Dimming Levels: Based on preferences or amount of natural lighting in a room, intelligent and easy dimming controls can dramatically increase the life of bulbs. The average light bulb does not produce any more lumens (visible light) after 90%. The extra 10% makes its way into the home or office as heat, causing the Air Conditioning system to unnecessarily operate. Intelligent dimming systems can “clamp” down lighting levels so they max out at 90%, giving you all output you need, while extending bulb life and reducing electricity costs.
Custom Lighting Presets: At the touch of a button also give the home a warm, emotional tone. Upon request, these can be programmed to synch with sunsets, sunrises, time of day, or supplement the amount of natural lighting in the room. Aside from not running your lights “full throttle”, easy, quick access to preset light levels save time, reduce wall clutter, and dramatically enhance the color schemes of your home by giving it depth and richness.
Daylight Harvesting: Small ambient light sensors can be placed on the ceiling near windows and shades. These can read the amount of natural light in the room. If desired, a custom lighting preset can be recalled that adds illumination, but at moderate levels to mix with the natural light. If, for example, the shades automatically lowers to protect your floor or artwork from being bleached by the sun, the sensor would “know” there is less lighting, and bring up the amount of artificial lighting.
Astronomical Clock: Did you ever notice how many homes outdoor lighting is on hours before sunset. It’s bright as day and the landscape lights are on. You can use a timer, but that’s a headache and can't keep up with the changing sunsets. Every day, sunset and sunrise are different. Sunset on August 13th might be 7:35, the 14th is 7:02, and November 12th might be 5:16pm. Our systems “know” each day the unique time of true sunset, and tell the outdoor lighting to turn on when they need to be on.
This can also work well in side homes with a lot of windows and natural exposure. Step lights running stairs or leading pathways know when to turn on.
Occupancy Sensors (Wired or Wireless). Have children? Ever walked in a room and seen the LCD or Plasma on and the room’s been empty for two hours? Wireless occupancy sensors can tell the control system to turn off the audio and video equipment after a period of time of no one is in the room.
Safety: They can also be used to detect movement and turn on pathways of lighting in the home, near stairs or landings. We’ve had a few clients find this indispensable as they have children who sleep walk and were concerned about them walking disoriented in the dark near stairs.Not only did the occupancy sensor illuminate the landing and stairs, but it also triggered the music system to play a soft but effective annunciation through the Master Bedroom speakers that let them know their children were traipsing around.
Climate/Comfort: Thermostats are unattractive and difficult to program. Through an easy user interface on a touch screen or your TV, you can schedule your Heating and Air Conditioning to run at your desired comfort range. Wake Up presets can “tell” sections of the house to turn on ½ hour before you walk up, cooling or warming the Lower Level while you’re sleeping upstairs.
It Knows More Than You: Let’s face it. No matter how much insulation is in your walls, or how much recycled construction material you’ve used, if your air conditioning still runs after the kids left the door to the back yard open, your home isn’t energy efficient.. Our systems can “talk” back and forth to the alarm system. If the sensor on that backyard door reads open for a specified period of time, the system will “tell” the air conditioning to turn off. When that door is closed again, the system is back on.
Pool and Spa Controls: Integration of pool and spa unto the same control system as your media is more and more common. Imagine being able to easily see if your Jacuzzi is still on from your TV or wireless control. What if a single button set up the backyard so the Jacuzzi turned on, the outdoor music came on to 30%, and the planter lights lit a pathway for a night dip? What if that same button turned them all off? And… as a back up, at a predetermined time, your home system knew to turn off the Spa if accidentally left on.
Irrigation: Can you easily tell the sprinkler not to come on if it’s raining, or change their schedule without calling the gardener? What if you could turn on your sprinklers from the office if you knew a fire was nearing? If a spot in the backyard was a little dry, how nice would it be to walk up to a touch screen or turn the TV on and irrigate a certain area for a few extra minutes.
Audio and Video: The same controls that run the aforementioned control your HomeTheater, Music, and TV’s if desired.
And yes…Much of this can be accomplished without cutting open walls with systems starting at under $ 3,000.00!!!
