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

Going Green with Home Automation

Since the big buzz word these days is green, and everyone seems interested in improving home efficiency, new and old, this article will show how home automation companies and systems have been making homes greener, almost by accident, for nearly a decade.

If you are builder working with an electronic systems contractor (ESC) or integrator, ask them to discuss what their system can offer in the way of energy management. You will be surprised at just how much money you could save a customer, and also how you can contribute to a more convenient lifestyle by offering home technologies and automated systems.

Controlling the lights, HVAC systems, water heaters and even drapes and blinds can save home owners up to 25% or more in electrical consumption. There are a couple of ways to do this. First, by controlling two of the largest energy consumers in the home, HVAC and water heaters, you can cut usage by 15 to 20% alone (sometimes more). Many new homes, have two or more HVAC systems, some with several zones. While some homeowners save energy by controlling only the schedule or time when the systems turn on or off, there is an additional option - you could actually tell which zones to cool/heat only when people who occupy that section of the home are there.

The second energy hogs are electric water heaters (this does not apply to demand and gas water heaters, which are inherently efficient) which can be switched off for days, when homes are unoccupied. However, they take so much time to re-heat water, it is NOT efficient to try and turn them on and off during the same day. Conversely, solar water heaters are a no-brainer today. They offer a three year payback ($1500+ per average house), which is in line with the cost of demand and gas systems, and have no fuel cost at all.

Combining drape and blind controls with HVAC control, especially in homes with many windows or east and southeast facing windows, can really cut down on unwanted heat gain and HVAC cycling in “hot zones” of the house caused by sun exposure. Minimizing heat from the sunny elements decreases HVAC usage and maximizes savings for the home owner.

Lighting takes up from 10 to 20% of the homes total electrical usage. But controlling lighting in large homes, or homes with many and varied lighting fixtures can save a substantial amount of energy as well. Typically with a lighting control system ( most of which are dimmer systems too), all lights can come on and off to preset dim levels.

You save a little less than one-to-one when dimming a light. So if you dim it 50%, you save roughly 40% of the wattage and the remaining 10% is wasted in heat. Add this up over a houseful of 60 to 100 watt light bulbs and you can see easily cutting the lighting usage in half. Once our customers have used a dimmer system, they rarely turn lights on to 100%. In addition, LED lighting is quickly coming to the point of producing the quality, quantity and color of lights most owners like to see, and they use only 5% of the energy of normal bulbs. This will be the big switch in the future, from incandescent to LED lighting.

Now, this all may sound complicated, and it is… to setup, install and program. But that is why you hire a professional electronic systems contractor or systems integrator to design, install and program the system. ESCs handle the programming so that you don’t have to. Once that is properly done, the system is easy and intuitive to use and mostly automatic. The home owner benefits without having to interact with their energy management. In addition, if the home owner has additional questions or needs service, they call the ESC directly, so you don’t have to. This is done by builders arranging for ESCs to have a separate contract with their customer. Considered the fourth trade, ESCs have expertise in home technology and programming – and builders can utilize this knowledge and experience in meeting their customers’ needs.

Customers with second homes can reduce even more off their energy bill - they can remotely turn off water heaters, HVAC, lights, even close storm shutters and more by sitting in their primary home or any other location. Then before they head to their getaway they can be in the comfort of their first house, login their computer and prepare their second home for their impending arrival. They can automatically turn everything on – cool their second home by turning on the air conditioning, open the shutters for view of the outdoors when they walk in, turn the water heaters on to the perfect water temperature - and when they arrive, their home is as if they never left.

None of this is new in any way. Companies like FulTech Solutions have been producing automated and connected homes that have successfully used these “green” features for nearly 15 years.

About Dan Fulmer: Dan Fulmer is president and founder of FulTech Solutions, a home technology installation firm headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., and the College of Smart, a dealer licensing and training program. A nationally recognized expert and speaker in home automation, his company was recognized as a two-category winner of the 2006 CEA Mark of Excellence Awards. In 2007, FulTech also won NAHB’s Innovative Housing Award and the Best of the Best Dealers from CEPro magazine. As an NAHB member, Dan is on the Home Technology Alliance (HTA). He lives Florida with his wife Ashley, and two children. Dan can be reached at fultech@fultechsolutions.com or (904) 992-6624.