home control systems

It may look like an ordinary home, but one of KB Home’s new models in its Blackstone community in El Dorado Hills, Calif., offers a step into the future.

The DoubleZero House 3.0 produces all of its own power via SunPower’s solar photovoltaic (PV) panels and the solar company’s new Solar Integrated Storage solution, in which electricity collected by the solar panels is stored in a bank of batteries for later use. The systems can store 4.7, 7.7, or 11.7 kWh of electricity, which provides several hours to a day or more of power and costs upwards of $20,000 to $25,000, before incentives like rebates and tax credits.

Get the Guide

The company is putting immersive effects into audio receivers for as little as $599.

Get the Guide

The new addition means that Harmony users will soon be able to use voice control on AV and home control systems.

Get the Guide

A good media management system needs to be able to collect, organize and deliver all your music and video content and make it available in the place you most want to enjoy it

Get the Guide

High definition video and 24/7 music can put a lot of pressure on a home network.

Get the Guide

Face it, not everyone is cut out for a do-it-yourself project. A professionally installed home automation system—from a service provider or a custom integrator—saves time, brings peace of mind, and provides the kind of reliability that comes from a professional with training and experience. Higher-end installed systems enable a more sophisticated level of customization, including the ability to work with a broader field of products and systems. Most importantly, if something goes wrong, there’s someone to call who knows your system inside and out. For customers who want broader, more customize control options than a DIY smart home system can offer, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best higher-end professionally installed systems on the market.

Get the Guide

While the media room may have the most electronic gear in it, the kitchen is where people gather daily and where everything comes together.

Get the Guide

The new lineup will cover security, access control, HVAC and much more.

Get the Guide

ONE OF THE BIGGEST ADVANCES in home automation and whole-house control has been the development of wireless lighting control. The availability and price associated with this piece of home technology has made it accessible to just about anyone. While I have been a huge proponent of wireless lighting control due to its flexibility, retrofit applications, and the ability to easily adapt to consumers’ growing needs, there are some things that you should know before investing in a system.

Get the Guide

The cloud-enabled platform kills pricey programming and lets users configure it themselves.

Get the Guide