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
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.
Sustainability
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, design-build 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.
Interactivity
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.
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.
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