One of the latest trends in the home building and renovation industry is the “smart home”; a concept which is good but whose name needs to be re-thought. I mean, if you can have a smart home does that mean you can also have dumb one?
All kidding aside, the concept of a smart home involves using new technology and special wiring that allows the homeowner to program or remotely control an unlimited number of electronic devices in his house. For example, before leaving on a vacation he could program lights to go on and off in such a pattern as to simulate normal activity in the house. With a telephone call an alarm system could be activated, the oven turned on to begin roasting a chicken, or a recording device started to catch a favorite TV program. There are even smart appliances that can take advantage of the technology and report malfunctions to the local repair facility.
Since a smart home requires specialized structured wiring to maximize the “smart” potential, most smart homes are new construction. But a new technology called Powerline Carrier Systems (PCS) is making it possible for owners of existing homes to get in on the smart home craze. This technology uses transmitters to send signals across existing power lines to switches or outlets throughout the home. Similar to a computer or a multi-viewer network’s router, the switches and outlets can be programmed so that each device is assigned a unique numerical address, allowing it to then be controlled by the main system. This allows smart homes to have “memories,” much like how a hosted exchange service will auto-archive your emails, smart home technology will auto-archive your preferred settings.
If you can read and follow some basic instructions you can get started making your home smart in just a few hours. Home improvement stores and websites carry a wide selection of smart home products that you can install yourself on an individual basis. When it comes to programming various devices it’s usually no more difficult than programming a universal remote or that old VCR. If you’re challenged in this area you may have to bring in a professional to do it for you.
One note of caution about making an existing home a smart home: be prepared for the cost. As with any new technology that’s also a current fad, smart home equipment can be very expensive. Expect to pay several hundred dollars for a control unit and more as you add in transmitters, receivers, and programmable switches and outlets. On the other hand, one up side of the smart home is that it can be programmed to save you energy, which in the long run, might pay for the cost of conversion.
As for me, right now I can’t afford to go smart. I guess I’ll have to stay fat, dumb, and happy.
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