Articles and whitepapers

Controlling Interiors and Exteriors (3/1/2006)

By Jonathan Goostray, Somfy

There is no doubt that the smart home concept is still most closely associated with electric devices that can be controlled and switched on and off automatically. TVs, sound systems and lights are the obvious examples, but the concept also applies to other household electrical items such as washers, cookers and alarm systems.

There is also scope however, to make a smart home smarter by extending the automated control concept beyond 'switching on and off' to 'moving, opening and closing' as well.

Remote control of interior and exterior devices

Recent years have seen tremendous growth in sales of motorised blinds, curtains, roller shutters and awnings. Similarly, more and more people are choosing to automate the operation of their garage doors and garden gates. The reasons are simple. It makes their lives easier and more comfortable, safer and more secure.

Control makes sense

It is not just that motorisation takes away the physical effort of opening and closing an awning or a gate, it is the fact that thanks to modern control technology, these actions can be programmed to happen automatically at certain times of the day or in response to external events. And, of course, control can be integrated with other smart home devices.

This means that the operation of blinds for example, can be triggered by timers or light sensors or linked to another device. For the ultimate home cinema experience, they could automatically close as soon as the TV is switched on. They can be programmed to close at night and open in the morning - an important security benefit when people are away from home. Or they can automatically close in bright sunlight, providing protection for furniture and household pets.

Likewise, wind and rain sensors can ensure that awnings not only have the capability to automatically open in good weather, but will also retract in inclement weather.

On a cold, wet winter's night, how much more comfortable and safe is it to arrive home, open the gates and garage door from the car and drive straight in? No standing out in the roadway and the cold and wet.

Installation and operation

Such products have been available for years and present few, if any, installation challenges, beyond practical issues such as ensuring that there is easy access to a suitable power source - sometimes a problem when installing garden gates - or ensuring that there is space for an awning to extend fully. Reliability is such that motors and controls are often covered by a five-year guarantee.

The most common form of operation is via radio control. Generally the motor will be equipped with an integrated radio receiver, which picks up signals from either a handheld remote control or a fixed control unit, typically wall-mounted. For those who prefer, control systems can also be hard-wired or operated via infra-red.

Consumer demand

Demand from consumers for this form of home automation, which could be termed 'home motion' is growing. Although in some countries, such as France and Germany, motors and automatic controls have almost become standard in some applications, in many other countries they are still very much a top-of-the-range optional extra. In the UK for example, recent market research by Somfy suggests that less than 3% of households have any form of home motion. Global market growth potential is estimated at 10% per annum.

One of the drivers for future growth will be the environment and the growing concern over wasting energy and its impact on global warming. For example, instead of having a system that automatically switches on the air conditioning when a room gets too warm, why not have a system which automatically lowers blinds or an awning, or both?

Recent studies show how effective automated shading devices are in reducing the amount of energy consumed in a house in summer and winter. According to a study by the European Solar Shading organisation, a well-designed installation can reduce the indoor temperature of a house by 9 degrees in summer, reducing air conditioning requirements by 28%.

Consumers are becoming increasingly aware of the potential of smart home technology, and while new users' needs are met by entry-level solutions, users more accustomed to automatic controls now require innovative functions that respond to their increasing demands for comfort and protection.

Interoperability

The future lies in linking individual applications to each other and to related applications from different manufacturers and suppliers. Interoperability is what makes a smart home really smart. It allows the operation of different systems in the home to be integrated and controlled by a master control system.

For example, you can lower your patio awning and switch on your patio heater at the same time. When it gets dark, it will close your blinds and switch on the lights. Alternatively, in bright sunlight, a sun sensor could automatically lower blinds and open windows simultaneously. The possibilities are endless and the technology is already here.

Innovation

Trailblazers of smart home technology are coming up with some exciting ideas. A recent development of environmentally-friendly, energy-efficient houses in Carshalton, Surrey, for example, is cleverly using the power of the sun to warm the buildings in the winter, yet keep them cool in the summer. The houses feature a Somfy-powered system of 25mm pleated blinds, which is not only controlled by solar sensors but also linked to photovoltaic cells and driven by solar power.

Another example is a stunning penthouse in Tabernacle Street, London, which has lights, blinds and home entertainment services all operated from a central control system, linked-in to timers and weather sensors.

Somfy system controlling roman blinds that resemble billowing sails covering the main glass wall.

Motor and control technologies can open and close anything that involves movement. In the not too distant future, householders will have the convenience and comfort of opening and closing everything in their home - curtains, blinds, windows and doors - at the touch of a button and integrated with control systems for lights, locks, central heating and alarm systems. Home motion is a natural progression of home automation.

Jonathan Goostray is the Marketing Manager for Somfy Ltd, a subsidiary of Somfy International - manufacturer of motors and control systems for the automatic movement of awnings, blinds and shutters at home and in the workplace.

www.somfy.co.uk