News Releases

MILWAUKEE/NARI MEMBERS SHOW HOW HOME AUTOMATION SYSTEMS RELIEVE STRESSORS, ENHANCE SAFETY AND CONVENIENCE FOR HOMEOWNERS
April 5, 2010

MILWAUKEE, WI – It should be no surprise to learn that about half of all Americans (48%) believe that their stress level has increased over the past five years, according to a 2007 study by the American Psychological Association. Money and job responsibilities are indicated as the leading causes of stress in people’s lives. With Stress Awareness Day approaching on April 16, the day after income taxes are due, it may be surprising however, to learn of the variety of convenient and cost-effective home automation products and services. These systems can save money by efficiently managing home energy use and enhance an individual and families’ safety and leisure-time activities to make life a little less stressful.

Members of the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, Inc., the area’s leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource for more than 48 years, offer suggestions to homeowners of ways to utilize home automation to lower energy costs and reduce stress.

Saving Energy Means Saving Money
“People are always looking for ways to save money and home automation products afford them the tools to manage home systems when they are at home and when they are away,” said Susan Montie, Business Development Manager at Advanced Communications Specialists in Waukesha. “We are seeing a lot of customers who install systems to help control lighting, plus heating and cooling costs.”

Lighting controls can be set to send energy to light fixtures at only 90%, which appears the same as 100% to the human eye, but lowers the energy cost of lighting by 10%. Heating and air conditioning settings are managed the same way with thermostats. Automated window shades can be set to close on sunny days in the summer to lower cooling costs by keeping the heat out and to open on sunny days in the winter to lower heating costs by using the sun’s warmth to help heat up the home.

Montie recommends installing an integrated system, which is convenient and cost-effective. “These types of systems provide one-touch convenience and are intuitive making them easy to use, plus they can be easily upgraded when needs and budget change for a homeowner,” she added. Some additional options include: setting lights to turn on and off in a random pattern to give your home an occupied appearance; controlling lights to operate automatically at different times, such as turning on before one gets up the morning or after retiring in the evening, with a single push of a button.

De-stress at Home with Automated Convenience
Montie also mentioned a variety of convenience features that can be integrated into a home’s automation system. Opening the garage door can trigger music, lights, and television sets to turn on inside the home. “Talk about de-stressing. You can set the lights in the foyer to be on when you enter the home. The TV in the den tuned to ESPN, soothing music playing in the master bedroom, and the kitchen TV set to the cooking channel!”

“The systems can even be connected to traffic cameras so commuters can check their travel route from home at their own convenience and know before they leave home if their travel route is clear for the ride to work in the morning,” she added.

Home theaters and music systems are also cost-effective, de-stressing systems available to homeowners through their integrated automation systems.

Family Safety Concerns Addressed
Milwaukee/NARI members said they are seeing home security systems as a bigger seller in the current economic climate, as homeowners are looking at ways to keep their families and homes safe through consolidated systems.

Home security systems can be very sophisticated and offer a variety of safeguards and ways to monitor activity in the home. Digital technology allows people to use the Internet to view what is going on in their homes at a certain time. “Parents can keep an eye on the kids, see who is at the door when the bell rings, and watch what’s going on in the yard from their computer screen at work or on their cell phone or smart phone.

Conventional keyed locks are also being replaced by keycard systems in some homes, so homeowners know who and when their doors are being opened. “Door bells can be programmed with prerecorded messages so when the kids are home alone and a stranger comes to the door, they can push a button and dad’s voice can tell the caller, ‘Sorry, we can’t get to the door. Please leave the package or come back later,’” Montie added.

With family safety in mind, gun safes, liquor cabinets, and medicine chests can also be monitored so homeowners are alerted through their cell phones when these storage areas are opened.

Educated Consumers
Milwaukee/NARI members recommend that potential buyers do their homework when they are in the market for a home automation system, as the Internet is a great resource to become informed on what’s available to meet your needs. They caution that consumers not purchase systems online however, as technologies change quickly and it will be difficult to tell easily if what is being purchased is an out of date product or even preowned. For these types of purchases, it is recommended that a local dealer assist in selecting the best product to meet a homeowner’s varied needs now and in the future.

The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council was chartered in July 1961, as a Chapter of the National Home Improvement Council. In May of 1982, the National Home Improvement Council merged with the National Remodelers Association to form NARI - the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

The Council's goals of encouraging ethical conduct, professionalism, and sound business practices in the remodeling industry have led to the remodeling industry's growth and made NARI a recognized authority in that industry. With over 900 members, the Milwaukee Chapter is the nation's largest.

For more information or to receive a free copy of an annual membership roster listing all members alphabetically and by category, and the booklet, “Milwaukee/NARI's Remodeling Guide,” call (414) 771-4071