Budget-Friendly Home Automation
When designing a renovation or new home, we often work with technology consultants to integrate custom home automation and A/V systems into our projects for things like music, powered shades, security, television, home theater, lighting control and heating / cooling systems.
Often, many small to moderately sized homeowners would like to have a greater handle on the technology in their house, but don’t have the budget or the opportunity to add major new equipment, new wiring or a fully integrated system. We have compiled a list of 10 smaller independent systems and devices that are cost effective and provide many of the same features for smaller homes or condos. These systems have become far more user-friendly, reliable and affordable with the addition of smart phone and tablets as controllers, managed through app based systems. They not only enhance enjoyment and ease of use in the house - no ugly cable boxes at the TV's, the ability to turn off lights from the driveway, turning up the heat from the airport, or remotely viewing the pool camera on your iPad - they also allow homeowners to monitor a home's energy performance.
1. Sonos Music - a wireless music system that allows music in many rooms and zones and allows streaming from your iPod or from the internet services such as Pandora, Sirius and iTunes. This is a plug and play system with a reasonable price tag.
2. Apple TV - a very cost effective way at $99 to get all the different online music, video streaming on your TV in one easy devise that also communicates with your itunes, photos and other content your computer or ipad.
3. Nest Thermostat - they are not only pretty to look at and simple to use, but they are inexpensive and offer a great way to save energy and get a strong return on the investment price of the thermostat unit. The Nest devise learns your behavior and creates a program that responds to the way you live in the house. It can be programmed from your phone and can be one of the largest energy savers in a home, up to 50% of your energy bill controlled by the thermostat.
They’ve also just announced a smoke detector as well!
4. Water bug - the smart system shuts down your whole house water when it detects a leak. Great for second homes, travelers and large households. The devices speak to each other when a leak is detected and will shut the water off, saving potential flooding, mold, and construction after damage.
5. Energy Meter - simple plug in devise that tracks energy usage at the outlet and allows you to see if you should turn off computers at night, replace the old fridge with a more energy efficient one, AC and washing machines and track savings on LED lights vs. CFL or incandescent.
6. Multi room light control - a simple system that allows smart phone control, programming, motion detection, lamp diming, outlet control and a host of scalable features that will save energy and add convenience.
7. Lutron battery shades - Lutron battery powered shades are a great automation add on that does not require wiring and other hard cost elements. They can help insulate at windows, block solar gain and can be timed to help add or reduce day light as needed to reduce dependency on lights. The batteries are 3 year long life and they have honey comb with light filtering, black out, and thermal versions among others.
8. Lutron switching - They offer a number of nice retro fit products that work with your existing wiring. The Maestro system is very scalable, has an iphone app and allows control of lighting, shades and other features.
9. Solar - solar powered attic venting fan helps reduce heat load in the attic, turns on when necessary with a thermometer device and is self powered for easy install. Venting an attic helps reduce cooling loads and demand and extends the life of equipment in uninsulated attics.
10. Video monitoring - Great value at $99 and perfect for travelers, second home, baby monitoring, pools and hot tub monitoring, parents and business' - has night vision, two way audio and works with web monitoring or smart phone devices.
