SMART HOME TECHNOLOGY 53
McKinsey found that the global market for such systems has grown 31 per cent over the past three years and is expected to see explosive growth. Advances in technology mean that smart home systems are now available to the mass market, giving more homeowners than ever before the ability to control heating, lighting, curtains and even doors with their smartphones. For housebuilders and developers, smart home systems can add significant value. They can also make properties more desirable to buyers due to their potential to save energy, along with enhanced controls that can add an air of luxury to a home.
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WHAT DO YOU NEED TO CONSIDER? Before investing in a smart home system, housebuilders and developers should consider several factors. Firstly, what functions do potential buyers want and what systems provide this? Home automation can include control of lights, heating, blinds, air conditioning and door communication from anywhere in the world.
Not only can these be controlled individually, but occupiers can also create scenes, for example ‘movie night,’ where lights are set low and blinds closed, or a ‘morning scene,’ where the bathroom and breakfast room are already warm when you get up in the morning. Some systems are geolocated to automatically adjust lighting, temperature and curtains to the times of sunrise and sunset. It is important to know the options available and the abilities of the system you’re investing in. Secondly, how easy is the system to install and use? In the past, smart home systems called for specialist contractors with in-depth knowledge. Nowadays, a new generation of systems is available. These are designed to be quick and easy to install, conducted by electrical contractors rather than specialists. This has significantly reduced the cost and complexity of installation. Once installed, a straightforward handover to homeowners is important to
HOME AUTOMATION INCLUDES CONTROL OF LIGHTS, HEATING, AIR CONDITIONING, BLINDS & DOOR COMMUNICATION ACCESSED FROM ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD
ome automation is growing rapidly in popularity. A recent study by management consultancy
SMARTEN UP
As smart home systems enter the mainstream, Dean Reddy of ABB advises housebuilders what to look for when considering smart building technology.
minimise the need for ‘hand-holding’. This means that developers and their contractors can shift their focus onto the next project. To achieve this, occupiers should feel confident, controls should be easy to understand and support should be easy to access if needed. Thirdly, home buyers may want to add new devices and functions in the future so it’s important to ask how future-ready the system is. Does it have the ability to adapt and grow without significant rewiring? Will the manufacturer continue to offer support and add new functions and devices in coming years?
CLARENDON HOMES Clarendon Homes, a housebuilder and developer based in Kent, gave a smart home system a trial on a development of 14 three to five bedroom detached houses after a suggestion by its electrical contractor, Darren Faulkner. Having attended a half-day training workshop in Kent, Faulkner had the confidence to carry out the installation across the entire development of 14 houses in little more time than would be required for a normal project.
The system can integrate up to 64 mart home devices, which is ideal for properties with up to five bedrooms. It is
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