subject: A Smart Home For A Smart Generation [print this page] Climate change and growing shortages of resources are the big challenges of our time. In addition, many countries around the world are dependent on importedenergy especially in the EU where 50 % of energy consumed today is imported. This figure is expected to reach 70 % by 2030. Efficient and sustainable energy usage is therefore an urgent necessity. Following the areas of transport and power generation, building technology is the largest consumer of energy. Heating, cooling and lighting in residential and office buildings make up approximately 40 % of the energy consumed in the industrial nations, a share that leaves a lot of scope for efficient optimization.
Building system engineering supported by intelligent and networked room and building controllers such as, lighting, sun protection, heating, ventilation and air conditioning as well as the other building engineering systems contribute significantly to conservative and requirement-based energy use. The worldwide standard for KNX technology enables energy savings in the double-figure percentage range and also provides enhanced flexibility with planning and implementation, a high level of investment protection and a high level of availability.
Various concepts and approaches are possible in the optimization of energy efficiency in buildings. In this context, the use of intelligent building control provides a proven and interesting alternative or addition that is clearly set apart by its convincing cost-benefit ratio. The list of possible connected parts of a smart home network is rapidly growing. In a quick search of the Internet, a customer can find electric, water, and gas meters all offering smart connectivity. But now, commercial and consumer level products are taking advantage in spaces that include heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting control, security, smoke alarm detection, electric vehicle chargers, and a host of smart appliances for example, refrigerators offering touch screens for users to monitor home energy use, surf the Internet for a recipe, or watch television in real time.
What is the potential of a truly connected smart home? A large part of that depends on the home owner, but today there is development moving towards a highly connected, user-friendly home.The smart home is simply the integration of all household installations for the purpose of their control from one control console/panel in a room, remotely via a control unit, the computer or the Internet. In case of many doors leading into one space and/or many devices, a traditional installation soon becomes too complex. The solution to this problem is an intelligent installation. The goal here is the achievement of energy savings, better security of the house and the family, increased comfort of use of the growing number of home appliances, and better aesthetics by avoiding a long lineup of consoles.
Other activities falling into the category of conveniences include using your smart phone or work computer to adjusting your thermostat when you"re not at home, sending an alert to you if a window is left opened and/or unlocked, or monitoring the movement of a grandparent. The possibilities with a connected smart home are endless.
