Issue link: http://viewer.e-digitaledition.com/i/570523
'smart'Remodeling By Tiffany Parnell The Future of Home automation has previously accounted for only a small percentage of remodelers' revenue, but that is poised to change as consumer interest in smart homes increases. T HE REMODELING INDUSTRY continues to outpace home buying and selling, and a 2013 study conducted by The Farnsworth Group revea led that home remodelers ranked home automation a nd new technolog y as the industry's second most popular trend for the next fi ve to 10 years (behind energy e› ciency). With Google and retail giants, such as Apple, launching home automation systems, t h is sma l l n iche market is expected to expand into a mainstream consumer demand. Adapting to Consumer Request Some of the most popular home automation remodel i n g project s a re related to l ig hti n g , heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, security, and energy-saving appliances. Products ra n ge f rom Apple's do -it-you rsel f HomeK it s of t w a r e — wh ic h a l low s u s er s who buy a designated router to adjust lighting preferences and other settings using voice commands to Siri, iPhone's virtual personal assistant — to elaborate t e c h nolo g ie s t h a t i nt e g r a t e w it h a home 's electrical wiring and let homeowners manage appliances, security systems, and lighting and air conditioning preferences from anywhere inside or outside the home. "The functionality of the home is changing," says Diane J. Cook, Huie-Rogers C h a i r P rofe s sor at t he S cho ol of E lec t r ica l En g i neer i n g a nd Computer Science at Washington State University. "We can expect the home to provide more cus- tomized ser vices for us in the future, not just provide shelter." For remodelers, this may require cha nges i n t hou g ht a nd execut ion . Cook , who lea d s Washington State University's CASAS smart- home project, doesn't believe the physical layout of homes will change, but she anticipates that homes will increasingly incorporate sensors and other forms of technology that widen the scope of home automation — with some systems even monitoring the health of residents. While she places the ultimate burden of home automation on technology designers, she notes that builders and remodelers can make the transition to automated homes smoother if they can find ways to more easily incorporate the relevant technology. A s more con su mer s u nder t a ke remodel- i n g pr oje c t s , r emo deler s w i l l a l s o ne e d t o rema i n proa ct ive about aut omat ion , wh ich may provide cost savings to their clients. Some lighting systems, for example, sync with wireless computer networks, but others require costly home rewiring. Talking with consumers about wiring homes for automation during remodeling projects can pave the way to less costly projects in the future, should a homeowner choose to insta ll a sma r t home system or upg rade cur- rent technolog ies. ■ "There are many reasons why 'smart,' automated homes are essential. One reason is the need to be more ecologically friendly and sustainable, which means reducing resource consumption and making e• ective use of renewable energy sources. However, if homeowners and professionals are willing to consider technological innovations, we can meet these goals without having to sacrifi ce the home setting and lifestyle with which we are familiar and comfortable." — DIANE J. COOK, HUIE-ROGERS CHAIR PROFESSOR AT THE SCHOOL OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING AND COMPUTER SCIENCE AT WASHINGTON STATE UNIVERSITY BUILDERARCHITECT.COM Builder+Architect |