automation basics
what every builder should know
Here you will learn key information about the growing trend of residential and small business automation, plus why this technology is especially relevant to builders, developers and architects.
For simplicity, much of this site is geared toward family homes. However, keep in mind that small businesses use many of the same systems.
What is a Connected Home?
Conventional home wiring has become overloaded and outdated in the last 15 years due to ever-changing technical advancements. Think of the changes homebuyers have faced, especially in regard to home offices, computers, home theaters, digital and high definition television, the internet etc. As a result, buyers are searching for new homes which are “connected” in a network with modern structured wiring.
A connected, or networked, home is a home that is connected from room to room and to the world outside. It gives the homeowner control to integrate multiple home systems such as communications, computers, audio and video entertainment, security, lighting controls, utilities and environmental controls.
Most homes on the resell market have only conventional wiring. But modern technology demands a structured wiring system to provide the electronic foundation necessary to ensure convenient connection to today's services, and prepare for the new technologies of tomorrow. This is where forward-thinking builders have a huge advantage.
To build a home without structured wiring will make it difficult for you to sell this home, and significantly more difficult for your homebuyer to sell in the future.
Structured Wiring vs. Conventional Wiring
There is a big difference. To illustrate, think of home wiring as a pipeline for information. Conventional wiring has the data capacity of a squirt gun. By comparison, structured wiring, using Cat5 cables, has the capacity of a fire hose. Structured wiring transmits more information, faster.
Conventional wiring consists of 1 or 2 twisted pairs of wires and is adequate for basic voice, fax or data communications. Structured wiring is more advanced, and can handle sophisticated video and data signals from computers, digital satellite, high-speed internet, digital phones and digital TV's. This provides homeowners with the security of being able to enjoy technologies of the future.
What is Home Automation?
There is a growing demand for residential automation, especially in freshly built homes. Sometime they are called intelligent homes or smart homes, but regardless of the name they are becoming increasingly popular among homebuyers.
Home automation is the remote and automatic control of a home's systems such as lighting, appliances, heating and air conditioning, entertainment components, security system, communications, irrigation system, pool and spa, etc.
Easily controlling all the systems allows the 21st century homebuyer to enjoy all the things they can’t live without: increased convenience, entertainment and information capacity, state-of- the-art security and energy savings.
What is ConnectHome?
ConnectHome is really all you need to know about home automation and networking. It is a well-respected national dealer network that pre-qualifies highly knowledgeable home automation experts.
To you this means that with one call you are guaranteed an experienced, professional home automation contractor with a proven record of superior customer service.
Each business within the ConnectHome network has passed a rigorous evaluation process with standards so high that less than 1% of the dealers considered actually qualify.
What could be simpler?
Call your local ConnectHome dealer or (800) 422-4024 for a referral.
Watch this interview with Ken Kerr, President, Home Controls, Inc., as he discusses his company and dealer network, ConnectHome.
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