Home Automation
and, in the case of very high levels for any extended period, brain damage. Early detection of issues, such as poor air quality, moisture in the air or extreme temperatures, helps prevent health problems like respiratory or heat-related illnesses, including vomiting, heat exhaustion or rashes, confusion, dizziness and cramps.
IoT sensors can also optimise energy usage, helping residents to reduce costs. Tenants in rental properties and social housing often have reduced access to home improvements and other energy efficiency measures so may choose to turn the heating off or not use it if they can’t afford to. Inadequate heating in a home can lead to secondary repercussions aside from health issues though, such as damp and mould, which can exacerbate the negative health impact of low indoor temperatures.
Technology like Aico’s HomeLINK Connected Home Solution can help combat damp and mould issues in homes by providing data to help identify the root cause. Treatments such as mould washes can reduce the impact of the issue, but without dealing with its underlying cause, damp and mould problems will likely continue or return.
By analysing the conditions to which the rooms within a property are subjected, the insights provided by the sensors identify sources of increased humidity and moisture, thermal properties of the building and heating patterns, and ventilation characteristics, which help to build an understanding of internal conditions. Gathering data remotely from residents’ homes also offers landlords actionable insights as they can access the information through a portal,
“IoT sensors can also optimise energy usage, helping residents to reduce costs.”
whilst residents are given recommendations about how they can change their living conditions via an app.
Sensors can even stop damp and mould from occurring in the first place as the data they provide alerts residents and landlords when conditions have become conducive to damp and mould development. By identifying when conditions are tending towards adverse levels, proactive actions can be taken to resolve them early. Residents can use the sensors to optimise
their indoor environment for comfort and health, monitor air quality, and detect pollutants and allergens, prompting timely interventions to improve indoor air quality. Overall, the functionalities of IoT sensors and other devices enhance health monitoring, safety and the living environment, contributing to residents’ overall wellbeing and quality of life.
In a time when fuel poverty is impacting more and more people, connected devices more often seen in private dwellings are emerging as a powerful tool to ensure social homes are healthy to live in and used in an energy- efficient manner. By utilising sensor data in social housing, landlords can both improve housing management efficiency and also create safer, healthier and more comfortable living environments for their residents.
ewnews.co.uk
March 2024 electrical wholesaler | 29
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
