Custom Audio Video and Home, Building or Environment Automation Brings Your Home to Life

Are you curious about how much custom audio video and home, building or environment automation can do to make your life easier? While homeowners have had a lot of home automation options for years, the business has made huge strides in integrating building systems over the past few years. Here are just a few of the scenarios you can set up using custom audio video and home, building or environment automation in a fully integrated building or home.

Systems Integration – the Heart of Home Automation

The key to home automation is the degree to which your home’s sub-systems are integrated so that they can work together. The systems that you can integrate include heating and cooling, audio/video, telephone and communications, lighting, networking, irrigation and home theater. Some of the better custom audio video and home, building or environment automation companies are even starting to integrate home appliances into the grid so that you can turn on your oven with a telephone call or start the coffee brewing from the train on your way home from work.

A company that specializes in home automation can set up your system to allow for scenarios like these:

Turn off your whole house with one button when you turn in for the night. In a fully integrated home automation system, one button will turn off all the lights in the zones you choose – the first floor and the basement lights and garage lights, for example, but leave the lights on in the hallway to light your way upstairs – arm the security system, turn on the outside lights, turn off the television and associated peripherals, close your window blinds and even alert you if any of your doors and windows are unlocked or open. Compare that to making the rounds of your house to check all the windows, turn off the lights and shut everything down. One button vs. 15 minutes – which would you rather do?

How often do you run around the house with the telephone in hand to turn down the television or audio or shut off the vacuum cleaner? You can wire your home automation system to do all of that for you. When the doorbell or telephone rings, your house can mute the audio so you don’t have to turn it down, or switch over to show you the front door camera for your security system on your television. You can set it up to flash the lights when the telephone or doorbell rings or even turn off the central vac system so that you can hear what’s going on.

Those are just a few of the possibilities capable when you arrange for consultation and wiring/pre-wire services from a company that specializes in custom audio video and home, building or environment automation. The time to bring your home into the future is now. You’ll be surprised how affordable home automaton can be.

Tips for Integrated Building or Environment Automation for Your Home

Integrated building or environment automation is a very jargon-y way of describing a situation where your building’s systems talk to each other. Getting your systems communicating with each other via an integrated building or environment automation plan can pay off with big savings in energy along with a safer, more comfortable and more enjoyable home.

The fact is that commercial construction has been integrating building automation systems for some time. The technology is there and is used for things like automatic lockdowns in public buildings, lights that shut themselves off after the last person leaves a room and toilets that flush themselves without wasting water. Much of that technology has worked its way down from the high-end commercial market into the home market at a price point that’s affordable for most homeowners. If you’re building a new home or renovating an existing one, consider these things that the home automation industry has learned along the way.

Work with an Overall Plan

For years, different technicians in entirely different industries handled the various systems that provide services for your home. You had one guy for the HVAC system, another guy for the electrical system, a third to wire the landscape lighting and sprinklers and yet another to install a home security system. And that’s all before your audio visual, cable, telephone, satellite and home network systems get involved. With all the different moving parts being manipulated by so many different people, it’s no wonder that existing buildings have issues communicating with each other.

If you’re building new or doing extensive renovations, pull in a company that does wiring/pre-wire for home automation and integration systems from the start. Setting up a “skeleton” system of wiring will make it easier to plug-and-play elements of your home systems when you’re ready to add them.

Be Involved in the Planning

The company you choose should involve you, the building owner, from the very start of the planning. In fact, the very first step in the planning should be a complete assessment of your needs and expectations: do you want integrated audio video throughout your home? What kind of user controls work best for you? Who will be using the automated systems they’re installing for you? Do you want lighting control, wireless home networking, a central media library, an integrated security access system? You should be consulted on all of those decisions – and be given all the information you need to make good decisions.

Building or environment automation systems aren’t the wave of the future. They’re here and they’re here to stay. An interconnected environmental control system will make your home more comfortable, energy efficient and enjoyable to live in.

Custom Audio Video and Home Automation – The New Elements of Design

Today’s home designers are working with a whole new pallet and a new set of technologically advanced tools. These days, home décor and design goes far beyond the right color schemes, Italian tiles and European-inspired furnishings. The most inspired home designs encompass the full home experience and include lighting, audio/video schemes, security and networking and automation to bring it all to life. In short, custom audio video and home integration systems have taken their place among the elements of design and become an essential piece of modern home décor. Here’s a look at how the automated home revolution can change the way you live your life and enjoy your home.

Cutting Edge Audio/Video Systems

How much space does your movie and music collection take up in your home? Just a few short years ago, smart designers were integrating entertainment storage into their home designs. Today, when you can carry a year’s worth of music and movies on your smart phone, those shelves upon shelves of DVDs, CDs and vinyl are more than a little outdated. A custom audio/video home entertainment center can build your entire collection into your home networking system, providing automated functionality for all of your entertainment media. Talk to an experienced wiring/pre-wire specialist to find out how a flexible wiring and cabling scheme can lay the groundwork that allows you to automate and integrate all of your home’s electronic systems, including your entertainment systems.

