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Is Intelligent Technology
Here to Stay?
he dramatic changes in such as time-based control, have considerable KNX is an international solution that enables
T
this market are well energy saving benefits as homeowners and technology products from different
illustrated in the case of building managers can switch on services such manufactures to work together to create a
Faith & Gantry. as heating and lighting only when required. seamless, customised intelligent building or
Until recently their order smart home.
book consisted predominantly of A Changing Market The solutions offered by KNX such as time
private individuals and one-off, high Until recently the demand for smart homes based control, have obvious cost and energy
end projects. Today, major housing came predominantly from the tech-savvy saving benefits; energy saving for lighting
developers make up nearly 80% of seeking the latest revolutions and the affluent alone can be anywhere up to 30% and the
their client base as they look to who want to enhance their standard of living. potential energy savings from water is 10%
install smart technology as Times have changed. The commercial and heating 20%. Such long term energy
standard into hundreds of applications of intelligent technology are almost savings will outweigh any initial installation
new homes. limitless and in the residential sector, these costs (return on investment).
Homes have changed drastically over recent systems are being fitted as standard in average It is this long term ROI that has been
years. With standards of living improving and homes, not just penthouse suites. encouraging the commercial sector in particular
an increasing demand for smart homes that Lee Nunn of Faith & Gantry explains, to invest in the necessary new infrastructures,
keep up with today’s technology reliant home “Firstly, developers are competing to create as they increasingly recognise the technology
owners, developers and architects are under homes that give the edge and often this is as a viable investment.
pressure to produce plans that are not only achieved through home technology systems
suitable for incorporating a multitude of home that enhance the dweller’s standard of living. The Future
entertainment systems, but also to make Secondly, the demand is directed from home The average environmentally friendly smart home
allowances for the dweller to live more efficiently buyers who are increasingly becoming aware of benefits from smart electricity, gas and water
and economically. their lifestyle.” meters, intelligent control for heating, lighting,
Add this to the widespread pursuit of The sustainability of new homes has and windows, efficient water management and
sustainability and Government targets for CO2 become top of the agenda and the onus is intelligent networked appliances.
emissions and it seems intelligent technology is now on designing energy efficient homes All this leads to a much more resource
a natural evolution, that the building industry which can be controlled through smart home efficient way of living which has become more
can no longer ignore. systems. Architects have for some time been important to people wishing to reduce their
designing new homes that have the internal impact on the environment.
What is Intelligent Technology? network to allow the smart home to operate on With the domestic sector responsible for 27 per
The purpose of intelligent technology is to new levels of efficiency and performance. cent of the UK’s carbon dioxide emissions, it is no
monitor, control and optimise building services, However, as demand grows, the real challenge surprise that the Government is looking closely at
such as; lighting, heating, CCTV and alarm will come with retrofitting and extensions on these systems and their green credentials.
systems, access control, audio-visual and existing buildings. Lee Nunn concludes,
entertainment systems, ventilation, filtration and The UK Carbon Trust has gone some way to “What is so refreshing about smart home
climate control, all from one point of control. address this; offering interest-free loans for technology is that it is life-enhancing technology
With smart technology, users can SMEs looking to upgrade to energy efficient but at the same time, environmentally friendly.
pre-programme the system based on their systems. Enhanced Capital Allowance (ECA) The industry shouldn’t underestimate the
preferences or routine. i.e. heating can be can also be offset against taxation on energy potential of these systems. Once the
programmed to maintain a particular efficient systems. infrastructure is in place, we have the
temperature at all times, lighting can be flexibility to go on to develop and integrate
programmed to switch off when no-one is in the A Viable Investment? further exciting, advanced solutions that will
room, blinds will close and PCs shut down at Intelligent buildings are controlled by KNX - an continue to challenge and evolve the way
the end of business. open platform system that controls intelligent we do things now”.
The solutions offered by smart technology buildings and smarthomes.
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