SECURITY
An integrated security system allows you to monitor your property remotely, pretend you’re at home (when really you’re on the other side of the world) and deter intruders if the worst happens. The key things to investigate when looking for a suitable smart home setup include:
“Controllable security offers a complete solution that you can respond to whether you are at home or away from your property,” says Nicolai Landschultz, managing director of Indigozest. “The integration involves alarms, CCTV cameras, plus door and gate entry systems, which
can communicate together. This is in addition to security lighting and remote monitoring that’s possible from your phone, watch, or other smart device and with all footage stored on a network video recorder.”
Door entry systems can do away with the need for a key, working on fingerprints or a code. They can be great for monitoring which specific individuals are coming and going – get an alert when the kids get home from school, or the dog walker’s been round, for example. If your integrated setup already includes motion sensors, they can work to detect unwanted visitors when alarm mode is turned on. “Additionally you can have indicators such as door window contacts, water leak detectors and glass-break sensors to keep watch for any potential concerns. Smoke alarms can also be integrated,” says Loxone’s Tyron Cosway.
“Holiday mode can can make your house look lived in even when you are not there by playing back realistic patterns of light and curtain and blind usage,” says Brilliant Lighting’s Melanie Shaw.
“Integrate your lights with your security system and when your alarm is activated, have your artificial illumination come on, too – perhaps even have your garden floodlights flash on and off to alert anyone in the area and draw attention to your property,” says Alex Josling, co-founder and director of Seven Integration. Diy/wireless solution: Hive and Nest make video doorbells, as well as separate security cameras, as part of their wider family of smart products, all of which can be controlled by a single app.