Monday, April 20, 2009

Smart Meters

Last Friday, on my way to the airport, I heard the Wall Street Journal Report on Smart Metering.  This "new" technology is going to allow Power Supply Company and home owners have more information about energy usage and allow them to shut down high usage appliances during peak energy demands.

Well, I have had a "Smart Meter" on my home for about two (2) years.  Mid Ohio Energy Cooperative began installing these meters, which allow them to send usage information back to the cooperative each month.  But before that, I have had a device on my electric water heater for more than ten years that allowed the cooperative to shut down my water heater via radio control during high peak demand.  This is not new technology, just technology that is now coming to the for front.  It is very interesting that those of us that live in the country, have had energy management devices for many years, because our user owned cooperatives wanted to save us money, reduce demand during high rate and peak usage times, thus again saving energy and money.  Now, it seems that everyone is interested in these items.

What I find very interesting is during a Google search in the Lima Ohio area for searches for Home Automation, Energy Management, Home theater, Lighting Control etc., there were very few searches, in fact, Google listed them as 0 when reporting their searches.  Even widening the coverage area, produced only a 4 to 5 for any of the above keywords.

Take one example, lighting control.  If the home owner would just install inexpensive wall box dimmers, they could save energy and reduce their electric bill.  At the web site http://www.digitaltips.org/networking/lightingControl.asp,  a complete listing of different lighting control options is available.

Elite Systems Solutions has many options to allow the home owner the ability to control their energy usage.  What do you think?  Let me know

...bringing Technology home!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Why do the Experts leave out Home Automation Control in discussions on Energy Management

I received my monthly Electrical Cooperative magazine last week.  A two page article was written concerning the first of its kind energy-efficient residential housing workshop in Ohio.  After reading the article twice, I noticed again how so much time and energy is taken in talking about HVAC Seer ratings and Energy Star lighting and appliances, but no one is talking about controlling any of it with an over arching Home Automation system that sheds loads, turns back the thermostat and turns off all the lighting when away during the day and only lights up certain fixtures at night when away.

Having a 90% efficient furnace, heat pump or geo-thermal heating plant is great, but if the system is not being properly controlled, we are still wasting energy.  Since we are still using old technology to heat water, i.e. large tank, with electrodes or gas burner that constantly cycles off and on to keep the water at a constant temperature, we are still wasting energy!  Why do we need for the water heater to keep the water at a set temperature overnight?  Even if you take your shower in the morning, with a automation system you could bring the water heater on line an hour before you need it, but during times away and when not in use, shed that load!   Ohio State Professor Gary Kinzel, stated that homes use 20 percent of the total energy consumed by our nation.   He lists 17 percent of that to make hot water.

Energy Star has alisted lighting fixture requirement, i.e. 6 out of 10 fixtures must be energy Star rated, that is have the rating and use a CFL for the light source.  But no where is controlling that fixture addressed.  Yes, it has a CFL, but it was left on for sixteen hours, ten of them with no one at home, so I was using "less" energy because of the CFL?   How about a system that turns it off when not in use?  How much would that save?  No one seems to have listed in their checklists for improvement, harvesting day light, proper use of dimming and timers on fans.  

Today, we have the ability and the products to not only control the use of energy efficiently, but to show our clients, with a real time display what they are using and how with control and lifestyle changes they can have a strong impact on their energy use and carbon foot print.

What do you think?  Are we missing the boat by not including Home Automation in the discussion? Let me know what you think.

Ric
...bringing technology home!

Thursday, February 26, 2009

Multi-Room Audio for 50+ Active Adults

Entertainment options for the 50+ Active Adult client is becoming a hot topic.  As the recession deepens, many of our 50+ Adult communities have slowed in new construction and we are finding  many of these prospective clients are now cocooning or staying in their existing homes.  As such, many are now exploring expanding their at home entertainment options.  One of the more promising option is Multi-Room Audio/Video (MRAV). 

As the Boomers begin to explore their entertainment options, Elite Systems Solutions can provide a wide variety of systems to bring audio and video throughout their homes.  Image being able to listen to your entire music collection from any room in your home, including the deck or patio and garage, being alerted to impending inclement weather, though a pre-programed weather radio alert, thus giving you extra time to prepare.  Being able to eliminate duplicate radios, receivers, tape decks, and CD plays to save space and energy!  Think of the convenience of having all your devices in one central, easy to find location.  Thats the beauty of a Multi-Room Audio Video system.

With a Multi-Room solution from Elite Systems Solutions, you can have complete control of your music, videos, and pictures from any room in the home, control volume, content and source to individual rooms fro,m any keypad and display song title; artist and album cover art on each rooms keypad.  The system can be over arching, thus playing in party mode, the same source through out the house, but giving you room by room control of volume, or each room can become an independent zone, so you can have the all news radio station playing in the den, while your spouse enjoys a selection fro your CD collection in the kitchen and your grandson can plug their iPod or MP3 player into the dedicated port in the bedroom, giving each space individual control of content and volume.