Integrating Building or Environment Automation Into Your Home

Most homes already employ a certain level of building or environment automation. Programmable thermostats that kick in the heat when it gets cold or turn up the AC when the ambient temperature reaches a certain level are simple examples of how home automation can make your home more livable and more energy efficient. High end environment automation systems can also take into account season, home occupancy, lighting level and dozens of other factors to adjust the lighting, security and environmental systems to your needs without you lifting a finger.

Unexpected Integrations

The most inspired custom audio video and home automation systems are those that take advantage of unexpected integrations, like the homeowner who wired his home security system into his landscaping electronics so that the sprinklers turn on automatically if an intruder triggers the home alarm. More common integrations include remote control systems that allow you to turn appliances off and on or adjust them over a wireless connection so you can do things like preheat the oven while you’re on the way home from the supermarket with dinner.

Whether you’re designing a new home or considering upgrades to your existing home, talk to an expert in custom audio video and home integration to learn about the newest technologies and conveniences available. Home automation isn’t the wave of the future – it’s here and now, and you deserve to enjoy its benefits.

Enjoy Custom Audio Video and Home Automation in the New Year

Make this the year that you truly enjoy all the advantages of an automated home. Custom audio video and home automation systems are no longer the province of the very wealthy. New technology and advances in automation have brought the price for custom home automation devices and systems well within the reach of the average homeowner or business owner. With the capabilities of integrated networks and electronics, nearly every home can enjoy the benefits of automated security, lighting, audio/video and networking. These are just a few highlights of the systems being offered by high-end custom audio video and home networking companies.

Security Features

Your home security system can be integrated with your lighting, sprinklers and home networking systems to provide all around security and safety features that go beyond home alarms and surveillance. Your home automation provider can set up your security system to do things like turn on the garage light when the garage door is opened at night or notify your cell phone when something activates the exterior security system. With the right home security system, your smart phone can let you know when your kids get home from school, or allow you to let the plumber in to fix your toilet even if you’re at work. You can even set up surveillance cameras that you can access from your smart phone or tablet so that you can check in at home from anywhere in the world where you have an Internet connection.

Lighting Features

Lighting automation sounds futuristic but it’s been in use in commercial buildings for decades. These days, automated lighting systems go far beyond putting your lights on a timer. A custom audio video and home networking specialist can set up your home lighting to make your home more comfortable and energy efficient with features like lights that automatically turn off after the last person has left a room and outdoor lights that brighten when someone approaches your house. You can even design lighting zones and light schemes to accommodate your activities – task lighting in the kitchen that switches to meal lighting after you’re done with the cooking, mood lighting in the bedroom and special lighting schemes – including color changes if desired – for entertaining.

Environmental Automation

Save energy and money with customized environmental automation features that go far beyond timed thermostat settings. Temperature sensors can turn the heat or cooling systems off and on in specific rooms without involving the entire home system. Light sensors can open and close your blinds to let in the light and heat in the winter or block it out when you want your rooms to stay cool. The possibilities are practically endless.

These are just a few highlights of the new capabilities provided by custom audio video and home networking automation. Contact a specialist in creating custom home automation systems to learn more about the possibilities for your home.

Custom Audio Video and Home Automation Services for Construction and Design Professionals

Are you looking for a way to differentiate your construction or design business from all the others in your field? Consider partnering with a company that offers custom audio video and home automation services to increase the high-end options you can offer to your clients. Here are just a few of the ways that a custom audio video and home automation company can add value to your current client services.

Lighting and Audio/Video for Interior Designers

Interior design professionals must find a way to tie home theater and audio systems into a home’s interior design scheme. High-end electronic systems can greatly enhance all living spaces, from home theater rooms to kitchens. When you work with a company that truly understands the possibilities in lighting and audio/video automation, the sky’s the limit. A good custom home automation firm will work with you or directly with your clients to integrate lighting, sound and entertainment capabilities into your interior design scheme.

Custom Audio/Video and Home Automation for Architects

Today’s high-end home buyer is looking for all the amenities that home automation can provide – but that requires proper space planning, lighting and acoustic  design. When you work directly with a company that specializes in home automation and audio/video theater rooms, you can build in the needed tolerances and meet all the requirements for a truly outstanding smart home for your most discerning clients.

Integrate Home Automation from the Start for Home Builders

Are you a home construction company looking to distinguish yourself in a high-end market? Partnering with a custom audio video and home systems company can give you the edge you need to attract clients who want the very best. When you involve a custom home automation company from the start, you can build in a variety of home entertainment, theater, security and appliance options to your clients. The key is bringing in designer of custom audio video and home electronics systems early in the process and getting the wiring/pre-wire work done while the walls are still open. At that point, your clients can work through you or directly with the electronics systems specialist to design their ideal system.

