Benefits of Smart Building Integration
There is no doubt smart buildings appeal to the gadget conscious consumer however the Reality Logic approach is based around ensuring installations that focus on usability and definable benefits to the property's occupant. This means we use technology to make things happen as seamlessly as possible. So what sort of applications are possible and how does integrating them add value?
Lighting
In most properties, rooms serve several purposes and lighting needs to be able to be used accordingly.
For example, in the main living room activities may range from reading, television viewing, entertainment, hobbies and even cleaning. Each of these require different lighting levels and configurations.
Traditionally, different lights such as spots, up-lighters and floor standing lamps are on a number of circuits that can be switched or dimmed. Smart integration goes further. It is possible to control each lamp individually, yet simply - opening up a wide range of possibilities. Pre-configuring levels for different uses, called lighting scenes can be easily set up, enabling rapid control of lights at the press of one button on the wall or a remote control.
Lighting through the house can be integrated. As an example, every parent will have arrived home after a long family day out, carrying sleeping children. You quickly appreciate the value of being able to press one switch located by the front door that turns on the passage, stair and bedroom lights to a low level, thus enabling you to get the children into bed conveniently and with the minimum of disturbance.
Imagine being able to turn all the lights off with a single button located by the bed or front door. In the integrated smart home this is a straight forward task. Lighting can also be tied in with presence detectors that will only switch lighting on when someone is in the room. Lights left on unnecessarily form a significant proportion of wasted energy and smart control of lighting is demonstrably better for energy consumption and costs.
Heating
Most houses already have a level of central heating control however the integrated smart building goes further by being able to know the situation in every room and 
use that to produce highly flexible heating configurations. A smart system can have settings not just for each day of the week but can accomplish things like:
- Individual room temperature control
- Profiles you can use whilst you are away (e.g. a frost setting).
- Heating turned off or regulated when windows in a room are opened.
- Heating linked to external temperature and daylight status.
- Control from the internet or mobile phone.
Current research shows that around 75-80% of a property's running costs are taken by heating. Integrated smart heating control is proven to reduce this simply by allowing flexible control that is in tune with the occupier.
Audio and Video
Integrating audio and video with lighting can really enhance the investment been made in the kit. 
Instead of having to manually adjust lighting, press numerous buttons on numerous remotes and get lost in the morass of switching that is a typical domestic audio/video setup, smart home technology allows all of this to be handled by just one button press.
That way you can just put a DVD into the player and sit back as you press play and the lights dim, flat screen comes on, the DVD plays and the sound system kicks in.
The Network
Most properties have a computer network in them now, whether that be wired or wireless. Many of those are also connected to the internet via high speed broadband connections. Smart building services, audio and video are converging to support control of buildings from anywhere on the globe, digital delivery of music, films and television and so.
A truly smart home take advantage of various techniques and technologies to securely yet simply expose property control to the occupier whilst away, as well futureproof the home for the further expansion of digital technology.
Security
Modern systems for door entry and CCTV allow the monitoring of activity in and around the building to be easily handled. Cameras can be connected to digital video recorders and viewed on a television or computer screen in the house. Connecting systems to the internet or mobile phone gateways even allows security to be monitored away from the home.
Integration with lighting and building services allows panic operations where lights will come on, gas and electricity to appliances turned off at the press of one button or in response to alarms.
Whilst you are away, the house can be configured to turn lights on and off, open and shut blinds/curtains and so on. This might be based on simple timers or in response to daylight sensors. It can even be programmed to follow seemingly random patterns that fool anyone watching a property for regular patterns.
More Information
For more information please just get in touch via e-mail or call us on 0870 458 9020.