SPECIAL SECTION: HOME DESIGN TRENDS: INSPIRED UPGRADES
5 HOME TECHNOLOGY TRENDS
FOR TODAY’S INNOVATIVE LIVING
Saving energy and money at home is a constant goal. From general conservation tips to tackling everything from overall
sustainability to accessibility, categories for change include improving your home’s heating and cooling, water, waste, climate
control and the outdoors. Here are a few more categories that can help elevate your home into the smartest house on the block.
Integration
Interactivity
Combine smaller audio, video, lighting and
entertainment components into an integral system.
Linking subsystems can be accomplished gradually
until the total integration is complete. Beyond the usual
electronic devices, subsystems also include Wi-Fi set-up,
heating and cooling, a security system and even a home
theater for entertaining. A knowledgeable contractor
who specializes in integration and electronic systems is
a reputable source to turn to. There is an organization
called the Custom Electronic Design and Installation
Association (CEDIA). It can answer questions you may
have regarding installation, design and the overall
integration of your home. Go to cedia.org to learn more
about how a specialist can assist you with the proper
design and execution of your integration.
Experience the fun and function of your home with
interactive accommodations such as video games,
streaming content online, watching TV and listening to
music, including digital systems and speakers for the
whole house that are discreetly hidden behind walls.
Interactivity doesn’t end at just playing your favorite
sounds; there are home networks that allow your family
to engage with technology through music. Shades and
lighting can be programmed to open and close to sync
with your mood, event, activity and music choice. The
music can be controlled by your smartphone or tablet and
different playlists can be synched for different rooms in
your house, including the pool and shower—the most
musically inspired place in the house.
Sustainability
Accessibility
This is real-time information at your fingertips—the
most basic of which is Wi-Fi network accessibility. You can
enhance your digital accessibility and keep your devices
streaming content and “full speed ahead” with access to
the Internet. With videos, blogs, online forums and other
informative and interactive media, the design of evolving
technology gives you the ability to relate to universal
design that’s usable by almost everyone.
Reduce, reuse and conserve is the message of today’s
sustainable design. A home’s energy conservation
should meet your needs without having a major impact
on the needs of the next generation. As a consumer
you can choose to shop smarter. From biodegradable
materials to recycled products, limiting the waste
will maximize your carbon footprint in a positive way.
Your purchasing power can go to energy-saving home
appliances such as a washer or dishwasher—saving
you money in the long run. With sustainability also
being a large category for building a new home, designbuild firms are a way to go. You can book a full-service
design-and-build company to execute your entire vision
of a sustainable home to completion.
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Productivity
There is nothing more important to the function of the
home than productivity—or “getting it done” every day.
The “it” can be a range of daily goals set within your home
and work schedules. Having access to your smartphones
and tablets allows you to be even more productive in
a day. From remote systems that control everything
from lighting and temperature to the security system,
productivity is one of your home technology trends. n