interiors 45 Smart looks, smart operation
The ‘wow’ factor can be achieved in new homes combined with cost-effective smart lighting and audio control to provide the best of both worlds for developers. One company is realising the benefits in several new schemes.
to implement. However, as new technologies become increasingly accessible, it’s now easier and more cost-effective than ever to incorporate these technologies on a budget and give new developments that extra special ‘wow’ factor while appealing to the energy conscious homeowner. Smart technology and devices have become
S
everyday essentials for many in today’s ‘always connected’ life, enabling people to do whatever they want, whenever and wherever. House buyers are looking for extra special features when making their purchase, and technologies such as smart lighting and audio controls are delivering just that. “We’ve seen an increasing market demand for
smart controls thanks to changing lifestyle choices,” says Gavin Williams, marketing manager for electrical accessories manufacturer Hamilton Litestat. “Lighting and audio controls are seen as a luxury item with a very high perceived value. Yes, you need a light switch in a room but having lighting control is a whole new level that’s extremely desirable. Now by also
mart controls and home automation systems have become hugely popular, yet they can also require huge budgets
adding multi-room audio you are giving the homeowner a total lighting and sound package.” Yet this technology needn’t cost the earth.
‘Off the shelf ’, easy to install lighting control solutions allow the user to create, store and easily recall lighting scenes all at the touch of a button – setting the mood in any area of the home or changing it depending on the desired function of the space at that time. Another option is RGB DMX control where a colour wash can be given to an area with lighting. The DMX standard is becoming more popular domestically to provide accent lighting and even add drama to a space.
Major energy savings
Not only does the functionality appeal to today’s homeowner, so do the energy efficient properties. By dimming lights around the home, lighting controls can offer vast energy savings of up to 80 per cent. Savings of between 20-30 per cent can be achieved by dimming the LEDs alone, with further savings of 50 per cent possible by using PIRs to turn off lights when a room or area is not in use. Furthermore, using a soft start dimmer can offer further savings by extending the typical
25,000-hour life of an LED lamp. By making current switching smoother and reducing the lamp temperature, lamp failure is reduced along with maintenance requirements. Gavin Williams adds: “Even the most basic
system that uses a pre-set timer or dimmer will use less power, so lighting control offers vast energy saving improvements. Plus, creating an appropriate pre-set ambience, lighting control can reduce energy usage in entertainment spaces such as home cinemas. Any person looking to reduce their expenditure and carbon footprint will find such systems invaluable.”
Wall to wall light and sound
The popularity of lighting control has led to the natural development of multi-room audio solutions. The two can be integrated, giving the homeowner the versatility to control the audio played in any room, even in an outside patio or garden space. “A more lavish setting might be the ability to control both the lighting and audio around a hot tub or pool area, but it can be used in any living space,” adds Williams. “That new level of luxury is now much more accessible with off-the-shelf lighting control and multi-room audio systems.”
respond online at
www.hbdonline.co.uk
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60