Smart Home Design: The Basics

Surprisingly Affordable!

When you think of home automation or home control, what do you think of? Probably the first thing that comes to mind is cost. Most Consumers have heard that systems that control your HVAC, lighting, audio and video systems, and shade control are for the "upper class" with huge amounts of disposable income. That is simply not true! We can design and install a whole home automation systems to create a true "smart home" within most budgets. Starting as low as $3 a square foot! Our systems are designed to save you money and time!

Going green made simple.

Smart home design is not just for convenience anymore. It is about our planet and it is about saving you money. Now, you can actually get a smart home system that pays for itself over just a few years on energy savings and management. How would you like to enjoy a smart home and all the luxuries that lie within it for free!

Below is a list of what can make up a smart home and how they all work together to save you money without you doing anything:

▪      Structured Wiring: Future proof your home for technology with cable, phone, and data wiring to allow for system integration of your entire residence. This is the foundation of any good smart home design. Pre-wire, pre-wire, pre-wire! It will cost you more than double after sheet rock is up.
▪      Intrusion Alarm / Securities:  Choosing your home security systems is essential for smart home design. We focus on this, which is a little different from custom integration industry mind set. Most think that security is an after thought, but by thinking through your gate systems, intrusion alarm, cameras, and access control we can identify problem areas and help with theft deterrent and property protection, including fire.
▪      Distributed Audio / Intercom / Central Vac: Keep in contact with your home and its inhabitants with systems that integrate into your whole home audio system. (i.e. - when your door bell rings, the music fades to talk to your guest) Add central vacuum and you remove allergens from your home that are typical in a standalone vacuum. Thus, reducing cleaning supplies that might be harmful for the environment.
▪      Lighting Control / HVAC Management: These are the two biggest reasons to develop a smart home system. A whole home lighting control system allows for event based programming (i.e. - every night at midnight all lights go off, on security alarm outside and interior lights come on) as well as setting lightings 100% on to be 85% throughout the whole home. So, when you turn that lamp on you have 15% energy savings every time you use it and typically you never notice the brightness to the naked eye. Being able to automate your A/C unit can truly saving on energy costs by dropping your levels every day when you're at work and having them back to your desired temperature when you get home.
▪      Audio / Video / Convergence : Convergence is a term used in our industry simply meaning "bringing it all together" All the systems listed above should be very easy to operate. One touch operation and readily accessible. We use Windows Media Center applications that allow you to access all systems from your TV screen, with your remote control from anyone. If it is not easy to use, you won't use it!

Proud partners!

We choose carefully the brand names we deal with based on reliability, longevity, warranty, and customer service. Below are a listing of some of our core vendors of choice:  

▪     Crestron: is the leader in residential and commercial automation. When you mention this name you are guaranteed system reliability and customer service. Truly and industry standard. www.crestron.com
▪     HAI (Home Automation, Inc.) : affordable home automation solutions. Since 1985. Great for existing homes. www.homeauto.com
▪     Convergent Living : graphical user interface integration. Provides touch panels and distribution devices to tie all home systems together. www.convergentliving.com