What is a Smart Home

A home automation systems can enhance your lifestyle, increase your family’s at-home comfort and safety, and save costs through improved energy efficiency.

In a smart home, the various electrical/electronic systems in your home are connected and controlled via a central computer called a controller.

Entertainment	Whole-House audio/video means you can enjoy music and video in any room you wish, while different family members can choose different entertainment in different rooms. A home theatre, with large-screen projection and in-wall surround sound, can deliver dramatic entertainment in the comfort of your own home.
Comfort	Control summer/winter temperatures and humidity levels throughout your home depending on the usage of rooms, time of day, and outside conditions. Turn lights on or off based on time of day, or room occupancy. Have lights, heat/air levels automatically go to preset levels when you leave or arrive home, all at the touch of a single button, or automatically.
Safety	Protect your home with a full intrusion detection system that provides monitored security whether you are at home or away. Monitor fire/smoke/carbon dioxide detection devices to notify emergency services the instant a setting is triggered. Provide camera-monitored entrances so you can see who is at the door before answering it. A smart home can simulate occupancy when you are not at home, by turning lights on/off at various times throughout the night to make your home appear occupied.
Efficiency	Improve energy management and generate savings through total control of your HVAC (Heating/Ventilation/Air Conditioning) system. Call for heat and air conditioning only when it is needed, under the control of a programmable schedule. A typical programmable thermostat can only change the temperatures in 4 time “zones” per day. A Smart home however can control heat/air automatically upon exit/entrance to the home, in addition to pre-programmed time-of-day. Sensors can tell if a room is occupied, then adjust the temperature accordingly. Turn costly radiant floor heating on/off depending on the usage of the home.

 

Connect. A structured wiring system connects the various systems in your home. Structured Wiring refers to the wiring and connection/interface devices by which all systems and devices are interconnected and controlled by the controller. Wiring can include data cable (cat5e), security device wiring, telephone, video, audio, and electrical wiring. A structured wiring system runs the optimum cable type to all devices, bringing the wiring to a central location where a controller can be used to control the various systems. Done properly, structured wiring can “future-proof” your home, allowing you to install/upgrade additional automation features in the future without having to replace any in-wall wiring. In-wall lighting wiring does not need any additional wiring – lights can be controlled by sending a signal over your existing in-wall electrical wiring.

Control. A smart home controls all the various systems in the home. You can easily control all the systems from a central location, and systems can be made to work in concert with one another (e.g. reduce the heat when you leave the home). Many manual operations and steps of your different systems can be fully automated, to minimize your effort and save time and operating costs. You can control the systems from a simple keypad, a sophisticated touchscreen, or remotely via a telephone or over the internet.

Systems. Most household systems can be connected and controlled. These systems include:

• Home computer networking/internet access.
• Security. Intrusion, fire/flood alarms. Entrance cameras.
• Lighting. Interior and exterior lighting, and accessories such as lamps.
• Audio/Video. Whole home audio, video distribution,
• HVAC. Heating (forced air, radiant floor heating), Ventilation, Air Conditioning.

The Benefits of Home Automation

There are four major benefits of automating a home:

Characteristics of Home Automation Systems

There is a variety of automation technologies offering a wide range of capabilities. A home automation “system” is merely a combination of technologies (products and devices) that work together to deliver the capabilities needed.

The core home automation technologies range from simple, low-cost, do-it-yourself products available via the Internet to sophisticated, expensive specialized products that require professional installation and programming. Typically, a home automation manufacturer makes sensing devices, some form of keypad to control the system, and a “controller” to run the entire system.

Each system delivers a different range of capabilities from the very basic (lights or devices ON/OFF), to the very advanced (automatic adjustment of all home systems). They all support different types, styles, and brands of devices such as sensors (motion, water, gas), and input devices (keypads, keyfobs, touchscreens), and they have different means of interconnection (wired, wireless, powerline carrier, etc.). Some provide security, some provide entertainment, and some merely offer control of the things and systems already in a home. Some require the installation of dedicated control devices (controllers), others merely utilize an existing home computer.

