Should you build a smart home?
Everyone can expect some level of automation and remote control in their homes these days – but self builders have an opportunity to create integrated systems that help to make life easier
technology specialists, is a good starting point for advice and ideas. If you know what arrangement you want to use, you could also seek an installer through their website.
“In order to understand what’s possible, visit one of the many amazing home tech showrooms and experience centres around,” says James Ratcliffe, managing director of Homeplay and a CEDIA member. “Do your homework, interview two or three companies and make a decision based on which one best meets your needs. Much like architects or kitchen suppliers, technology integrators specialise in different types of home. One that typically works on projects upwards of £200,000 will probably not be a good fit if your budget is £30,000.”
What will it cost?
For a whole-house starter system, £15,000 might buy you a wired and wireless data network and multi-room audio. It’s worth reinforcing that it’s not really the cabling pushing up costs, but TVS, speakers and the controls themselves. Installers usually suggest focusing on one or two areas that really matter, like a great media room or topnotch security, rather than spreading budgets too thinly. Wiring for internet data and capability is a must, though.
“It really does come down to where your priorities are,” says Alex Josling, co-founder and director of Seven Integration. “We are doing a project where the Lutron lighting system is costing £70,000, but the client is having one TV and a radio on a shelf in the kitchen.”
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A professionally designed scheme comes into its own when automated, setting the scene at the touch of a button and saving energy by only coming on when needed. Centralised control such as Lutron’s or Rako’s can work on a stand-alone basis (ie, not integrated with heating etc) or act as a sub-system within a whole-house setup (such as Control4 or Savant).
If you want lighting that’s really outstanding, consider using an independent specialist, who will put as much effort into the design side as the technology and controls. They can liaise with your wider smart home provider and supply any information needed to integrate the lighting with the other sub-systems. Installing multiple circuits means you can create pre-set scenes activated with one touch, to match your activity or mood, such as different cooking and eating modes for your kitchen-diner.
If you are interested in the wellbeing aspects of lighting, bio-adaptive systems are an emerging area that could be for you. “This is where colour temperature varies with the time of day – you can have cooler white light in the daytime and a warmer yellow glow in the evenings, which studies have shown helps people sleep more easily,” says Owen Maddock, owner of Connectedworks.
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. “Controllable security offers a complete solution that you can respond to whether you are at home or away” says Nicolai Landschultz from Indigozest. “This means your alarms and CCTV video recorders, plus door and gate entry systems, can communicate together.”
Door entry systems can do away with the need for a key, working on fingerprints or a code. They can be great for monitoring who is coming and going. 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.
Alex Josling from Seven Integration adds: “Integrate your lights with your security system and when your alarm is activated, have your artificial illumination come on, too.”
Audio-visual
Play music in every room or create a mind-blowing home cinema – all without a cable in sight. The expense of hardware shouldn’t put you off installing the wiring with future flexibility in mind, however. “If a homeowner wasn’t sure if they wanted to put speakers into all the rooms from the start, we would suggest running cables to the zones but leaving them inside the various construction elements ie, coiled in the ceiling void or positioned within a stud wall,” says Alan Matthews of Automated Spaces.
Hidden systems are neater and more streamlined – no more cable clutter behind the TV. If you like a seamless look, speakers can now be invisible thanks to products like Amina’s, which can be integrated within the wall and covered, with options for most construction methods.
Heating
Get precise control over every room and feel comfortable every day of the year. A smart heating system will see your home divided into zones, each with its own thermostat – no more letting a single thermostat in the hallway dictate the temperature everywhere. “You might want a cooler bedroom or a warmer environment for your baby’s nursery. A spare bedroom can remain at a much lower temperature if not used much, rather than waste energy heating it unnecessarily,” says Andy Moss, MD at Moss Technical, which works with Niko Home Control systems.
In an integrated smart home, zoned thermostats don’t have to be something you see, or need to adjust – it’s done for you. “In design-critical rooms, we might want a concealed thermal probe in each room instead of a wallmounted digital panel – those can go in a cupboard,” says Owen Maddock, owner of Connected Works.
“Modern systems learn how long your house takes to warm up, so it’s at the right temperature when you wake up or arrive home. They also know – thanks to being connected devices, or via external sensors – when it’s warm or cold outside, so they’ll come on a bit earlier or later as needed,” continues Owen.
Check compatibility, says Homeplay’s managing director James Ratcliffe: “Many smart heating systems can be integrated with Control4 and the like, but not all of them. For example, two of the most popular heating systems – Heatmiser Neo and Honeywell Evohome – are both supported in Control4, but Hive currently isn’t.”