Tips for Stress free life > Expert Zone > Home Improvement
Home Improvement Tips
|
| |
|
| |
|
|
Tips for Stress free life > Expert Zone > Home Improvement Home Improvement Tips |
|
|
|
|
Popular Trends in Home Technology
As a former home automation installer and a former manufactures rep, I have observed many trends. The following items are certainly the hotest trends this year in home technology. VoIP (pronounced Voice over IP) refers to making telephone calls using your high-speed internet connection. This technology is gaining ground very fast, as new users are discovering it is 50-75% cheaper the comparable standard telephone service and congress is standing behind the technology for now, no taxes or legislation to mess it up - yet... The a catch? Several more variables in losing your dial tone: Power outages, internet downtime, and equipment failures are just a few problems you may encounter using VoIP. Also, If you are dropping the standard phone line, and you have a security system you will need a cellular or radio back up for safety reasons. Retrofit home theaters. With the cost of movie tickets approaching $10, it makes it quite expensive for families to enjoy movies and snacks at the theater. There are new techniques and processes to install a home theater in your existing home. Many of the processes are for noise reduction, so you don't have harmonic vibrations in the home, or annoy your neighbors. Living in a townhouse, row house, or other multiplex homes, you can now "pump up the volume" with bothering others! Security Cameras. Many cities now require visual verification prior to dispatching emergency services. Approximately 9 out of 10 alarms are false. Cameras in the home can quickly verify that the alarm is actually triggered by a burglary. In addition, many new parents are now installing cameras to check in on their children while they are away to ensure safety. Home Offices. Today more and more people telecommute. The reasons may very- but the fact is home offices are now becoming a necessity for many homeowners. Proper planning can provide you with all the technology you need in either a new home or a remodel. If you are ready to start thinking about your custom workspace, keep the following in mind: your personal work style; essential services such as Internet & telephone; and office needs such as printing, wireless networks, file storage and audio distribution. Lighting Controls. Reliable lighting control used to be reserved for the wealthy. The rest of us were reduced to live without lighting control or the unreliable X-10 technology. In the last few years two new technologies arose. UPB (Universal power line bus) and RF (Z-Wave). These new products have provided us with more selection, more reliability, and the best part-they cost about the same as the major branded X-10 products. Energy Savings. Recent energy cost have us all looking for ways to reduce the utilities budget in the home. Home Automation is stepping up to the plate. Home automation can manage the thermostat (typically the largest load in the home) based on actual occupancy rather than when you think you will be home. Lighting is the second largest load, home automation will turn off the extra lights when they are not needed. Using motion sensing, occupancy sensing, and other types of lighting controls, home automation can shut the lights off behind you! Did you enjoy this article? Receive other exclusive articles & stay on the cutting-edge of home automation & technology! Join "The EDGE" today-it's free! http://www.architechtronics.com/edge.html Brett Griffin is co-founder of Architechtronics, Inc. He has 12 years of experience in the technology industry and strives to help builders, dealers, and homeowners "get to know home automation & technology." Visit http://www.architechtronics.com for more information. ©2005 Architechtronics, Inc. All rights reserved.