Home Automation System Components

Home automation usually consists of the following six elements:

• Controller: The controller is the “brain” of the system - it contains the program that determines system behaviour.
• Entertainment: Typically a home theatre and multi-room audio distribution.
• Interconnection: Interconnection links all the devices and equipment and enables them to communicate.
• User interface: The interface is the means by which the user interacts with the system to control it, (give it commands) and interrogate the system for information about the home.
• Devices: These are the various sensors and equipment needed to measure things such as temperature, and to control lighting, HVAC, etc.
• Communication and control: These components determine how the system will communicate with the outside world (via telephone, email, text messages) and how the homeowner can remotely control the home from outside (via telephone, Internet)

Controller

Every home automation system has a “brain”, known typically as a controller. The functions of the controller are:

• Stores the program (software) that determines the home’s behaviour.
• Communicates with all devices/equipment and the home’s internal systems (lighting, HVAC, computer network).
• Connects to the home’s Internet service and telephone system for external communications and remote control.

There are three primary forms of automation controller:

• A utility controller (Figure 23.2) consists of a circuit board permanently mounted in a locked enclosure in the home’s utility room, typically next to the electrical panel. It often features a full-function security system. All wired devices are connected to this board, and it is often linked to the electrical panel for PowerLine carrier (PLC) communication with light switches.
• A software controller is home automation application software for a personal computer that allows the computer to function as the controller. Connections to systems and devices are made via interface boards plugged into the computer. Voice recognition is a popular feature of this type of software, so the user can speak a command such as “Turn on kitchen lights”.
• An A/V controller is a specialized piece of audio and/or video equipment meant to manage distribution of audio and video to different rooms. It is usually situated alongside the rest of the audio/video equipment such as the DVD player and stereo, either on a shelf or in an A/V rack. It typically connects to the Ethernet via Cat5e cables, and/or the Wi-Fi network and features WSN mesh networking to control WSN-enabled wireless devices such as light switches, thermostats, and various sensors.

Utility Controller by Home Automation Inc.

Software controller from LifeWare™

HC 500 A/V Controller from Control4

Interconnection

Interconnection refers to the means by which all the various devices, the main system controller(s), and the home’s internal systems (HVAC, Lighting, Security, LAN) will be connected so that they can communicate. For example, the controller needs to issue commands to the thermostat to reduce heat, or to the kitchen lights to dim to 50%.

There are three broad categories of interconnection – Hardwired (physical copper wires of some form), PowerLine Carrier (PLC), and Wireless. All three are vastly different, but can be mixed and matched. This provides maximum flexibility as the system is expanded in the future. For instance, suppose cables are hardwired in wall and floor assemblies during construction. Additional devices can be added to the system later by using wireless interconnection, so that wiring does not have to be added or altered for additional automation capability.

User Interface

There are many different ways for the home automation users to interact with the system to give commands (“Turn on living room lights 75%”, “Show last 10 people who entered the home”, “Increase heat to 21 oC”, “Run playlist romantic music in living Room”, etc. ). All systems display a menu of some form or another that allows the user to select any feature of the system by selecting a top-level menu item, then “drilling down” to more specific choices.

The various means of user interface are as follows:

• Wall-mounted keypad - A dedicated keypad with buttons or a touch-sensitive screen that displays the menu options.
• Wireless Touchscreen - A table-top Wi-Fi touchscreen, typically 10 inches or so in size, that can be hand-carried around the home.
• Handheld Remote – A specialized universal remote control that replaces all other remotes in the home, and allows full control of the home automation via a small LCD screen on the remote.
• Television - Automation menu is displayed on the household TV set, and the specialized remote is used to control the system
• PDA (personal digital assistant - handheld computer) - Used to display the main menu and select options.

Wall-mounted touchscreen from HAI

TV-Displayed menu from Control4

A typical automated home would have at least one wall-mounted touchscreen in the primary living area, one or two smaller keypads in other rooms, and a remote or other portable, wireless control device.

