| Wouldn't it be nice to have your home take care of | | | | 4) Different lighting scenes can be preset for different |
| things for you, automatically, without you having to lift a | | | | events such as entertaining, away, coming home, etc. |
| finger? You bet it would. That is the promise of home | | | | This is excellent to recall favorite lighting levels |
| automation. There are many different systems, | | | | automatically. It also avoids you having to go |
| especially in larger homes, that can benefit from being | | | | throughout the home and set dimmer levels. Dimming |
| integrated. Some of these systems include security | | | | lights saves considerable energy and dramatically |
| alarm, HVAC, audio / video, and lighting. Home | | | | extends the life of light bulbs. An incandescent light at |
| automation integrates these systems together, enabling | | | | 90% will last almost twice as long as the same light at |
| them to function more efficiently, improve functionality, | | | | 100%. |
| conserve resources and enhance your lifestyle. | | | | 5) Motion-activated lighting automatically turns on the |
| That's the name of the game; an enhanced lifestyle. | | | | bathroom lights to 25% if you get up between 12:00 |
| Everyone can benefit from a better life and modern | | | | midnight and 5:00am, avoiding harsh light on your still |
| electronic systems can help provide it. In addition, as | | | | sleepy eyes. If you walk out of your bedroom door |
| the cost of resources continues to rise and the price | | | | late at night, a path is lit to the kitchen for you at 35%. |
| of electronics continues to fall, home automation | | | | 6) You get an email notifying you if your security |
| systems will prove to be even more cost effective. | | | | system is tripped or disarmed. This is great for |
| The combination of the modern consumer's thirst for | | | | knowing when kids get home after school or alerting |
| convenience and increasing economic advantages will | | | | you to problems when you are away from home. |
| propel home automation more into the mainstream. | | | | E-mail and pager alerts can be used for a variety of |
| So, what are some of the fun things a home | | | | conditions that may need monitoring such as low |
| automation system can do for you? Here are some | | | | fuel-oil, occupancy or motion in certain areas, or water |
| common applications: | | | | leaks in the mechanical or utility room. |
| 1) As you pull up the driveway you press a button on | | | | 7) Skylights automatically close in response to rain and |
| your key-fob remote. The security system disarms | | | | or wind. |
| and a path is lit from the garage to the kitchen. Your | | | | 8) If upstairs windows are open, the heat in those |
| favorite music comes on in the kitchen and family | | | | rooms is disabled to avoid wasting energy and a |
| room. Five minutes after you arrive home the lights in | | | | message is displayed on the home's touch panels to |
| your mudroom and garage hall turn off. | | | | alert you. |
| 2) As you leave, you arm the security system into | | | | 9) Weather information can be displayed on the |
| away mode using your key-fob remote. Your lights | | | | home's touch panels. If the wind speed increases to |
| turn off throughout the house, saving you from going | | | | beyond 50mph, protective shutters can be activated |
| around turning off different lights throughout the home. | | | | over the windows. |
| Your blinds close. Your music turns off. If you have | | | | 10) Motorized window treatments can be lowered |
| forced-air heat, it is set back. All from one button | | | | automatically in response to direct sunlight. This |
| press. | | | | prevents fading of valuable furniture, carpets and |
| 3) Set whole house scenes for different events to | | | | artwork. It also reduces interior heating, reducing AC |
| include lighting, music, HVAC, and security. Example: A) | | | | expenditures. |
| An entertainment scene would have the lights set to | | | | 11) You phone from your car while returning from a ski |
| the "entertain" preset, the security system off, the | | | | trip to ensure your hot tub is warmed up and ready to |
| music to the appropriate party play list, and the HVAC | | | | jump in immediately upon your return. |
| set-back a few degrees to compensate for the | | | | These are just a sample of different home automation |
| added body heat from the additional people in the | | | | applications commonly used to enhance lifestyles, save |
| house. B) The "Holiday" scene could run concurrently | | | | money and conserve resources. The possibilities are |
| with other scenes and turn the Christmas lights on and | | | | almost endless, limited only by your budget and |
| play the Holiday music play list through the outside | | | | imagination. |
| speakers. | | | | |