by Theatron | Sep 8, 2015 | Home Automation
Have you ever wanted to install a smart automation system in your home so you can effortlessly power up your home theater system or control lighting scenes in your dining area, kitchen or backyard? If so, it may be good to know that automation systems can not only increase your enjoyment today, but also enhance the value of your home tomorrow. In this short guide, we give you our top tips for increasing the value of your home with home technology systems, while creating a more convenient, more entertaining and more secure environment for your family.
There’s an app for that
As the “Internet of Things” becomes more pervasive, a prewired system keeps you future ready. We are moving into a world where everything will be connected resulting in improved efficiency, accuracy and convenience. Each “thing” is uniquely tagged and will allow you to operate, see or communicate with all the systems in the home through your smart phone. If you need retrofit solutions for a home that is already built, we are very capable, willing and available to design and install a system to meet your needs.
Wire now, thank yourself later
While wiring may not be the most exciting part of a smart home, it is certainly one of the most important. Ideally, installing wire should occur during the early stages of home construction. We often need to run conduit with fiber optic and CAT6 cable—the most current cable standards available for your home. You can even run appropriate wires and cables outdoors for lighting, audio and video; your home will be easier to sell as homeowners search for tech-ready homes. This ensures that no matter when you decide to install a home audio, video, network, lighting or security system you will have a bullet proof infrastructure for all of your automation needs.
If it’s structural, it stays
Every home is unique, but a good rule of thumb is that if technology is part of the home, such as in-wall speakers or lighting panels, then it should stay behind for the next owner. We also find that offering up even non-structural gear—like sources in a centralized rack—is a great way to entice buyers. We’ve seen real-estate listings that tout our installed systems as a way to attract potential buyers.
Document your system
The most important rule of thumb in order to build value through technology is to have your electronic systems contractor clearly document the system. Without clear documentation and an understanding of how the system works, the new homeowner won’t have a way to interpret, service or upgrade the technology. We will provide all the necessary information.
Lighting systems sell
While home theaters and media rooms certainly add to the wow factor of a home on the market, lighting and control systems are more practical solutions that every homeowner can get excited about. Show a potential buyer how to turn off all the lights and open shades, and watch his or her eyes light up! A kitchen pops with under the cabinet lighting and artfully placed pendants. Automated lighting brings even more beauty to artwork and fine furnishings.
We’d love to help you get on the path to a smarter home that will add to the value of your home. We can start gradually with structured wiring or execute a fully automated home, depending on your needs and desires. Call or email us today get started!
by Theatron | Jul 25, 2015 | Home Automation
DIY projects can be rewarding, but smart home technology installation is not for the average handyman. You wouldn’t guess it from the products you see advertised every day at Home Depot and even Ikea, but it’s true. It was hard enough to put together that Kallax with those wordless instructions — how do you think it’s going to go with their smart home system? Will it be made of particle board?
DIY for smart homes comes with two major problems: the task is difficult, and mixing and matching components can be asking for trouble.
Smart vs. Average
If you buy a smart home in a box, you get all the sophisticated technology available for $199, and setting it up is as simple as plugging it into your router and downloading apps. Like a bed in a bag, it’s the Hyundai of smart home technology. If you’re looking more for a Buick or even a Jaguar, you will want hard wiring and more advanced technology. Homeowners have had the ability to turn lights and TVs on and off via remote control for years, so the beauty of smart home technology lies deeper than that. For instance, streaming music into different rooms is a popular feature, and without speakers, this is an impossibility. Without good speakers, it’s merely undesirable.
Some homeowners want to jump into smart home technology with both feet, but more want to just dip a big toe in first to test the waters. They may want to automate just a few features, like lights and door locks, and see how they like that before adding on anything else. That’s why it’s good to start with a system like Savant, so you can expand to automate other functions in your home as you become more comfortable with the ones you have.
Trust the Leaders
Going with an established, professional-grade, platform like Savant is also handy because you can get everything you need in one place, and there’s no need for shopping around comparing functions and prices. Remember when you had four or more remote controls on every coffee and end table? You want to avoid that kind of setup in the future.
And time is on your side when you stay with the same company, because if you wait to get a particular feature, you may end up with an updated version of it, and you won’t have to worry about whether it’s compatible with what you already have. And if you ever need support or help of any kind, you’ll have more than an 800 number on the back of a cardboard box to turn to.
Theatron Home Theater and Smart Homes transforms regular homes into smart homes all over Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. Don’t risk a DIY installation with your smart home technology — trust the professionals at Theatron Home Theater and Smart Homes to do the job for you.
by Theatron | Jun 5, 2015 | Home Automation, Lighting Control, Savant
Savant has decided to discontinue all Savant-branded, specialty wired lighting products, efective September 30, 2015. Savant will continue to offer a complete set of wireless lighting products, including the modern, elegant, and recently reinvented Metropolitan line. You can also use the Savant App with lighting control products from other brands, and use the App to incorporate lighting into scenes and schedules to match your everyday life. Savant will continue to honor all warranties for installed Savant and LiteTouch product, as well as provide our full two-year warranty on all equipment purchased on or before September 30, 2015. Savant will also provide ongoing technical support to their Authorized Integrators to help them continue to service your home. During this transition time, we encourage you to coordinate with your Savant Integrator to discuss maintenance options and the possibility of adding a Lighting Reserve Kit to extend the life of your Savant system. For the long term, Savant is actively pursuing unique alliances with leading lighting control manufacturers—inluding Lutron, who is already one of our Elite Partners—to ensure that all Savant and LiteTouch homes with wired lighting control have viable upgrade paths and maintenance options. Savant continues to be a leader, and among the fastest growing companies in home automation. By working with Integrators across the country, we’re confident that we’ll be able to provide you the best lighting control options available—and that you’ll enjoy them in your Savant Home for years to come.
by Theatron | May 23, 2015 | Lighting Control
Energy Saving Facts
Did You Know?
- energy saving facts, We need energy – and lots of it – to light our homes, schools, offices, hospitals, hotels, and restaurants. Lighting consists of nearly 25% of the United States electricity budget, which is approximately $37 billion annually.energy saving facts
- Lutron estimates that by installing just two dimmers in place of two standard light switches in every home in the US, the potential annual savings could be $1.5 billion in electricity and close to 25 billion pounds of CO2—the equivalent to taking more than 1 million cars off the road.
- Each year, Lutron estimates its dimmers save a total of 9.2 billion kWh. That is the equivalent output of one large coal or nuclear-powered power plant, or about $1 billion in energy costs. “Dimming your lights even 20% saves nearly 20% in energy,” says Dr. Ian Rowbottom, principal application engineer at Lutron. “Dimming them more, saves even more.”
- Radio Powr Savr™ is a battery-powered, ceiling mount sensor that saves energy by dimming or turning off electric lighting when sufficient daylight is available. The sensor detects light in the space and then wirelessly transmits the appropriate commands to the compatible dimming and switching devices via Lutron Clear Connect™ Radio Frequency (RF) technology; those controls then adjust the lights to take advantage of daylight.
- Lutron’s new C•L™ Dimmers for dimmable CFL and LED bulbs have HED™ Technology which allows dimming of CFL and LED bulbs.
