Control4, in cooperation with Panasonic, recently contributed to a Buffalo, New York-based Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project. The home features a whole-home control, energy management, and entertainment solution installed by local integrator Shawn Lemay and his Buffalo based firm Sound & Theater. Lemay and team integrated major subsystems in the home such as lighting, HVAC and security to provide a safe and energy efficient dwelling.
Shawn Lemay, president of Sound & Theater
The homeowner, Delores Powell had purchased her home in 2002 without knowledge that it was on the city’s demolition list. After many years of renovations, the home was still unlivable and in desperate need of repair to make it safe, secure, and energy efficient.
“Our goal for this project was to install a solution that gave the family peace of mind when it came to the security and overall energy consumption of their home,” said Lemay, who is president of Sound & Theater. “With a history of high crime and theft, the neighborhood proved to be problematic for Delores and her children. We wanted the technology in their home help solve some of these issues.”
Control4 provided the overall home control, energy management, and entertainment solution for the Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project. In the home, the Control4 O/S consolidated major subsystems such as lighting and security into a single whole-home automation platform.
The project features four Panasonic model BB-HCM735 splash-resistant outdoor IP network cameras that provide high-resolution imagery of the exterior of the home. LED lights give difficult to see areas better visibility and preprogrammed commands allow the security functions to interrupt entertainment when a doorbell rings or a sensor detects unusual movement outside.
A full energy management solution, using Control4 and Peak Software, allows the family to monitor their real-time energy usage though graphs on every user interface in the home including their TVs and touch panels. Additionally, the home was outfitted with a solar panel system, and energy generated from the panels is calculated through Control4 and then given back to the grid if it outweighs the energy consumed. This results in significant cost savings for the Powell family.
Distributed music, movies, and TV is routed through a centralized equipment rack in the basement that also includes a Sony 400 Disc Blu-Ray changer. Access to all entertainment equipment is via the single, user-friendly Control4® interface at televisions or touch screens throughout the home, making home entertainment simple and streamlined.
“Sound & Theater has done a stellar job of implementing the Control4® platform to deliver a safe and comfortable solution in this Extreme Makeover: Home Edition project,” Control4 CTO Eric Smith stated. “Control4 has held a longstanding vision of building smart communities where families live in safe, connected, and energy efficient environments. Projects like these show that Control4 is the ideal solution for today’s smart home.”
