| It may seem strange to use a home automation | | | | stoves can be controlled to ensure maximum |
| system to save energy - after all won't the | | | | efficiency. As an aside it is also worth considering |
| control system itself use energy? Surely a | | | | convenience - imagine being able to dial up your |
| minimalist approach to electrical hardware is the | | | | ski chalet on the last run of the day to switch the |
| best way to save energy? | | | | stove on - ensuring a welcoming warm lounge |
| A well designed home automation system can | | | | when you get home! |
| provide huge benefits and savings in energy | | | | Intelligent Power Switching |
| consumption: | | | | Switching things off when not required is an easy |
| Lighting Control | | | | way to save energy. Modern equipment has been |
| Lighting control systems can save substantial | | | | designed to use a lot less power when in standby |
| amounts of energy. The dimming mechanism can | | | | which is why our control systems are |
| save up to 70% of the energy of a non-dimmed | | | | programmed to switch devices off when they |
| lamp which when coupled with activity detection | | | | are not required. With certain devices - which we |
| and daylight sensing can save huge amounts of | | | | know to be inefficient even in standby - we can |
| energy. Put simply the home automation system | | | | automatically switch off all power to the devices. |
| will determine if the room is occupied and if it is | | | | Our modern multi-room amplifiers are Class D |
| whether the existing light level is sufficient. Big | | | | models which means each output has it's own |
| businesses have been using this technology for | | | | power supply and consequently only portions of |
| years, and making huge savings, and now the | | | | the amplifier are switched on at any one time. |
| likes of Crestron have started releasing lighting | | | | Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning |
| keypads with light sensors built in for the | | | | Although we have already covered Heating |
| domestic market. | | | | Control it is important to think of heating as part |
| Heating Control | | | | of the bigger picture. Modern buildings tend to |
| There are many ways a home automation | | | | contain a lot of glass which can cause |
| system can save on the costs of heating your | | | | temperature swings - too cold part of the time or |
| home - individual thermostats in each room | | | | too hot when the sun is streaming through the |
| ensure the house is never over heated and allow | | | | windows. The same Crestron heating thermostats |
| temperatures to be reduced when the room is | | | | can let us know when the temperature is rising |
| not occupied. These temperature reductions can | | | | and, coupled with the lighting keypad light sensors, |
| even be tied in to your alarm system so setting | | | | determine if the blinds should be closed. This |
| the alarm when you leave the property will | | | | pre-emptive measure can save huge amounts in |
| reduce the required temperatures, even a few | | | | air conditioning costs whilst protecting the fabric |
| degrees savings can reap substantial savings. | | | | of the room. Security can also be increased by |
| Individual controls of different rooms can allow | | | | closing the curtains or blinds when darkness falls. |
| different temperatures throughout the home, | | | | Control of air conditioning can not only make the |
| similar to the radiator temperature dials we are all | | | | system easier to use but ensure the system is |
| used to but much more reliable. A home | | | | only operating when the room is occupied and the |
| automation system also comes in to its own with | | | | conditions demand it. |
| renewable energy solutions - biomass boilers and | | | | |