All Articles Tagged Hvac

Jason Knott | 04/12 09:22 AM, 0 Comments

Every integrator knows thermostats, at their most basic level, efficiently measure air temperature to adjust a home’s climate in particular zones. But how do you handle multi-zone, large-scale estates with radiant heat flooring, temperature sensors, boilers, pumps and other devices, while at the same time monitoring energy use? It’s not easy unless you have a sophisticated (and expensive) system typically only available in commercial environments. That’s the dilemma faced by Ron Antinori, a software developer who initially retired with feelings of professional fulfillment - before he decided to build a… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 12/12 04:19 PM, 5 Comments

Sure, you can access your smart thermostat from a smart phone to let the HVAC system know you’re on the way home. But exactly when will you get there? Are you three hours away at the cabin? Or are you just across town at the office? It makes a big difference, you know. You wouldn’t want the house to start warming up or cooling down a moment too soon, lest it add to your utility bill. Not to worry, Allure Energy, based in in Austin, Texas, knows where you are… View this story

CE Pro Editors | 05/03 06:11 AM, 12 Comments

Lutron Electronics has started shipping a thermostat for its RadioRA 2 system. The thermostat features a three-part design, in which each component is placed where it makes the most design sense. The homeowner interface is called the seeTemp. It can be mounted in locations which would not normally be appropriate for a thermostat, such as exterior walls and sunny spaces installed in a standard wallbox for a low-profile appearance (gangable with keypads and dimmers). The unit is available in many colors and more than one can be used to control… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 02/08 08:15 AM, 0 Comments

Two years ago, Control4 had an itty bitty booth at Integrated Systems Europe (ISE). Last year, the manufacturer of affordable home control systems upped its booth size substantially, and this year the Control4 exhibit is downright large. Business in Europe increased 38 percent this year for Control4, a relative newcomer compared to its competitors in the home automation category. “We are taking some competitors’ business away,” says VP EMEA (Europe, the Middle East, Africa) Tony Leedham. Control4 attributes much of its success in Europe to a growing market in certain… View this story

Jason Knott | 04/21 05:17 AM, 0 Comments

It just got a whole lot less labor-intensive and less expensive for integrators to provide in-home energy monitoring solution for their clients. A new HVAC-based system from Home Comfort Zones in Beaverton, Ore., not only functions as an energy saving smart thermostat, but by adding modules it can also monitor electrical usage. As an added bonus, unlike other offerings, it can identify individual appliances without having to go through the trouble of wiring up separate line-voltage circuits or installing countless smart-outlets. Marketed as a sub-brand called EMME (Energy Management Made… View this story

Jason Knott | 12/16 09:24 AM, 39 Comments

More than 4,300 guest rooms in the CityCenter and Aria Resort & Casino and Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas will include Control4 technology, making it the largest Control4 Suite Systems deployment to date. Guests can control their HVAC, lighting, television, drapery, interact with guest services and more. The new mega-resort is opening with much fanfare, especially since its reported $8.5 billion construction price tag brings considerable pressure to succeed in the midst of the U.S. recession. As part of the system, an automated “welcome experience” activates when guests open the… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 09/12 03:56 AM,

Centralite is a sleeper in the lighting controls business but a favorite among many integrators. At CEDIA Expo 2009, they're sharing a booth with Somfy, a giant in the motorized shading business. Rumor has it that Somfy may be acquiring Centralite. It would make perfectly good sense. Lutron has shown us again and again that lighting and shade control are great complements for comfort and energy savings: Turn off the lights during the day when the motorized shades lift to let in the sun. For a perfect trifecta, Somfy should… View this story

CE Pro Editors | 09/12 03:35 AM, 0 Comments

Home Automation, Inc. (HAI), leading manufacturer of integrated security and home automation products since 1985, announced the availability of the combination Omnistat2 Programmable Communicating Thermostat (PCT) and In Home Display (IHD). HAI's Omnistat2 PCT is a flexible product designed for use by utility companies for Home Area Network (HAN) use in Smart Grid programs. The unique design of the PCT allows it to be used as a thermostat and an In Home Display at the same time. It utilizes an easy to understand Multicolor Display that can change colors in… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 07/09 12:05 PM, 1 Comment

We don't know what they plan to do with it, but Crestron Electronics was recently issued a patent (#7,552,914) on a high-pressure humidifier. The patent, which granted to Crestron founder and owner George Feldstein on June 13, reveals a method for perfectly humidifying a home. It takes into to consideration the outdoor air temperature, water flow and other parameters that seem to have escaped manufacturers in the past. Feldstein discovered, as he says in the patent application, that "using a relatively high water pressure, such as 1000 psi, in conjunction… View this story

Julie Jacobson | 07/08 08:13 AM, 0 Comments

Salt Lake City, UT – Control4, a leader in affordable, IP-based home control and entertainment systems, today announced it has secured an additional $17.3 million in equity financing. Best Buy Capital, Mercato Partners and University Venture Fund join current investors Foundation Capital, Frazier Technology Ventures, Thomas Weisel Venture Partners and vSpring Capital, to accelerate Control4’s development in energy management systems and home energy displays for the company’s emerging Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) product initiatives. A portion of the financing will be used to extend Control4’s sales channels. AMI includes network… View this story