IF THERE'S ONE THING YOU can count on in the whirlwind market of home automation, it's change. You can be sure that today's intelligent home controls will be smarter, cheaper and easier to use tomorrow. Wireless technologies are expanding the market for sophisticated control, while more affordable solutions are lowering the cost of entry. Meanwhile, new regulations and technology breakthroughs continue to add to the list of household functions that can benefit from automation.
Here's a look at five things you need to know about home controls today.
1: Cut the cord. A wired approach is the most reliable, secure means of sending signals from here to there, but you don't always have the luxury of getting wires everywhere they need to go. Nor do homeowners and designers always have the perfect plan for future needs. Wireless control systems offer a fallback option for both new construction and retrofits.
Wireless technologies, such as Z-Wave, Insteon, and ZigBee let you control lights and other devices without having to run wires. They can also work with products from other manufacturers that build to their standards. You can control individual lights, set scenes involving multiple lights at preset dimming levels, even combine scenes with security systems, thermostats, spa settings and other devices.
Using a Z-Wave network, for instance, you can tap the button on a Wayne-Dalton garage door opener and have a series of Leviton light switches illuminate a path inside a home.
2: Lighting control on a budget. Time was you couldn't get reliable lighting control for less than an arm and a leg. Lutron, LiteTouch, and Vantage Controls all pioneered the market with elaborate five- and six-figure systems designed for large luxury homes. The high-end systems require complex wiring, and although those systems are still the crème de la crème, there are less expensive solutions today for those on a modest budget, often from the same companies.
LIGHT CONTROL: Lutron's Sivoia QED controllable shade system integrates with the company's lighting controls.
Today's robust wireless systems are one affordable route to lighting control. Z-Wave and Insteon starter kits run just over $100, with lamp modules starting at around $30 and dimmer switches just under $50 each. The modular approach lets homeowners add lights as needed, and gives builders a way to offer a lighting control option without a pricey investment.
A limited-control, packaged system is another option for budget-minded home buyers. Lutron's wireless AuroRa system provides control of five lights for under $1,000. That's enough to light a pathway from the garage to the kitchen and then some.
3: Time to vent. The good news is that today's homes are built to airtight standards that help homeowners keep a lid on soaring energy costs.
The bad news is those airtight structures keep in moisture and pollutants that would have escaped from a home built with more porous materials.
Health experts and consumers are becoming more aware of indoor air-quality issues. Filtration is one method for dealing with allergens, mold and other indoor contaminants. Some building science experts believe fresh air ventilation is even more important to long-term health and well being, according to Tom Heidel, product manager for indoor air quality and controls at Broan-NuTone.
CONTROL FOR THE MASSES: Leviton's use of Z-Wave wireless technology in its ViziaRF line means lighting control is more affordable.
Adding ventilation to the feature set of an automated HVAC system expands the benefits of whole-house climate control. Running fans can help freshen the air and reduce contaminants and odors, and they can be put on timers to operate automatically during the day.
Broan-NuTone has taken automation to the next level, combining with Insteon for an intermittent-and-continuous ventilation solution that runs over the home's power lines.
4: Keep cool even when the systems don't. Electronics generate a lot of heat that can shorten the life of components. With more electronics stacked in racks to keep them out of view and manageable, there's an increasing need for solutions to keep audio/video gear, computers and other electronics running cool.
Heat buildup is especially problematic in home theaters, where five to seven high-wattage amplifiers power a typical system. “When the racks are tucked into recesses or closets, the heat generated by this equipment has nowhere to go, and temperatures can rise to levels that will shorten equipment life to a significant degree,” says Frank Federman, president of Active Thermal Management, which designs custom ventilation solutions.
Ventilation products can turn on or off in response to thermostat settings, or run at set speeds in response to temperature changes.
5: Control the sun. Lighting control typically refers to the scenes you set with artificial lights. But why stop there? By managing the natural light that comes into the home, homeowners can cut energy costs, protect flooring and furnishings from ultraviolet rays, and get the most out of their investment in window treatments.
Lutron, Somfy, and Solar Shading Systems are among companies that sell controllable shades that integrate with home control systems. Motors with sensors that accept commands from wall-mounted or handheld remote controls are the power behind Somfy and Solar Shading shades. Astronomical timers also can control the shades, so that they raise and lower according to time of day. Shades are available in wired and wireless versions for new construction and retrofit applications.
Lutron shades are microprocessor-controlled, making them virtually silent in motor-free operation. Low-voltage wiring is required from controller to shade. LiteTouch sells the DayLight Harvesting Keypad, which works with a sensor to maintain light levels in a room, depending on the amount of natural light the sensor receives. The keypad works with LiteTouch lighting control systems.
Rebecca Day writes about home technology from New York.
PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT: HOME CONTROLS
