Home Automation
It’s time to warm to smart heating!
With more and more homeowners looking to create a ‘smart home’, Richard Brown, Managing Director of Electrorad, explains why electric radiators and panel heaters are just the answer.
I
t’s difficult to believe that the first smartphone has only been around for 10 years. Prior to that, our mobile phone was primarily used for voice calls and texting. If you were really
lucky, it may also have had a simple camera, calendar, and a few basic games such as “Snake” to keep you occupied. However, on June 29th 2007, Steve Jobs unveiled the very first iPhone and in doing so, he forever changed the way we access the world's information. The original iPhone laid the foundation for the modern smartphone and introduced two very important concepts – the touch screen and the App Store. The App Store is the reason why we can summon taxis without speaking a word, transfer digital payments and switch on our heating
from the other side of the world at the mere touch of a button. Without smartphones, there would be no Ubers, Snapchats and Instagrams and likewise, the electric heating industry wouldn’t be where it is today and where it’s heading in years to come. Take electric radiators, for instance. Over recent years, they too have become super smart. Now we have models that predominantly use the internet via specially designed Apps to wirelessly control the heating times and temperatures within the home. The Apps work in conjunction with a central touchscreen or hub that acts as the Wi-Fi gateway, and this enables control of the heating in any room in the house, and from anywhere in the world. In addition to offering controllability from afar, some models also
feature inbuilt RF chips with a signal can that can 'hop' five times to increase the range and help reach remotely sited radiators. Selected radiators also feature pioneering control technology that
makes them compatible with the market-leading Amazon Alexa to enable voice interaction and connectivity with other devices. Now, homeowners can literally tell their heating system what to do! Not only that, some models also feature a Geo-Location option that
automatically activates the radiators when the homeowner is a set distance to or from the home; cleverly ensuring that we never heat an empty home. And, all of this can be controlled from multiple devices; either from our phone, tablet, or computer. Thanks to recent legislation, electric radiators and panel heaters now
have more features than ever to ensure they are smart, energy efficient and easy to use. Essentially, all models now feature 24/7 programming, adaptive start, and open window functions to comply with the new minimum efficiency standard. Whilst Adaptive Start Control helps radiators learn when to switch on
in order to achieve optimum household comfort, Virtual Open Window Sensors ensure that the radiators stop heating when they sense a continuous draft and restart when the draft has stopped. Some models also boast in-built energy monitors to help manage home heating usage. Such technology not only offers freedom and flexibility, it offers
significant control over energy costs too. Indeed, it’s estimated that electric heaters which incorporate smart controls can help save as much as 30% on energy bills dependent on the size and type of property. For homeowners, this means that they can adjust their heating from
Through a series of connected devices, homeowners can improve convenience, control,
Electrorad’s range of Digi-Line electric radiators alongside a TouchE3 control hub with WiFi gateway and App to enable wireless control and direct management of home heating over the internet and from anywhere in the world.
26 | electrical wholesalerMay 2018
make energy savings, and create an overall much smarter home. The smart home list is endless.
www.ewnews.co.uk
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