No matter what stage of the home construction and design industry your firm works in, there are advantages to partnering with a custom audio video and home electronics design firm. Consider which services your clients most want, and then call a custom home wiring and automation specialist to discuss how you can partner with them.

Benefits of Custom Audio Video and Home Environment Automation

Are you ready to enjoy the benefits of custom audio video and home environment automation? There’s a good chance you’re already enjoying some of those benefits.

The automated home is not a thing of the far future. In fact, most of us live with some elements of home automation already. It’s a rare home that doesn’t have an automatic thermostat that automatically kicks up the heat when the temperature dips below a certain level and turns it off when it gets warm. Likewise, if your lighting system uses motion sensors to turn on hallway and entry lights and your sprinklers are on a timer, you’re already enjoying some of the benefits that come with home automation. But those simple examples are just the smallest examples of the convenience and energy savings you can enjoy when you work with an expert on integrated home systems and home automation. The benefits you’ll enjoy include increased comfort and security, improved accessibility for your entertainment and information needs and energy savings that will make the whole package even more a pleasure.

Security Features

Integrated home security networking provides safety and peace of mind, as well as giving you many convenient options for managing access to your home. Today’s home security systems include features like individual key codes for all family members and automatic notifications sent to your smartphone whenever an access code is used. You can give a temporary access code to a neighbor to check on your pets, or have your house notify you when your sixth-grader gets home from school.

Lighting

Lighting automation has gone far beyond turning on your lights when the clock strikes six. Your home’s lighting system can use a combination of timing, lighting and motion sensors to turn lights on and off based on light level, room entry or time of day. With integrated systems, you can turn on the lights in any room in your home – or outdoors – with a remote control, and programmable light settings allow you to create illumination schemes for mood lighting or for security purposes.

Audio/Video

Custom audio video and home entertainment systems are the current glamor children of home automation. With home networking – wireless and wired – you can access your cable programming, music library or video library from any screen in the house, pause your movie on the living room television and pick it up where you left off viewing when you get settled into bed. You can create multiple playlists and program them to play wherever you want.

Custom audio video and home automation systems are still in their infancy, but the possibilities are staggering. Whether you’re building a new home or planning upgrades to your existing property, bring in an expert on integrated home systems to help plan out the wiring/pre-wire accommodations that will allow your home to grow into new capabilities as they become available.

Six Neat Things Your House Can Do with Custom Audio Video and Home Automation

So you’ve been hearing about custom audio, video and home automation programs and protocols. They throw around words like “total integration” and “building or environment automation” or “environmental control.” In fact, “home automation” has been used to include so many different elements that it’s hard to know exactly what someone means when they talk about automated homes. If you’re confused by – and a little bit in awe of – the whole concept of custom audio/video and home automation, here’s something that will comfort you a little bit: chances are that your home already includes some aspects of home automation. For instance, does your home have:

-          A programmable thermostat?

-          Lights that operate on motion sensors?

-          Sprinklers that operate on a timer?

-          A programmable coffee maker?

-          A remote garage door opener?

Any or all of those things can be part of a home automation system – but there can also be far more to custom audio/video and home integration than just those things. Check out these six neat things you can do with a custom home automation and audio/video system.

-          Ready to watch a movie? Hit one button on your remote control to reset your video screen to the best aspect ratio, start the movie and dim the lights.

-          Want the house warm when you wake up in the morning? Program your thermostat to turn up the heat half an hour before your alarm clock goes off. While you’re at it, you can also set up appliances to respond to a central system – turn on towel warmers, start the coffee maker and turn on the hallway lights to light your way to the bathroom.

-          A custom audio/video system can allow you to create customized playlists from a central music server and pipe them into any or all rooms in your house. Got a party going on? You can play dance music in the game room and an easy listening playlist in the living room where people are chatting – all from the same system.

-          Integrate systems so your house automatically turns on the garage light and opens the garage door, unlocks the door from the garage to your house and turns on your kitchen light – all before you turn into the driveway.

-          Use your iPad, iPhone or other smartphone to control your home appliances from a distance. Turn on the oven to pre-heat it so you can pop dinner into the oven as soon as you get home, or turn on the air conditioner before you leave work so the house will be cool and comfortable when you arrive.

-          Control all the televisions and screen in the house from one central location – without separate cable boxes or satellite boxes for each screen.

That’s just a small sampling of the things you can do with the help of a custom audio/video and home automation specialist. In addition to those things, you can control the lighting, home networking, security system, shades, blinds and windows and just about anything else that can be controlled electronically. For more information about home automation, contact a wiring/pre-wire specialist in home automation and custom audio/video wiring.