There was a time when big-screen TVs, speakers, remote controls, and other high-tech amenities were considered to clash horribly with a home’s design and decor. And in many cases, they did. Chalk it up to poor industrial design of the products and shoddy implementation and installation of them within a home. But there’s been a […]
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Home Energy Management Takes More than a Smart Thermostat
So you went out a bought a Nest smart thermostat. You open the app a couple of times each day to turn the temperature up or down, and feel good about the money and energy you think you’re saving (this article states that for most users, a Nest will pay for itself in two years, […]
Get the GuideAutomatic Blinds or Motorized Shades Make Windows Smart and Efficient
Motorized shades and blinds can be part of a complete custom home automation system, or they can be added one room at a time, as your budget or needs require.
Get the GuideHigh Tech Home Improvements
There was a time when big-screen TVs, speakers, remote controls, and other high-tech amenities were considered to clash horribly with a home’s design and decor. And in many cases, they did. Chalk it up to poor industrial design of the products and shoddy implementation and installation of them within a home. But there’s been a […]
Get the GuideDraper LightBloc ZIP Motorized Shades Provide Complete Blackout
The LightBloc ZIP motorized shade from Draper incorporates a room-darkening fabric, headbox, and side and sill channels to provide homeowners everything necessary to black a room out.
Over the past year or so, one of the best home theater and multimedia A/V system trends to develop has been the advancements made to projectors’ lamp lives and brightness capabilities. These developments are enabling dealers to place projectors in locations that were previously unfriendly to two-piece, projection-based video systems.
Get the Guide3 Ways Motorized Shades and Blinds Save Energy
3 tech tips for smart lighting
Light is energy, and energy is a precious thing these days. We want to use it wisely, get the most out of it, and preserve it when we can. Much of our daily lives revolves around light. We follow it, work under it, and then put it behind us when we’re done for the day. […]
Get the GuideSecurity Benefits of Smart Lighting and Window Shade Control
Tech tips for smart lighting.
As you pack up your car for a great vacation, are you also worrying about how well-protected you home is? Going away for a trip is stressful enough without having to think about what’s happening at your house. A smart home system that includes automated lighting and shade control can make your home more secure […]
Get the GuideA Gadget Lover's Domain
A gadget fanatic learns that it's important to stay practical when picking out electronic systems for your home.
“Yes, I’m a gadget guy,” admits Marc Pinto. His home in Castle Rock, CO, is a testament to his obsession with all things electronic. In his family room, Marc proudly shows off a huge world map peppered with pinpricks of light. The dots are actually the ends of fiber optic cabling that Marc has poked […]
Get the Guide10 Amazing Home Automation Tricks
We’ve compiled 10 of some of the most creative home automation setups based on conversations with homeowners and CE pros.
Home automation systems are wonderful tools for managing the common routines of a household. Convenience is one of the main reasons people have home control systems installed. After all, who wouldn’t want the lights to shut off automatically at bedtime or the window shades to close whenever the sunshine gets too intense? Automation settings like […]
Get the GuideHome Automation Roundup
Your smart home starts with a good list of home automation options
One of the biggest challenges of adding technology to a home is finding and comparing the many options available. You can scour the Internet for hours and still leave scratching your head. While the selection of home automation systems may not be as immense as stereo speakers or smart TVs, it’s still impressive … and […]
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