smart home technology 55
Be smart and help owners take control
Christian Schiemann, ABB’s product marketing manager for wiring accessories says that advances in smart home technology have enabled it to be used as a key selling point to homebuyers.
automation was seen as an expensive option. The perception has always been that only luxury homes have a remote control for the lights, blinds and radiators. To install a sophisticated system in a home used to need the services of a specialist contractor. Building automation was more likely to be found in commercial buildings so contrac- tors needed these specialist skills. This was time consuming and costly, putting it out of reach of most people. Home automation, or smart home technology
H
is used to describe a system that controls a com- bination of lighting, blinds, curtains, heating and door security. Recent advances in technology have made
home automation more affordable for home owners because new systems can be installed by non-specialist housebuilders. Home automation opens doors for people to control their lighting, blinds, heating and door control from their smartphone, table or computer. This has helped the industry grow. BI
Intelligence estimated that the global market for smart home devices was worth $61bn in 2014 but this is set to grow more than eight times to $490bn by 2019. Smart home technology has many benefits
for home owners. It can help reduce energy bills, is an impressive selling point, and makes it easier for people to control the environment in their homes. These benefits have led some con- struction companies to include it as standard in new homes.
ome automation normally conjures up images of futuristic homes owned by celebrities. Until recently, home
Installing smart technology systems
The key differentiator that has made home automation more accessible is the move to a sim- pler set up. New home automation systems use mobile apps that are easy to self-learn. Electrical installers need only a few hours to familiarise themselves with the technology that will help them set up and programme the system. Installing a new system in a typical three-bed-
room house with lighting circuits, room thermostats, radiators and blind actuators costs around £4,500, making it more affordable for ordinary home owners or buyers. Set up is typically a three stage process:
• The first step is installation of the hardware. Components, such as sensors and actuators, are installed throughout the house using almost any combination of wiring topologies such as series, star or tree structure.
• Second comes commissioning. The system access point which detects all the components is connected to a web or mobile application through WiFi. A mobile app guides the installer through set up of the floor plan, and allocates a location for sensors and actuators.
• The final stage is choosing settings and timers for lighting, heating and blinds. This allows the system to activate these when required. In addition, users can create scenes which set the light, heating and blinds for certain situations with just one setting. Examples could include ‘movie night’ or ‘morning routine.’
Using the system
Home owners have their own version of the app to control heating, lighting, blinds and even secu- rity cameras. The benefit of a mobile app is that the home can be monitored and controlled from anywhere, giving the owner control of energy bills. For example, forgetting to turn off lights is no longer an issue; they can be turned off remotely. Setting the thermostat can also be done from the office desk or while on holiday. Another benefit of smart home technology is
security. Systems can be set to turn lights on and off even when no one is home to put off any potential burglars. Home owners can also see who is ringing the doorbell before answering or when not at home. In the event that the smoke detectors go off, lights can be automatically switched on for safety.
Home automation as standard
Installing home automation systems in new build homes as standard makes them more attractive to potential buyers. Early adopters of systems like these get bragging rights with their friends, in addition to the other benefits attached to the technology. Installing the systems in new builds is particu-
larly prevalent in mainland Europe, with several of the largest building firms now offering the tech- nology. For contractors in the UK, this opens up opportunities to learn about smart home systems to increase their skill set and revenue streams.
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