15" Touchpanel Displays from Crestron

Devices

There is wide array of devices that can be used in an automated home, and more devices are coming on the market every year. The following highlights some of the more common devices:

• Light switches - Replacement wall-mounted light switches typically using UPB or WSN (Wireless Sensor Network) control technology. Often dimmable up to 1000 watts or more (Figure 23.8).
• Door/window contacts - Wired magnetic contacts (for new construction), or WSN for retrofits.
• Motion sensors - Wired or WSN sensors used for security or to turn room lights on/off based on occupancy. For instance, all basement lights can be turned OFF if no motion is sensed for 20 minutes.
• Water sensors - Used to detect spills in bathrooms, or leaks under water heaters, etc.
• Gas detectors - Sense presences of hazardous gas in the home.
• Thermostats - “Smart” thermostats that are controlled by the home automation, so heating/cooling can be adjusted according to the program (for example, to adjust to comfort settings upon arrival home).
• Wall-mounted keypad - A dedicated keypad with buttons or a touch-sensitive screen that displays the menu options.
• Scene Switches - Switches with 3, 6, or 8 buttons for various preset scenes such as “Dining”, “Party”, “Entertain”, etc. (Figure 2.9).
• Cameras - IP (Internet Protocol) type cameras that connect to the home’s Ethernet, or traditional cameras that require coaxial connection and dedicated power. A typical automated home will have multiple surveillance cameras (for instance, one over the front door and one over the back door), and will feed into a digital video recorder (DVR) to record the images.

Regular switch (left) and “smart” automated switch (right)

Scene Switch from Control4

These devices above are typically installed specifically for the purpose of home automation. In addition to these devices, a home automation system usually needs to interface with existing systems such as:

• Furnace (to control heating/cooling)
• Smoke detectors (for fire alarm alerts)
• Electrical system (for PLC communication)
• Telephone system (for homeowner notification)
• Ethernet (for access to Internet)

An advanced home automation system could also connect to and control other household systems such as the swimming pool (circulation and temperature), hot tub (temperature), lawn sprinkler systems (scheduled watering based on weather), basement sump pump (alarm if pump fails), wine cellar (alert upon temperature variation), home theatre (one-button control), or motorized shades (raise/lower shades based on daylight), and more. This is often achieved through the use of general-purpose contact points. The system can be programmed to turn external devices on or off through a contact relay, even if it is not explicitly aware of the device or system it is controlling.

Communication and control

An automated home can be controlled from outside the home (remote control), and it can communicate with the outside world to provide notification or to receive instructions.

Remote Control

Most systems can be controlled from outside the home in the following ways:

• Telephone: The homeowner can call into the system, enter a security code, then operate a voice menu system. All the commands/controls that can be used on the wall-mounted keypad can be entered via phone by pressing buttons corresponding to menu options. For instance, the homeowner could call on cell phone to arm the house and turn the lights off.
• Internet: Most systems offer a means of accessing and controlling the system from the Internet. For instance, the homeowner could go online to raise the home’s temperature in advance of arrival. Some systems require that a computer be left running inside the home and others do not. Some manufacturers offer a monthly “subscription service” for Internet access capability. Generally, all the menu items and control capability available on the user interface devices within the home are presented via the Internet application.

Control over Internet

Control via smart phone (HAI & Crestron)

Notification

One of the most powerful and highest-value capabilities of home automation is the ability to provide external notification via telephone or Internet when attention is needed. The system can be programmed with a series of alerts or situations requiring outside notification (water on floor, power failure, burglary, furnace failure, child arriving home after curfew, etc.). Then, the notification method can be specified for each situation.

Entertainment

Entertainment is a growing component of home automation. Many homeowners have invested heavily in audio and video entertainment systems, and this investment can often exceed the total investment in home automation. Therefore, there is a rapidly growing convergence of home automation and entertainment technologies. There are entertainment systems that offer home automation capabilities, and home automation systems that offer entertainment capabilities.

Entertainment options consist primarily of home theatre control, and multi-room audio distribution.

