HTA Update - 03/31/2008 (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
Going Green with Home Automation
Builders and Remodelers Benefit from Multi-Room Audio and Video Trends
50+ Consumers Are Buying Into Green Technology
Quick Tip on Lighting
Industry Recognition
NAHB-Produced Programs on DIY, Fine Living and HGTV
NAHB Spring Board Meeting Set for April 29-May 3 in Washington

Industry Recognition

The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) Electronic Lifestyles® Awards honor excellence on technical and design/aesthetic aspects of technology installation projects in the residential electronic systems industry. Project categories include Best Home Theater, Best Media Room, Best Integrated Home, Best Special Project, Best Hidden Installation and Best Dressed System. Winners are selected by two panels of judges, a technical team made up of five CEDIA residential electronic systems contractor members, and a design team comprised of members from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).

The HTA Update will feature an award winner to highlight one of the projects in each issue. Each member involved in these projects – the architect, builder, interior designer, and electronic systems contractor (ESC) – played an integral part to the finished product. As with any industry, developing partnerships is a clear way to expand your business by being able to offer more options to clients.

Integrated Home Level III Gold Technical Design
Residential Electronic Systems Contractor:
Station Earth
Fergus, ONT Canada
www.stationearth.com

Architect:
Gordon Ridgely Architects
Toronto, ONT Canada

Builder:
George Good Construction
Guelph, ONT Canada

Interior Designer:
Barnard & Speziale
Watertown, ONT Canada

Feature Essay:
Technology abounds in this formal Georgian-style home, but you would be hard pressed to find it. The goal was to design an integrated system encompassing whole-home lighting control, audio, video, motorized draperies and a tasteful media/screening room. Station Earth eliminated wall scarring and banks of light switches with a whole-house lighting control system and designed a custom proprietary sub-system in conjunction with the wine cellar consultants. When the wine cellar door is opened, the compressor shuts off, providing a serene environment for which to hand pick just the right wine.

In the formal library, a wireless controller sits out only when needed, and the Elite plasma rises out of a custom-built motorized lift enclosure. In the theater, the screen is housed in the bulkhead and the projector resides in its own custom-built, ventilated hush box. The theater’s rack is housed inside a built-in bar, and the whole-home equipment rack is concealed within handcrafted wooden millwork. Twelve video displays and TVs are visible when in use, and the clients love the “all off”, “goodnight”, and “good morning” functions that respond to the touch of one button beside the master bed. The true treasure is the home theater where the push of a button lowers the 110-inch Draper screen from the ceiling, a hidden Runco projector comes to life, lighting slowly turns down, and the magic begins!

Equipment from the following manufacturers was used in this project: Elan, Vantage, Middle Atlantic, APC, Scientific Atlanta, EchoStar, Runco, Draper, Universal Remote, Pioneer Elite, SpeakerCraft, Energy, Activated Décor, DB Industries, Sony, OmniMount, Somfy, and Ultralink.

TIME AND EXPERTISE:
Client Interviews: 12
Electronic Design and Engineering: 28
Proposal and System Documentation Preparation: 7
Project Management: 50
Pre-wire/Rough-in: 120
Trim-out: 80
Shop Time for Racking and Testing: 15
Programming: 58
Final Installation and Calibration: 145
Client Instruction: 3
Interior Design and/or Architecture by your Company: 7
Interior Design and/or Architecture by Others: 35
Project Management by Others: 50
Total Hours to Complete: 610

ABOUT CEDIA: CEDIA is the Founding Sponsor for the NAHB Home Technology Alliance (HTA) and is an international trade association of companies that specialize in planning and installing electronic systems for the home. These systems include home networking, home automation and communication systems, media rooms, single or multi-room entertainment systems, and integrated whole-house subsystems providing lighting control, security, and HVAC systems. For more information visit www.cedia.org.