted surface over a period of time (installed in a desk lamp, or in kitchen/bathroom undercabinet installations); ‘Focussed’ will help kill bacteria in a specific, close area over a short period of time (use inside closets to combat clothing bacteria, or installed over a dedicated space to place phones, wallets, purses, masks for cleaning overnight.
Price and Availability
LIFX Clean is likely to go on sale in the fourth quarter of 2020 and will cost about AU$100 ($72). In the current COVID 19 era where cleanliness has become ever so important, LIFX Clean presents itself as a notable solution – just hoping it can someday fight the Coronavirus and make us slightly less vulnerable.
