Autonomy for the home

Smart homes : integrated systems for security, comfort and energy.

We used to hear about home robots. Nowadays, people talk about smart homes. Security, comfort and energy management are all incorporated into communicating systems. Sheer magic !…

This recently restored country-house in the Alpilles hides treasures of technology. The heating and lighting for its interior of 320 m2, the garden lighting, the heating and shutters for the pool and spa…, everything is piloted by remote control. And also via Internet. The “Tébis TS” system is hooked up to the Hager Internet gateway and manages everything via a local or remote computer (connection on www.domoport.com). As for what it costs, you need a budget of 2,000 € to access “Tébis TS”. For a modern and evolutive installation, think more in terms of 3,000 to 4,000 €. And for a comprehensive, custom-made system, count on paying 4,500 € or more. Same goes for Delta Dore’s “Tydom” system, which won a prize at the Batimat event. Built around a communication gateway, remote controls and a telephone transmitter, it enables the owner to keep in constant touch with the home, wherever he may happen to be.

Long live lawns ! Last March, Electrolux presented the first autonomous lawn-mower. Silent, ecological, efficient and attractively designed, the “Automower” takes care of keeping the lawn cut all by itself. Regardless of its shape, it goes from one end to the other of an area defined by a periphery cable laid on the ground. If it touches an obstacle, it makes an about-turn. If the battery runs down, it goes looking for its recharge station, ready and waiting in the garden. No point either worrying about sweeping up the grass. The “Automower” cuts it very finely, so it decomposes very quickly and fertilizes the garden naturally. 1,999 €.

(3) Intruder alarm control, 4-zone repeater (210 €, Arnould). (4) “Soliris RTS” and the awning unfurls to shade the sun. Somfy.

The high-performance “Trilobite 2.0”. Electrolux. Carnet d'adresse : Arnould, 01 48 10 69 50. Bubendorff, 03 89 69 63 63. Crestron, 01 47 91 00 00. De Dietrich, 0 825 06 16 04. Delta Dore, 0 820 822 822. Electrolux, numéro consommateur : 03 44 62 22 22. Hager, 03 88 49 50 50. Legrand, 05 55 06 83 66. Lutron, 01 44 70 71 86 et www.lutron.com/europe. Somfy, 0810 12 12 37.

As simple as a… robot

“Management of heating, air conditioning and lighting reduces energy costs,” says Arnaud de Bussy of Crestron, which has just launched two packs on the market (5,510 and 8,370 €). “Omizzy” from Legrand (from 2,600 €) is an “all-in-one” pack. You leave for the office, for example, and a simple click on a switch in the hallway will set off the “gone to work” scenario. Before re-entering, you activate the “coming home” scenario with your WAP or directly on your computer. For lighting, in Arnould’s “Série Light”, the dimmer switch can be used to connect a mobile receiver to a socket so that you can remote-control the intensity of a lamp (250 W infra-red dimmer with pearly white plaque, 77 € plus VAT). In collaboration with Bang & Olufsen, Lutron Electronics (the world leader for lighting control devices) has inaugurated a range of B&O keyboards, designed for integration into Lutron’s “Homeworks” lighting control systems. For a broader type of use, and again from Arnould, the programmer can control electrical appliances by recording the instructions, or simulate the presence of someone in the house. The “Vent/Soleil” system constantly records both wind and sunshine in order to protect shutters and awnings. With “Soliris RTS” and its photo electric cell, the blinds descend with the very first rays of the sun (115.40 €). The “RTS” rain automatism (186 € for the captor, 120 € for the transmitter) can be combined with the afore-mentioned. Bubendorff is the N°1 company in Europe for roller-blinds. With De Dietrich’s “Infinity”, make way for the remote-controlled induction table : the first of its kind, it also boasts exclusive design (1,294 €). Then for a mere 1,799 €, the “Trilobite 2.0” vacuum cleaner from Electrolux records instructions, switches itself on, locates obstacles, accomplishes its task and recharges automatically.

By Cécile Olivéro - Photos : press.