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Published in: Northwest EcoBuilding Guild, Green Pages
| April
2009 | By Jennifer Griffin
Advances in home control systems have made it easier for automatic
controls to operate lighting, regulate temperature, monitor irrigation,
and manage energy use. The result is a home that functions to
promote optimum comfort, while
conserving money, energy, water, and time.
Green Building products and strategies
built into a home are just the first step.
How we use, operate, and maintain these
features as we live in the home also
contributes to the total package of
environmental benefits and ensures that
these designed benefits fulfill on their
environmental promises.
Lighting Control Solutions.
CFL or LED bulbs and fixtures and
motion sensing solutions are always a great
place to start to provide smart lighting
solutions. With a home control system, the
lights can respond based on time of day,
occupancy of the home, or be adjusted
manually when needed.
Temperature Control Solutions.
The downfall of simple programmable
thermostats, is that they are based singularly
on time of day, and do not account for other
variables, such as the homeowner occupancy
or schedule changes. With an integrated
thermostat, the home control system will set
things right, even when you forget or plans
change. Settings will automatically adjust
based on events, time, or sensor (water,
humidity, or temperature) readings. If you
forget to tell your system you are on
vacation, a simple phone call or log-in via the
Internet allows for easy remote access.
Automated window coverings can
automatically close to avoid solar gain in the
summer, or be left open to take advantage of
rare sunny days in winter. The system can
also automatically turn off the air
conditioner or heat when a window is
opened, and turn itself back on when all
windows are closed.
Smart Irrigation Solutions.
Water sensors determine whether it has
rained the last 24 hours, and report to the
home control system on whether it is
necessary to turn itself on or to skip its
programmed cycle for the day altogether.
Energy Management Solutions.
Energy management begins with
controlling phantom loads - the amount of
energy used by electronic equipment when
they are not in use, but still plugged in. If
you are buying new products, choose models
that offer low power consumption when in
stand-by mode to reduce phantom loads. If
you are working with an existing array of
electronics, find out which ones are drawing
the most power. The good news is that
many manufactures are focusing on lowering
phantom loads. Also, your local home
technology company should be able to test
your current equipment, and let you know
the annual cost of operation.
Try to eliminate the power-hungry standby modes of your electronics,
such as microwaves, printers, gaming consoles or cable boxes, by
cutting power to such devices when not in in use.
Today, home control systems have made it easier than ever to integrate
smart technology, without contributing to your overall environmental
footprint. Next time you leave home, simply touch a button — and
allow your home to set its own security, turn off lights, set back
the thermostat, drop the blinds, and shutdown all equipment that
has a large draw in standby mode. With home technology, you can make
your home as green as you intended it to be.
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