New Home Automation Offers Greater Comfort—And Lowers Energy Costs
As homeowners increasingly desire greater comfort, enjoyment and control—especially in an economy that encourages cocooning—new technologies in home automation continue to emerge.
“Electrical contractors around the country are increasingly specifying, designing and installing home automation technologies and systems that can help lower energy costs in addition to enhancing lifestyle and appearance,” said John Maisel, publisher of Electrical Contractor magazine at www.ecmag.com, published by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md.
According to a recent Electrical Contractor article, new and emerging residential innovations include:
- self-powered, wireless light switches that can be placed anywhere and moved anytime for a whole-house lighting control system—each battery-free switch houses a small “energy harvester” that converts mechanical energy at the flip of the switch into a radio signal that controls the home’s lights;
- wireless tabletop lighting keypads;
- new generations of solar tubes that capture, reflect and disperse UV-filtered sunlight;
- UL-approved dimmable outlets and plugs;
- wireless, motorized blinds and shades in combination with a an intelligent controller to reduce heat gain and fabric damage from UV rays;
- solar collection systems that integrate with the electric system to help save on energy and lower energy bills;
- wired and wireless fan speed controls;
- residential lighting that is thoroughly integrated into appliances and located closer to the task, replacing architectural downlights which needlessly illuminate the entire room;
- home offices with simple, direct/indirect lighting fixtures for computer areas;
- LEDs that can be easily mounted in areas otherwise considered off-limits, such as stairs; and
- wine displays highlighted with low-heat source LEDS without impacting wine aging.
According to Electrical Contractor, electric lighting control and motorized shade systems make the energy-saving benefits of daylight harvesting possible—including reduced maintenance and replacement costs over the home’s lifespan, energy conservation, improved occupant health, productivity and greater design flexibility.
Published by the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA), Bethesda, Md., Electrical Contractor magazine reaches 85,000+ electrical contractors and more than 65,900 electrical contracting locations, more than any other industry publication. Telephone: (301) 657-3110. Web site: www.ecmag.com.