Comments on: Home automation/control system for suburban house? http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/ A posting every day; an interesting idea every three months... Wed, 02 Dec 2009 02:49:42 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: jim http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89943 jim Mon, 20 Oct 2008 18:31:34 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89943 philg states: A separate but related question might be "With energy so expensive and computers so cheap, how come these things aren't standard in every new house?" One would think that every new American house would have a button by the front door marked "I am the last person to leave" and it would turn off all the lights and quiet down the HVAC system. It really boils down to economics and ease of use. A good programmable thermostadt as only $50.00 gives you a good level of control over your HVAC. If you have multiple heat/cool zones, you can put in a programmable thermostadt for each zone. It makes very little economic sense to go beyond this from a control standpoint for residential, even for a mcMansion. Computerized sensors and software will always be much more expensive, and most likely won't provide much extra energy savings. For lighting, the motion sensing switches are very economical, and for many residential lights (not all) this could be a good solution. These switches can be annoying because they can turn off lights in situations where they should remain on, but they don't require networks, gadgets, or programming. Good placement of the motion sencing switch can reduce the annoyance. The place where computer/internet controls make sense today is automated lawn/garden/landscape irrigation, because the irrigation is seasonal and weather dependent - a complex control environment. A single low cost sensor and a timer does an ok job, though you will most likely overwater or underwater. Internet systems are available now at a low cost that can give you better control and most likely help you save on your water bill (search: lawncheck) (That is if you irrigate, some people don't). cheers, philg states:
A separate but related question might be “With energy so expensive and computers so cheap, how come these things aren’t standard in every new house?” One would think that every new American house would have a button by the front door marked “I am the last person to leave” and it would turn off all the lights and quiet down the HVAC system.

It really boils down to economics and ease of use. A good programmable thermostadt as only $50.00 gives you a good level of control over your HVAC. If you have multiple heat/cool zones, you can put in a programmable thermostadt for each zone. It makes very little economic sense to go beyond this from a control standpoint for residential, even for a mcMansion. Computerized sensors and software will always be much more expensive, and most likely won’t provide much extra energy savings.

For lighting, the motion sensing switches are very economical, and for many residential lights (not all) this could be a good solution. These switches can be annoying because they can turn off lights in situations where they should remain on, but they don’t require networks, gadgets, or programming. Good placement of the motion sencing switch can reduce the annoyance.

The place where computer/internet controls make sense today is automated lawn/garden/landscape irrigation, because the irrigation is seasonal and weather dependent – a complex control environment. A single low cost sensor and a timer does an ok job, though you will most likely overwater or underwater. Internet systems are available now at a low cost that can give you better control and most likely help you save on your water bill (search: lawncheck) (That is if you irrigate, some people don’t).
cheers,

]]> By: Ed http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89834 Ed Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:21:26 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89834 Just ran across this and remembered your post: http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/17/vera-home-automation-system-wants-to-be-the-greenest-of-them-all/ Obviously I have no first hand experience, but it seems to pretty closely fit the bill. Just ran across this and remembered your post: http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/17/vera-home-automation-system-wants-to-be-the-greenest-of-them-all/

Obviously I have no first hand experience, but it seems to pretty closely fit the bill.

]]> By: scottnotrobot http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89813 scottnotrobot Sat, 18 Oct 2008 03:34:33 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89813 i spent a good deal of time tuning x10 at my old apartment. got a new condo and wiring it up is on the todo list. insteon is new since my last rig and i'm looking forward to giving it a whirl. found this on smarthome and i'm very hopeful it'll be a viable interface from which to script things from my server: http://www.smarthome.com/31279/EZSrve-INSTEON-X10-Home-Automation-Gateway/p.aspx in the past i've tried a usb interface and there were never good drivers for linux. web based should do the trick. i've also found using putting powerstrips with most of my transformers/wall-warts behind a radioshack filter, in addition to installing a whole-house filter at the service panel, went a long way to improving reliability in my system (although being in an apartment building i think i was particularly susceptible to noise). i spent a good deal of time tuning x10 at my old apartment. got a new condo and wiring it up is on the todo list. insteon is new since my last rig and i’m looking forward to giving it a whirl. found this on smarthome and i’m very hopeful it’ll be a viable interface from which to script things from my server:

http://www.smarthome.com/31279/EZSrve-INSTEON-X10-Home-Automation-Gateway/p.aspx

in the past i’ve tried a usb interface and there were never good drivers for linux. web based should do the trick.

i’ve also found using putting powerstrips with most of my transformers/wall-warts behind a radioshack filter, in addition to installing a whole-house filter at the service panel, went a long way to improving reliability in my system (although being in an apartment building i think i was particularly susceptible to noise).

