GREEN LIVING
The couple chose to incorporate lighting and thermostat controls into their home automation system. The networked lighting system gives the couple flexible control of their lighting and the ability to set and select lighting schemes throughout their home. Automated HVAC controls always keep the home at the perfect temperature when the couple is at home and adjusts for maximum energy efficiency when they are away.
Zac and Jamie’s Wireless Touch Panel has simplified their lives, especially when entertaining or shutting down the system. "Before, when we threw a party I would run around the house and set the lights and music. Now I just select ‘Party Mode’ on the panel, and all the lights are dimmed to my preset levels and the temperature is adjusted down just a bit to accommodate for additional people in the house." The system also features a ‘Shut Down Mode’, which turns off all the lights in the house and shuts down the entertainment system—both of which the couple can do from their bedroom at night or from the back door when leaving the house.
As important a feature as convenience was for Zac and Jamie, making their home environmentally friendly was also at the top of their list. Fortunately, home automation made “green living” easy and allowed them to achieve both of their goals.
There are three facets of control which contribute to the couple’s environmentally conscious system—window treatments, lighting and climate control. For window treatments, the system automatically adjusts shades and drapes for the appropriate time of day to naturally light the home while reducing the amount of energy needed to cool the house. Lighting is controlled with dimmers installed in each room, which conserve energy and preserve bulb life by adjusting levels slightly lower than normal. Additionally, motion sensors bring lights up or down as people enter or leave a room to further support energy efficiency. And automated climate controls ensure that the home’s temperature is adjusted up or down to make certain that no unnecessary energy is wasted while the couple is away
"It feels good knowing that we are minimizing our impact on the planet."
