THE SMART HOME

By Gretchen Wieman

Ten years ago Facebook didn't exist, sixth graders didn't own cell phones, and blogging was an obscure techie term. Today, things have emphatically changed. Our parents (even our grandparents!) are on Facebook, sixth graders communicate by texting (LOL), and blogging has birthed micro-blogging on Twitter.

Technology has already redefined the way we communicate. So why not redefine the way that we live? Technology for our homes is becoming increasingly user friendly and cost effective, making it far more appealing than it has been in the past.

Many of us have glimpsed a "smart home" in a futuristic movie or thought to ourselves "wouldn't it be cool if…" but haven't really explored the possibilities beyond setting up our Internet or cable television. But just think of today's modern home and how it contains so many different systems, such as central heating, security, home entertainment, communications and lighting – all of which usually work in total isolation from each other. Now think of a smart home in which these systems are integrated so that they can all talk to one another and function together.

By purchasing a controller you can start linking the systems in your home into your own customizable package. "You can take your existing components (sound, lighting, etc.) and tie them together to create a baseline," says Jeff Schneider, president of Pyramid Audio/Video in Anchorage. "From there, you can really begin to customize your home. For example, you can program a 'goodnight' setting into your controller. With just a touch of a button (before going to sleep at night), you can turn off all the lights in the house, drop the temperature, and arm the security system." An added convenience is that you can control your home remotely by computer or a smart phone.

Getting started

The first step to making your own home a little bit smarter is a wireless network. Add to that your lighting, television, audio or security and a controller and you're ready to integrate your systems. Because so many products are going wireless, it isn't necessary to retrofit electrical connections or tear down walls to rewire your house. You can choose a wireless single room controller, which according to Schneider costs approximately $499, or a whole home controller for approximately $699. As you continue to add components and customize the system to your needs, your price will increase.

Bob Arnold, of Quality Enterprises in Eagle River, says that no two systems are the same. "Everyone has their hot buttons – the things that they really want to make sure are part of their package," he explains. "For some people, security and safety might be their issues. They can program their system so that if a smoke detector goes off in the night, that system can talk to the lighting system and automatically turn on lights to create a path outside that helps people find the exits. This kind of response can be based on any trigger you choose – decrease in temperature, motion detector, or a phone call."

Arnold expects consumer demand for smart home technology to continue increasing. "Businesses have been integrating systems for years and I think it's going to become more and more popular for homeowners. Integrating systems increases security, comfort, energy conservation, and on top of that, it's simply an elegant lifestyle." It's convenient, too. Arnold uses his security cameras to see his children off to school when he's out of town, and Schneider can check to make sure his teenagers shut down all of the electronics when they leave the house. "I always say that teenagers know how to turn things on, but they don't know how to turn them off," Schneider says with a laugh. "Because I have my system set up to control remotely, I can turn off anything they've forgotten and save money on my electric bill."

Both Arnold and Schneider agree that, if possible, the best way to incorporate integrated systems is into the design phase of your home. "I hope that designers start to see these systems as another option to provide their clients," says Arnold. "It's just another finish like hardwood floors or countertops."

Staying at home

These days, more people are staying at home, and that makes integrated systems all the more attractive, notes Arnold. One aspect of being home more often is increased energy bills. With an integrated system, you can measure your energy costs and set your system to conserve energy when it's not in use. This can be anything from turning off lights remotely to cutting power to plugs for items like cell phone chargers. "Once you start managing your energy consumption, you can find ways to reduce it or even supplement it," says Arnold. "People can put in wind turbines or solar panels that integrate with their systems."

As we age, the ability to stay at home becomes increasingly important. Instead of being forced to move into an assisted-living home, many aging individuals can rely on "remote or in-home monitoring care," says Arnold. "If someone falls, the home can pick up on the drop of body temperature or blood pressure, and send an alert," he explains. "With these systems you can really start to mitigate the amount of care that needs to be supplied for assisted living."

Regardless of whether you're already fully integrated or just getting started (trying to figure out how to set up your wireless internet), it's safe to say that there's a home technology ready for your next step. As Schneider says, "When was the last time you got up to change the channel on the TV? Everyone uses their remote now. Imagine a remote for your entire house. It's not 'clap on, clap off' any more."

"You can program a 'goodnight' setting into your controller. With just a touch of a button (before going to sleep at night), you can turn off all the lights in the house, drop the temperature, and arm the security system.

– Jeff Schneider, Pyramid Audio/Video