]]> By: Eric http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89627 Eric Tue, 14 Oct 2008 16:12:45 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89627 I've played around with this from time to time, and I honestly think that home automation is a solution looking for a problem. The people I know who have been successful with it have a) spent a lot of time (or, alternatively, money) creating and updating the programming and b) trained themselves to act in ways so that the automation works correctly. So, if you're looking for a new hobby, it can be quite diverting. An automatic setback thermostat is 1980s tech - there are tons of choices there, and they're cheap and easy to operate. Think long and hard about whether you would really use any remote capability, because I think that in most cases you just won't use it. Exceptions are if you are in the house sporadically (ie it's a vacation place, or your travel schedule is variable). I have a telephone thermostat on my vacation house, and it's very nice to turn the heat up before we arrive or turn it down if we forgot. And we can also tell that the power is on and the heat is working remotely. For that I paid around $250, and the web ones I've found are $400+. I think electronic keypad locks are silly - they aren't much easier than regular keys. The only advantage I see is being able to give out temporary codes for temporary access. Note that making anything accessible from outside your house often requires special configuration of your router - you may need to open ports or put those devices in the DMZ. Head over to smarthome.com, and see what they have. I’ve played around with this from time to time, and I honestly think that home automation is a solution looking for a problem. The people I know who have been successful with it have a) spent a lot of time (or, alternatively, money) creating and updating the programming and b) trained themselves to act in ways so that the automation works correctly.

So, if you’re looking for a new hobby, it can be quite diverting.

An automatic setback thermostat is 1980s tech – there are tons of choices there, and they’re cheap and easy to operate. Think long and hard about whether you would really use any remote capability, because I think that in most cases you just won’t use it. Exceptions are if you are in the house sporadically (ie it’s a vacation place, or your travel schedule is variable). I have a telephone thermostat on my vacation house, and it’s very nice to turn the heat up before we arrive or turn it down if we forgot. And we can also tell that the power is on and the heat is working remotely. For that I paid around $250, and the web ones I’ve found are $400+.

I think electronic keypad locks are silly – they aren’t much easier than regular keys. The only advantage I see is being able to give out temporary codes for temporary access.

Note that making anything accessible from outside your house often requires special configuration of your router – you may need to open ports or put those devices in the DMZ.

Head over to smarthome.com, and see what they have.

]]> By: Les Jones http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89535 Les Jones Mon, 13 Oct 2008 15:41:33 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89535 My cheap version of this was to install motion-sensitive lightswitches in the kitchen and bathroom. Cost was less than $20 each at Home Depot. Walk in the room and the lights come on. Leave the room and they turn off a few minutes later. All of the porch lights and outside security lights are likewise motion-activated. For HVAC I use a simple programmable thermostat. My cheap version of this was to install motion-sensitive lightswitches in the kitchen and bathroom. Cost was less than $20 each at Home Depot.

Walk in the room and the lights come on. Leave the room and they turn off a few minutes later. All of the porch lights and outside security lights are likewise motion-activated.

For HVAC I use a simple programmable thermostat.

]]> By: Martin http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89494 Martin Mon, 13 Oct 2008 01:13:31 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89494 Lutron hands down. A relatively inexpensive system by a well established system. The RadioRA system is great for easy retrofits and can be tied into wired systemss, your computer, and more... Lutron hands down. A relatively inexpensive system by a well established system. The RadioRA system is great for easy retrofits and can be tied into wired systemss, your computer, and more…

