Embracing the smart home era in
the refurb and renovation process
By Nico Van Der Merwe, VP Home and Distribution, Schneider Electric
Environmental consciousness is no longer
just a thought process, it’s a way of living.
For example, less and less bars are serving
drinks with plastic staws, electric vehicles
are becoming more commonplace on the
street and more businesses are pledging
their commitment to becoming more energy
efficient. Times are changing.
One of the biggest changes on our doorsteps
is the rise of the smart home. Whilst smart
homes are nothing new, our attitude towards
them is. In fact, consumers are expected
to spend more on smart home products
over the next 12 months, with smart home
spending predcited to reach £65bn by 2020
according to a report by Juniper Research.
To create the perfect smart home,
consumers are looking to renovate their
homes. Just a few years ago, if someone
were to tell us they were renovating their
home, we’d imagine them giving it a lick of
new paint. Now, the meaning of renovation
has changed entirely. It’s come to focus on
not just the aesthetics, but, the systems that
make our homes liveable. This means power,
lighting, heating, and smart accessories.
Stylish, yet energy efficient homes
During the home renovation process –
electricians play a key role in showcasing
the benefits that smart technologies can
6 - www.refurbandrestore.co.uk
have on curbing energy usage – whilst also
meeting aesthetic requirements.
A central challenge with many renovations
is the upgrading of electrical systems. End
users are looking for products that are
ideally suited for both new construction
and refurbishment projects. This means
sourcing a stylish product that is easy to
remove and reattach during the decoration
process. When it comes to creating a
more connected, sophisticated home,
light switches, temperature controls and
power distribution are at the very centre
of this process. Ensuring their optimal
efficiency and the comfort and safety of
the occupants should be an electrician’s
top priority.
Network company Cisco predicts that by
2020 the number of connected devices
will exceed 50 billion as homes fill up
with smart sensors, meters and other
connected equipment. The IoT facilitates
the easy exchange of data and enables
users to make the best, most informed
decisions for their homes – meeting
current consumer demands.
Wiser Heat, Schneider Electric’s smart
heating system, is one solution. Wiser
goes beyond smart homes and enables
something called a ‘smart zone’, allowing
home owners to customise every room
of their house to a desired temperature.
By linking a home’s room and radiator
thermostat though the IoT, a phone
app can provide users convenient and
complete control over their home heating.
By combining IoT connected thermostats
and radiators, home owners are able to
monitor the temperatures of individual
rooms and change them remotely with a
swipe of their phone, wherever they are.
Thinking ahead
Whilst the speed of the renovation process,
cost and safety are still important –
electricians need to embrace smart home
technology during this process to meet
current consumer desire.
Over the last few years, there has been lots
of products added to the shelves – all of
which are long lasting, smarter and easy to
use. These devices are crucial in enabling
renovation projects to be completed on
time – and to a high standard.
In a more environmentally conscious
world than ever before – the demand for
smart and stylish homes is only going
to increase. This is why the refurb and
renovation process needs to consider
aesthetics – as well as the running of the
home.