• Home theatre control: All the home theatre devices (DVD player, TV/Projector, Cable box, etc.) are connected to a device called a Home Theatre Controller. The controller displays a menu on the TV of movies in the player/changer, and the user selects a movie from the remote. When Play is pressed, the lights are dimmed, the needed equipment is powered up, and the screen is lowered (in the case of a projection screen). Such controllers often use WSN networking to deliver home automation capability.
• Multi-room audio distribution: The homeowner’s music is stored on a high-capacity hard drive (250 GB or more) device called a Music Server. The device then distributes the music throughout the home to various rooms. Different music can be played in different rooms. For instance, jazz can be playing in the family room while rock is playing in the recreation room. In each room, a wall-mounted keypad and/or remote control can be used to select the music, play/pause, and control the volume. Music is typically distributed via Ethernet or Wi-Fi.

Energy Management

A well-planned home automation system can reduce the total energy consumption of the home. This is not to say a system will reduce energy consumption - the system has to be appropriately implemented and used in a manner that will reduce energy. A home automation system can reduce total energy consumption in the following ways:

• Reducing wastage: The normal day-to-day wastage that typically goes unnoticed can be reduced with home automation. Lighting, HVAC, and other systems can be turned off when not needed. When occupants leave the home, the system can force all lights off. When a room or level of the home is not being used, the lights can be turned off. Similarly, the heating for pool or garage can be turned off when not being used or otherwise needed.
• Reduced lighting levels (dimming): A light can be operated at less than 100% when full light is not needed. This reduces energy consumption and prolongs light bulb life. Dimming a light by 50% consumes 40% less energy. Note that most CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) cannot be dimmed, but this may change with new designs. Automated scenes allow for light levels to be dimmed less than 100% as required.
• Power-sensing: A power-sensing outlet switch can eliminate power-hungry standby modes by cutting power to A/V devices when not in use.

Smart Meters

Some provinces like Ontario are converting residential power meters to so-called Smart Meters, which measure electrical consumption according to the time-of-use (TOU) billing. The price charged for electricity varies depending on the time of day as shown below:

Day of the week	Time	Time-of-use period	Time-of-use price (Cents/kWh)
Weekends and holidays	All day	Off-peak	3.0
Summer weekdays (May 1 – Oct. 31)	7:00 am to 11:00 am	Mid-peak	7.0
	11:00 am to 5:00 pm	On-peak	8.7
	5:00 pm to 10:00 pm	Mid-peak	7.0
	10:00 pm to 7:00 am	Off-peak	3.0
Winter weekdays (Nov 1 – Apr. 30)	7:00 am to 11:00 am	On-peak	8.7
	11:00 am to 5:00 pm	Mid-peak	7.0
	5:00 pm to 8:00 pm	On-peak	8.7
	8:00 pm to 10:00 pm	Mid-peak	7.0
	10:00 pm to 7:00 am	Off-peak	3.0
Ontario Energy Board, November 2007

Once the home a smart meter installed and the electrical authority charges time-of-use billing, an automated home has further opportunities to reduce overall energy bills:

• Monitored consumption: The system can alert the homeowner, via on-screen notification, that consumption levels have exceeded a pre-determined threshold.
• Time-of-use adjustment: The system can automatically reduce consumption during more costly on-peak periods. Lights can be reduced to 75% brightness, pool heating can be shut off, and heating/cooling can be reduced during on-peak periods.

Any on-peak electricity consumption will cost substantially more than off-peak, and substantially more than the pre time-of-use fixed rates. Therefore, any savings from a reduction in on-peak consumption with a smart meter will save the homeowner proportionately more than the same reduction prior to time-of-use billing.

Smart meter manufacturers are building WNS networking capability into next-generation smart meters. This means that a home equipped with WNS-enabled home automation can “read” the meter and take action according to the electricity rates. Suppose for instance that the electrical authority encountered excess peak demand and had to temporarily purchase power at 5 times normal price. A home automation system would be able to read this warning, issue an onscreen notification “warning – electrical rates are now 5 times higher”, and automatically adjust consumption downward through reduced lighting, etc.