Recently Filed in Climate Control Systems

You’re going to be hearing a lot about smart thermostats. That’s right, the boring little device on your wall has gone from being just a thermostat to a “programmable” thermostat—and now a “smart” thermostat. Some come with color touchscreens. And yes, smart thermostats will connect to their bigger brother, the smart grid. You may also find smart thermostats being called programmable communication thermostats (PCT), which can receive information wirelessly. That wireless data allows the thermostat to receive a signal—say, from your local electric utility—to turn… View this story
Climate Control Systems • Thermostats and Sensors • Green Technology • Info and Answers

No doubt about it, this is one enormous house. Measuring 12,000 square feet, it provides enough room for a dedicated home theater, a fitness center and a wine cellar. There is also plenty of space for lots of flat-panel TVs, built-in speakers and huge racks of audio/video equipment. Unfortunately, when the homeowners purchased the finished four-story residence three years ago, few of these amenities were included, save for a flat-panel TV in the family room and a modest whole-house music system. That would all change,… View this story
Multiroom Audio • Multiroom Video • Climate Control Systems • Home Control Systems • Lighting Control Systems • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes

There are lots of ways to be green—or greener—and this 4,500-square-foot designer’s delight on the Chesapeake Bay sports several of them. There’s a geothermal heating and cooling system that pulls clean, carbon-free heat from the ground. There’s a lighting control system that helps to save energy, motorized shading to keep rooms cool during the day, and easy and convenient control of everything. The green initiatives began with 14 bore holes drilled 120 feet into the ground for the geothermal heating and cooling system, which pulls… View this story
Climate Control Systems • Thermostats and Sensors • Home Control Systems • Green Technology • Home of the Year Awards 2009 • Cool Homes

Control for consumers is the ultimate aphrodisiac and today Americans are used to having it in all facets of their lives. This control ranges from the interface on their iPods and their home theater remote controls, to the steering wheel-mounted radio controls in their cars and Web-enabled HVAC and security controls that are accessed from smartphones. Moen’s newest product release addresses the need for homeowners to control their showers, vertical spas and Roman spas. The company’s ioDigital system is designed to give users control over… View this story
Appliances • Climate Control • Climate Control Systems • Humidity Control • Thermostats and Sensors • Zone Controllers • Home Control Systems • Pool and Spa • Bathroom • Product News

Here comes Mi Casa Verde, yet another startup manufacturer who aims to bring home automation to the masses – with an Internet gateway, PC software and the ability to operate hundreds of wireless Z-Wave devices currently on the market. I figured it was destined to join its predecessors on the long road of broken promises and failed attempts. I could not have been more wrong. Mi Casa Verde represents a major leap in user friendly home automation. Mi Casa Verde sent me one Vera hub,… View this story
Climate Control Systems • Home Control Systems • Lighting Control Systems • Reviews • Home Control

President Barack Obama has announced his intention to “green” the White House, beyond former President Bill Clinton’s and George W. Bush’s efforts that saw more efficient heating and cooling systems and solar electric (PV) and solar thermals systems installed. According to Steven Strong Solar Design Associates, which designed and installed the current White House system in 2002, the White House has 10 kilowatts of Evergreen photovoltaic panels and two solar thermal systems, one for domestic hot water and another for the pool, hot tub and… View this story
Computer Systems • Displays • Multiroom Audio • Climate Control Systems • Thermostats and Sensors • Surge Protectors • Home Control Systems • Lighting Control Systems • Green Technology • Info and Answers

Worried about what your family might be breathing? Before you pass out dust masks to the kids, you might want to get some SmartSense. Broan’s new ventilation system provides monitored, continuous ventilation, promising good indoor air quality. SmartSense works with Broan’s Ultra Silent ventilation fans to create fresh air throughout the home. Just install the fans in your bathroom, laundry room, rec room—wherever you could use a little ventilation. A Broan SmartSense control is connected to each fan, with one being the master. All controls… View this story
Climate Control Systems • Enhancements • Product News

How would you like to live in a house that is powered partly by solar panels, can smart-charge your electric car at off-peak hours to save you electricity, and has an energy monitoring system so you can see your electricity usage? If you had this today, you might be the chancellor of the University at Colorado in Boulder, CO. The chancellor’s house has been equipped by Xcel Energy, GridPoint and other partners in a Smart Grid Consortium that is building the nation’s first SmartGridCity in… View this story
Power Management • Climate Control Systems • Automotive • Green Technology • Web Services • Enhancements • Info and Answers

Nothing says comfort like air conditioning in the summer. Now ICM is tweaking that temperature to keep the cool, create better breathing conditions, and save you some cash all at once. The CC750 Comfort Control Center is an advanced motor speed control, which connects to your AC or heat pump. From there, it offers humidity control as well as reduced energy costs. By creating drier conditions, homeowners can raise thermostat temperature without sweating up a storm. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, every two… View this story
Climate Control Systems • Humidity Control • Home Control • Product News

The way heating costs are rising these days, you’re going to want to do everything you can to save this coming fall and winter. The Z-Wave Alliance, the consortium that touts the Z-Wave wireless technology, celebrated the second anniversary of its Advanced Energy Savings Thermostat Device Class this week by debuting three more Z-Wave-enabled thermostats. The new devices are the Intermatic CA8900, Wayne Dalton WDTC-20 and RCS TZ43. That brings the total of Z-Wave thermostats to 12, which are fully compliant and play well with… View this story
Climate Control • Climate Control Systems • Thermostats and Sensors • Home Control • Enhancements • Product News

A green home? For Electronic House’s Home of the Year? Yes and you bet. For the first time, our grand-prize winner is an energy-efficient, sustainable home that’s made largely from environmentally friendly materials. And yes, it has plenty of electronics. In fact, the home’s control system, lighting and shading systems help to save energy. Energy efficiency and sustainability are important to many of us today, and this home proves that you can be a good steward of the Earth while enjoying the benefits of the… View this story
Climate Control Systems • Home Control Systems • Shades and Blinds • Green Technology • Home of the Year Awards 2008 • Multiroom AV • Home Control • Cool Homes • Slideshows

There are game rooms, and then there are some wild game rooms. The showcase room in this home is another story: It’s dedicated to wild game. The owner of this 12,000-square-foot Dallas home has been going on safari trips to Africa more than once a year for nearly a decade, and when he had his sprawling residence constructed, he wanted to highlight a trophy room. It was also the impetus for bringing an electronic systems installation company on board, since the owner needed proper humidity… View this story
Climate Control Systems • Rec/Play Room • Home of the Year Awards 2008 • Cool Homes • Slideshows