• • • LIGHTING & LIGHTING CONTROLS • • •


Introducing the connected home: How to make the smart choice


Steve Detmer, residential product manager at Lutron, says the UK smart home market is experiencing exponential growth, with annual revenue projected to reach £5.2 billion by the end of the year


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onnected home products – lighting controls, thermostats, audio controls, EV charging stations and more – are continuing to see


demand skyrocket.


Now, more than ever, homeowners and designers need the means to see the technology working harmoniously in situ, before they make any purchasing decisions.


With the increased demand for smart home technology, there is an ever-growing list of products with varied settings, functions, and standards. Whilst this technology is designed to make our lives easier, choosing the right solution has become increasingly difficult, even for those in the industry. Independently choosing between two solutions, that look almost identical, can be frustrating. Now with the introduction of experiential retail concept stores, such as Situ Live, physical and digital retail services will enable consumers and installers to see smart home technology in action and choose the right solutions first time.


Before a visit to Situ Live, installers should work with their clients to create a list of rules to stick to, and fundamentals to look out for - this will help identify the smart choice that will not hamper the homeowners in years to come.


From how to prioritise the technology to buy, to the role of automation and wireless technology, there are some key aspects that cannot be ignored.


WIRELESS SOLUTIONS FOR THE WIN


It’s no secret that wireless is quickly becoming the standard in the consumer technology industry. To create an optimal home environment, we need a certain level of intuitive, wireless control to change the setting to suit our needs. Occupants need to be able to adapt a space based on what’s required, as well as the ability to install and upgrade simply and cost-effectively.


With an increased focus on connectivity to support productivity and flexibility in the home, wireless tech- nology provides a future-proof solution for homeown- ers and property developers alike.


Solutions that offer easy-to-use setup and control also minimise the need to call a specialist and save


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on maintenance costs, while meaning spaces can continue to adapt to the ever-evolving needs of the modern homeowner. Smart lighting solutions, for example, can be installed and upgraded without the need to tear into walls and ceilings.


DESIGNING A CONNECTED HOME


Alongside wireless, the growth of inexpensive voice assistants has been one of the greatest technological advances of the decade.


Today, products from Apple, Amazon, or Google, each with their own unique benefits, can be found in nearly every home. With just a tap of an app, or a simple command, these assistants can turn on lights, close blinds and even alert you when someone is at your door.


However, the many choices of home assistants can also be intimidating – what if the next must-have feature means you need to swap? How much extra will it cost?


When choosing technology, homeowners need to think about interoperability – the ability for the product to communicate with other products. Ideally, solutions should be able to integrate with all the major vendors and be free from forced loyalties which could pigeon-hole users.


FUTURE-PROOFING PROPERTIES


While we all have the best of intentions when choosing technology, we all make mistakes. When making a decision, we all have to factor in the inevitable changes in our lives over the years to come and ensure that the space has the capability to meet not only our current, but also our future needs.


Flexible control is the best solution - adaptable systems are a solid investment, with the knowledge that they can be easily adjusted following changes in lifestyle, season, or daily schedule. By investing in flexible, discreet technology, homeowners can con- tinuously adapt their home to suit their desired levels of style, convenience, and comfort as their priorities inevitably evolve.


That includes purchasing connected technology that can be wirelessly updated to include the latest features without having to buy new equipment. Approaching smart home technology can seem daunting. But now, with the option to visit an experi- ential store and see how the most innovative brands interact first-hand, homeowners will be able to make informed purchase decisions through the support of their installer and feel confident that they have made the right choice for their project. After all, a smart home should be greater than the sum of its parts and a truly connected home can make this a reality.


ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING • SEPTEMBER 2021 25


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