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Planning Your In-Wall Speaker System So you've finally decided to get your favorite music throughout your house. What's next? Where do you go from here? That depends upon your requirements and weather this will be an installation in an existing home or a music system in a new construction home. Vinyl Replacement Window Terminology With so many homeowners in the market for more energy efficient windows and doors for their home, I thought I would use this week's article to cover the more common terms used to describe a window's ability to insulate your home from the elements. There is an organization called The National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC). 5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project 1. What experience does your contractor have with this type of project?How much experience does the home improvement contractor have in doing projects like yours? Does s/he specialize in this type of project, or will s/he be using your home as a learning project? Typically, contractors who have done several projects like yours will have a better idea of the actual costs and production issues involved in your project. Modern Rugs The modern look is a highly admired form of interior design. The word Modern is a broad term that encompasses many different techniques and styles of design. Choosing Your Builder: Cheapest Quote Wins? You have your 3 quotes from each potential builder so choosing the one you are going to trust with your re-modelling, new garage, extension etc. should be easy, shouldn't it? Unfortunately most homeowners would consider this the end of their search for a builder when in fact what you should be doing next is the second most important if your home improvement project is to run smoothly (what's the most important? You will find the answer at the end of this article). The Organized Move: Preparing Your Home for the Publics Eye (This is the first in a series of three articles on "The Organized Move")The thought of moving can set most of us in a tailspin, but what is more frightening is imagining the parade of realtors and home buyers marching through your very personal space and judging you on: neatness, maintenance and upkeep, and tasteful décor. (There will be a handful of buyers that are looking for a "fixer upper" and projects that last for years, but unfortunately only two exist to date). Get Everything Done Quickly Using Your Basic Tools No one wants to have their house equipment broken. But it might happened your electricity went off or your water system not working etc due of broken installation. How To Find Cat Mailboxes You can add a personal touch to your home or give apersonalized gift that will be treasured for years with ahandcrafted cat mailbox. Choose from adorable wall mount,house mount, or freestanding mailboxes adorned with yourfavorite feline in playful, adorable designs. Five Ways to Create a Healthy Home Have you ever thought of your home as being healthy or unhealthy? While the concept of a healthy home may be new to some of us, it is steadily gaining popularity with homeowners. A healthy home can include a number of elements from building materials used to construct your home to using non-toxic cleaning products. Log Homes - Finding the Perfect Log Home Plan One of the first steps in building a log home is deciding on a floorplan. Many people spends months, or even years, searching for the perfect plan. Paving The Way For Californias Asphalt Consumers The California asphalt paving industry is ever-changing and in order to provide the best services, asphalt paving companies are turning to new technologies to stay ahead of the competition.Asphalt technology in California has been changing since the creation of Hot Mix Asphalt and will continue to change as time permits. Cork Flooring Is The Best Option Around For Durability And Aesthetic Value It is inevitable, almost everyone no matter how long they have lived in their house, wants to replace their flooring at some point. Do you have carpet that is covered in pet stains, juice, coffee or wine stains? Carpet gets matted down and shows wear patterns quickly. How to Install a Ceiling Fan - A Simple Guide A Complete manual on how to install a Ceiling Fan may take more than just an article; it may all even take up an entire booklet. Let me just give you a simple, no-nonsense essential guide in installing a ceiling fan. Choosing the Right House Plan Now that you have made that bold decision to build a home of your dream, it absolutely important to get the best home you can imagine. For you and all of us, building the home of our desire is one time affair in our life time. The Joy Of A Patio Awning Some people will dream of the perfect patio. They dream of having the perfect place just outside, in the back garden or on the patio, where they can sit and relax, enjoy the weather and just enjoy the day. Building a Home Addition Besides providing your home with more living space, a home addition can be a terrific investment. However, before embarking on such a project the homeowner should first consider several important items. Bathroom Designs Idea - Can I Design My Own Bathroom? A bathroom designs idea -- can I really design my own bathroom? Why not! Today, the bathroom is much more than just a room for grooming and a place to read. Bathrooms can be a good place for home exercise equipment and a good music system or TV, for example. How To Choose The Right Home Water Filters and Water Purifiers For Your Needs When it comes to home water filters and water purifiers, consumers have many choices. You can choose from leading name brands such as Brita, Culligan, PUR, and Braun. The Dangers of Pesticides and the EPAs Harrowing Plan to Test Them on Kids Pesticides are a ubiquitous toxin in our environment. We spray them liberally on ants and spiders in our homes, use them in our gardens and on our lawns, fog our streets with them to kill mosquitoes-even spread them on our own bodies to keep bugs away. A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place Tax season is over..
|
|
You are here |
|
| Home Improvement | Home Improvement - Complete list | |
|
| Main Home | | Meditation Corner | |
|
|
| Recommend us | |
|
[About
us] [Contact] [Privacy
Policy]
Copyright 2006, Meditation
is Easy.com, All
rights reserved
