Archetech Issue 51 2020 | Page 36

VELUX

USING SMART WINDOW TECHNOLOGY TODAY COULD HELP BUILD THE HOMES OF TOMORROW

Our homes have become the places we work , relax , play and exercise . Unfortunately for many homeowners , the more time they ’ ve been indoors , the more their dream of a forever home becomes a realisation that they will probably need to move again or make renovations to achieve that dream .
Grant Sneddon , product manager at roof window manufacturer VELUX , believes that new homes should be designed to respond effectively to homeowners ’ every life stage . Here , Grant shares his thoughts on how integrating smart window technology into new build plans from the outset can help deliver homes that serve their owners for a lifetime .
At VELUX , we pride ourselves on providing high quality , adaptable products that can last our customers decades , and there ’ s no reason why their homes shouldn ’ t do the same . One of the simplest design considerations to factor into a long lasting , healthy home is the mix of glazing , and combining roof windows with vertical windows or patio doors ensures natural daylight will travel as far as possible into a room .
We recommend that vertical and roof glazing covers up to 15- 20 % of a room ’ s floor space to allow for maximum daylight and ventilation that helps create a light and airy living space .
It ’ s not just the amount of glazing that ’ s important in creating a sustainable healthy indoor environment ; how you open and close your windows should be easy too . We launched our smart-home roof window system VELUX ACTIVE with NETATMO to help create healthy living spaces by responding to both indoor and outdoor environmental factors .
The smart system uses sensors to continuously monitor the temperature , humidity and CO2 levels in the home and will automatically open or close VELUX roof windows accordingly to maintain a healthy indoor climate . All households benefit from a healthy living space and especially those that that have children running around , or others where older people might not be able to reach their roof windows as freely as they used to . Homeowners can also download the VELUX ACTIVE smartphone app so they can control their roof windows from anywhere in the world .
VELUX ACTIVE is compatible with all of our VELUX INTEGRA ® roof windows . The innovative window system comes with a pre-paired wall switch for manual activation and is available on all centre pivot and top hung * roof window models , making them suitable for practically every homeowners ’ needs .
It also comes with the option of adding blinds and shutters , both of which can be operated using the VELUX INTEGRA ® wall switch or , if the two products have been integrated , the VELUX ACTIVE app .
Whether it ’ s to allow little ones to have more fresh air indoors , home workers being able to control their roof windows from their home office , or retirees being able to remain independent as they get older , smart roof window technology is vital to helping people across all life stages enjoy their homes for longer .
For more information , visit www . velux . co . uk
*- VELUX INTEGRA top hung technology is only available in mainspowered operation .
ARCHETECH - PAGE 36