Elite Systems SOlutions can design a multi-room system to fit your home or budget.  Our custom integrators can create a seamless fit into your home, complete with speakers and control using your existing source equipment.  We can provide upgrades to include Media center source for your existing content, satellite and internet radio, and various control options including touch pads, touch screens and remote control.   Elite Systems Solutions can deliver a custom look and feel to your entertainment experience.

To give you a hands on experience of how a multi-room audio/video system functions, point your browser to www.digitaltips.org/flash/MRAV_demo.html to experience "A Day in The Life" of the Johnson family.  This site also has links to a planning checklist, and other information about installed technology available today.

What do you think?  Have any questions or comments?  Just let me know here by posting a comment or email me at Installer@EliteSystemsSolutions.com.

...bringing technology home!

Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Creating Energy Savings with Installed Technology

Yesterday I participated in a very interesting and insightful meeting sponsored by the Energy Star Group of the EPA and CEA's TechHome® Division.  While this was a great first step in getting the government to regonize that control systems such as lighting control and Home Automation can save energy, I was left with the feeling that they just don't get it!

In follow up emails between some of the most innovated integrators in the trade today, most were still trying to get a handle on the how, why, what factor.  WHat really get me worked up is that unless we, the trade, get behind a directed set of design and installation practices, we will not get the Energy Star folks to understand the process.

Quite frankly, in working with our clients locally developing 50+ housing in the 2,100 square foot range, my design of subsystems, i.e. lighting, audio-video, energy management, security/automation has a great deal of affect on how much energy the house will use.  Then in my installation, planning the proper home runs and wireways to save copper, drilling in the center of studs and keeping main runs to interior walls and using the extra space with the other trades, i.e. plumbing chases so they can be sealed also has a great deal of impact on the overall energy use of the home.  Finally, my choice of subsystem manufacturers and my working with the other trades, i.e. controlled thermostats, load shedding of the water heater during evening hours and while the home is in away mode.  We have found using timers on bath fans instead of switches, occupancy sensors on closet lights and in some hallways, the use of motion detectors provides more saving than the use of so called Energy Star fixtures.  We have changed our design is storage spaces to use a Leviton Compact Fluorescent fixture instead of keyless fixture with a twist in CFL, as they are even more efficient and cost less.

However, yesterday was a good start.  Hopefully over the next few months, we as integrators and with the help of manufacturers can develop a comprehensive design and installation plan that will show the Energy Star group that our Control systems are the most efficient and cost effective way to save energy and lower operating costs for our clients.  What do you think? Please contact me at Installer@EliteSystemsSolutions.com.

RJ, bringing technology home!

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

DTV Transition

The recently passed delay in the DTV transition from analog television means less content will be available to over the air broadcast antenna consumers until June 12, 2009, while delaying the important move to communication channels for First Responders, i.e. Police, EMT, and Fire departments as well as additional interdepartmental communication in emergencies.
The delay allows for broadcaster to continue to send analog signals until June 12, 2009.

However the reason the President and Congress gave for the delay was the lack of digital to analog converter box coupons being available to the public.  As of February 1, 2009, 3.7 million requests for coupons were on a National Telecommunication and Information Administration waiting list.  No additional funds were made available, nor did the manufacturers of the digital converter boxes have adequate time to adjust their manufacturing schedule for the delay.  Converter boxes are available for purchase from major electronics retailers such as Best Buy and Radio Shack, as well as from Electronic Systems Contractors. 

Here in West Central Ohio, most residential households have cable, i.e. Time-Warner or Bright.net, Satellite, Dish or Direct, or Watch TV, which sends signals via short Microwave bursts.  The balance of households receive their television via over the air antennas.  By purchasing either a newer television receiver or a digital converter box, not only can they receive over the air current channels in digital, but additional content and channels, thus expanding their overall viewing selections.

R L Johnson Construction Services, LLC (www.rljohnsonconstruction.com) electronic systems division, Elite Systems Solutions (www.EliteSystemsSolutions.com) has technicians available to assist consumers in making the digital conversion.  Elite Systems Solutions offers a range of DTV conversion specials that are simple, fast and affordable.  For $79.00, Elite will install a consumer supplied Digital converter box to an existing television, dress the wires and help instruct the consumer in the operation of the Converter box.  For $169.00, Elite will provide one (1) Digital Converter box, professional installation, connection of up to three (3) additional components, i.e. DVD or gaming console, dress the wires and one year installation warranty.

Additional information about the DTV transition can be found at www.digitaltips.org and www.dtvtransition.org.  Consumers that may need assistance connecting their own converter boxes to their existing televisions can find instructions at www.ceaconnectionsguide.com and about antennas at www.antennaweb.org.

If you have any questions please contact me at Installer@EliteSystemsSolutions.com or at (419) 568-9096.