Houses today cannot escape the digital lifestyle defining the 21st century. The colonnade may look Doric or Corinthian while the facade could very well be cut stone or a Mediterranean white, but hidden from the naked eye are the wires, the optical cables, the blue tooth devices and the WiFi working 24/7, making sure that the occupants of a new home are kept comfortable and safe.
Home automation or domotics has been used in homes for many years now in its more elementary form. Fire alarms and burglary alarm systems were stand-alone units which functioned in an automated fashion, offering tele-assistance and other such simple services. With the evolution of networking and high speed computing, home automation has seen a paradigm shift in its application and scope. The main thrust for providers of such services has been the integration of the different aspects of a home into a compact gadget that can be operated through human interfaces such as keypads and software.
The vast field of home automation can be broken down into four essential components without which any modern home is incomplete.
Heating, Ventilation and Air-conditioning
This aspect of domotics manages the utilities in the home, optimizing the use of energy and saving large amounts on monthly bills. The controllers turn off or lower heating and air-conditioning automatically when the home is unoccupied, manage humidity levels and operate exhaust systems in kitchens and washrooms. These systems can be programmed to regulate variable temperature settings in different areas of a home such as swimming pools, green houses, basements, wine cellars and coolers.
Stylish Lighting
No home is complete without excellent ambient lighting. Home automation provides the perfect tool to control, regulate and monitor the illumination needs of a house. Dimmers, mode switches and scene switches are some of the products offered by manufacturers. These devices sense human presence and automatically turn on and turn off lighting and other electrical appliances. The sensors can change scenes for dinners and parties and even open and close electric windows and drapes to let natural light in. Many of these systems use radio frequencies, WiFi or even GPRS, thereby eliminating the need for cumbersome wiring.
Audiovisual Components
How would it be to hear music play throughout the house? Connect every room to an iPod and preset the volumes for a party! Or wake up to the news in the morning! The Whole Home Audio system allows all this and more. Manufacturers also provide stand-alone transmitters and speakers that can be connected to your existing system as a cheaper option. The permutations are limitless while setting up a multi-zone entertainment system in a home, providing the residents with true-to-life concert and movie hall-type experiences.
Security and Surveillance
Any standard automated home should come with state-of-the-art security and surveillance units which work in tandem with the other components of the house. Motion detectors, sensors for crystal breakage, cameras, doors and windows with magnetic contact strips and fire, gas and water escape alarms are all part of this integrated system. These units are often connected to the audiovisual and lighting components, and function as surveillance monitors or even alarm systems.
The versatility of these home automation systems lies in their remote access capabilities. The light and thermostat setting, for example, can be automatically controlled and adjusted using a telephone from anywhere in the world. Some companies even offer memory sticks with USB interfaces, which can be plugged into any computer, allowing a home owner to access their home settings over the Internet.
The need for architectural design to keep up with the growing technological awareness of consumers has led to builders providing more than just a telephone and a television jack in each room. The dynamic nature of today's home buyers, the extensive use of the Internet, home offices and other networking needs have made automation an invaluable tool. Aesthetically designed consoles and user friendly interfaces cater to every unique lifestyle, adding value and prestige to any prospective home. The advantages home automation offers are limitless, affording ease and flexibility, reduced energy consumption and, most importantly, peace of mind!
Bill Weber is the President of Weber Design Group, Inc., a custom architectural design and home plan resource firm that has been in business for more than two decades. His homes feature designs of award winning grace that are seamless in their setting and fluid in their design. The design team at Weber will work to create a custom home unique to your lifestyle.
Contact Weber Design Group to begin the process of bringing your dream to reality.
Phone: Toll Free (888) 4WeberDesign (493-2373) - Email: info@WeberDesignGroup.com
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