By Mike Elgan, Houzz Anyone can make beer and wine. In fact, people have been brewing beer for at least 7,000 years and making wine for even longer. In the ancient world, beer and wine were daily beverages for aristocrats and indispensable components of religious ceremonies. Before the industrial revolution, both were routinely […]
Get the GuideArchives for October 2017
Shining a Spotlight On The Ring Floodlight Cam
Surveillance cameras have come a long way in their ability to see at night, but shining a little light on the situation never hurts. Understanding the need for surveillance cameras to be able to see and capture footage under dark conditions, Ring created a solution that combines a camera with a pair of floodlights. The […]
Get the GuideDIY Smart Home Project: Do-It-Yourselfer Designs and Installs His Own Whole-House Music System
There are many whole-house music systems on the market designed to be installed by do-it-yourselfers. What they have in common is a wireless topology. Music can be streamed to the speakers wirelessly. It makes for a fairly simple installation, but any professional A/V installer will tell you that nothing beats a speaker that’s physically wired […]
Get the Guide4 Reasons You Should Care about Puerto Rico Power Grid Proposal from Elon Musk
Business magnate Elon Musk of Tesla recently proposed supplying the devastated island of Puerto Rico with an entirely new power grid following Hurricane Irma. That move, if it happens, could have ripple effects for your own home… even if you don’t live in Puerto Rico. Here’s why you should care: Cleaner Power Grid. It will […]
Get the GuideSmart Home Trend: Tunable White LED Lights
For the past few years, tunable white lighting has been all the rage in the commercial lighting industry, but the category is only now appearing in smart homes. White LED lights come in a variety of color temperatures, ranging from reddish (warm) to bluish (cool). The tint of the light can affect your moods and […]
Get the GuideHow to Protect Your Family from Carbon Monoxide
When people think about home security, typical equipment that comes to mind usually includes a burglar alarm, smoke alarms, some access control devices and, for grander scale systems, video surveillance and some smart home add-ons like video doorbells and electronic locks. With so many new product offerings hitting the market featuring unprecedented bells and whistles, […]
Get the GuideWhat is the Tesla Powerwall And Is It Worth the Cost?
With going green becoming a big trend in home ownership, there are many ways to generate power for your home from natural resources. The Tesla Powerwall is one of the next big steps in creating a green home. But what exactly is it? The Tesla Powerwall is marketed as a “rechargeable lithium ion battery with […]
Get the Guide3 Reasons Why Now Is The Right Time to Get Solar Panels
Making the move to installing solar panels can be a big step when owning a home. One has to weigh the high cost to the long-term savings that comes from having them. So if you’re on the fence here are three great reasons why now is the best time to invest in solar panels. Energy […]
Get the GuideSuper Small, Super Smart Lock Controlled Via Your Smartphone
Say hello to Friday, a super small, super smart lock. The Friday Lock connects wirelessly and securely to your phone, literally turning your phone into a key. It enables you to lock and unlock your door as you approach and is so smart it can even recognize you and unlock the door automatically. You can […]
Get the GuideHow to Protect Your Home from Water Damage
As LiveScience.com reports, water abounds everywhere on Earth, from the polar ice caps to the steamy geysers, and almost everywhere in between. And, as the report states, wherever water flows, you can be sure it sustains and finds life. That’s a good thing. But sadly, the damage caused by Hurricane Season 2017 has taught us […]
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