]]> By: Cincy Steve http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89488 Cincy Steve Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:03:04 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89488 Welcome to Suburbia- Don't worry, it's only half as painful as you think it will be. I currently know of 2 systems, an x10 and an Insteon running in my suburban hell. Both operated by bright, carbon based care professionals but reasonably Techie. The guy with the Insteon ripped it out. The guy with the X10 complains bitterly at the annual halloween party in my neighborhood. I would be leery of thermostat controls. If a power blip blanks your master computer heat may not resume for the house which could be a disaster in MA weather if you are not there to keep an eye on it (Think frozen pipes/rupture on new hardwood floors). My house uses cheap Lutron programmable thermostats and I couldn't be happier. Lighting- Outside motion sensors great until you get PTSD from all the nighttime scares from the lights flipping on whenever a deer, raccoon, possum ambles by. I have considered indoor motion sensors as my 2 indoor monkeys often leave lights on. Problem is when they shut off while the kids are quietly playing without much movement. I tackled my problem with the previously mentioned CFLs. Little heat, low power use. 3 different color warmths to choose from. I agree with Colin regarding powered locks. Sweet for Mission Impossible challenges but fail safe with power failures would have to be unlocked so people could get out of the house in an emergency. Even with the keypads outside my house I was thankful for my old school hidden house key under a rock with our 1 week power outage from Hurricane Ike in Ohio! remote video- multiple options exist and simple to start up. Email me if you are stumped. alarms- Haven't turned mine on in over 4 years. Alarms would not deter me from entering a house. Simple to defeat. Dogs far better due to unpredictable nature. Buy an alarm sign to put near end of driveway. Forget alarm. People deterred by "ACME" alarms will move on. Smarter crooks don't care. Some protection gained by a crooks need to escape. A long driveway frightens evil. No where to run if someone comes down the driveway! Welcome to Suburbia- Don’t worry, it’s only half as painful as you think it will be. I currently know of 2 systems, an x10 and an Insteon running in my suburban hell. Both operated by bright, carbon based care professionals but reasonably Techie. The guy with the Insteon ripped it out. The guy with the X10 complains bitterly at the annual halloween party in my neighborhood. I would be leery of thermostat controls. If a power blip blanks your master computer heat may not resume for the house which could be a disaster in MA weather if you are not there to keep an eye on it (Think frozen pipes/rupture on new hardwood floors). My house uses cheap Lutron programmable thermostats and I couldn’t be happier.
Lighting- Outside motion sensors great until you get PTSD from all the nighttime scares from the lights flipping on whenever a deer, raccoon, possum ambles by. I have considered indoor motion sensors as my 2 indoor monkeys often leave lights on. Problem is when they shut off while the kids are quietly playing without much movement. I tackled my problem with the previously mentioned CFLs. Little heat, low power use. 3 different color warmths to choose from.
I agree with Colin regarding powered locks. Sweet for Mission Impossible challenges but fail safe with power failures would have to be unlocked so people could get out of the house in an emergency. Even with the keypads outside my house I was thankful for my old school hidden house key under a rock with our 1 week power outage from Hurricane Ike in Ohio!
remote video- multiple options exist and simple to start up. Email me if you are stumped.
alarms- Haven’t turned mine on in over 4 years. Alarms would not deter me from entering a house. Simple to defeat. Dogs far better due to unpredictable nature. Buy an alarm sign to put near end of driveway. Forget alarm. People deterred by “ACME” alarms will move on. Smarter crooks don’t care. Some protection gained by a crooks need to escape. A long driveway frightens evil. No where to run if someone comes down the driveway!

]]> By: PaulS http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89481 PaulS Sun, 12 Oct 2008 18:38:10 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89481 Phil, something we can agree on. I highly recommend putting a system like this in. I installed one in my summer house which is 100 miles from my year round residence. The system is a home automation controller that incorporates alarm functions, fire alarm controls plus home automation. It is accessible via a phone line (good when you are in your car away from a computer) and the internet through a nifty client app. I use the system to control the outside lights, a few indoor lights (mainly ones guests tend to leave on after they leave), ice dam heat tapes, a dock bubbler and heat/AC. The system can also be used to control just about anything you can imagine, from sprinkler systems to pool pumps. The controller has its own script based language that is easy to learn and very powerful. It is used to control lighting scenes, heat schedules and such. I use it to turn on a dock bubbler when outside temperatures drop below 32 after January. You can also, via alarm system sensors, have lights turn on and off as you walk around your house. I have had the system installed for three years and it, combined with an internet video monitoring system has saved me many 200 mile round trips. The base system is about $900, which includes a thermostat, a communication interface and a couple switches. The light switches run about $60 each and are easy to install and program. Phil, something we can agree on. I highly recommend putting a system like this in. I installed one in my summer house which is 100 miles from my year round residence. The system is a home automation controller that incorporates alarm functions, fire alarm controls plus home automation. It is accessible via a phone line (good when you are in your car away from a computer) and the internet through a nifty client app. I use the system to control the outside lights, a few indoor lights (mainly ones guests tend to leave on after they leave), ice dam heat tapes, a dock bubbler and heat/AC. The system can also be used to control just about anything you can imagine, from sprinkler systems to pool pumps. The controller has its own script based language that is easy to learn and very powerful. It is used to control lighting scenes, heat schedules and such. I use it to turn on a dock bubbler when outside temperatures drop below 32 after January. You can also, via alarm system sensors, have lights turn on and off as you walk around your house. I have had the system installed for three years and it, combined with an internet video monitoring system has saved me many 200 mile round trips. The base system is about $900, which includes a thermostat, a communication interface and a couple switches. The light switches run about $60 each and are easy to install and program.

]]> By: Jeff http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89480 Jeff Sun, 12 Oct 2008 17:30:51 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89480 Linux MCE + zwave seems promising but is sensitive to what hardware you use. The link below is a video of setting up and using linux MCE which really blew me away the first time I saw it. Unfortunately most of the hardware he uses in the video is now obsolete. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2176025602905109829&ei=PDHySNKTJ5mSrAK4mek7&q=linux+mce Some others that might work: Home Vision (dedicated stand alone controllers ) http://csi3.com/homevis2.htm Mister house http://misterhouse.sourceforge.net/ Linux MCE home http://linuxmce.com/ HomeSeer Pro 100 controller Please let us know what you decide to do. Linux MCE + zwave seems promising but is sensitive to what hardware you use. The link below is a video of setting up and using linux MCE which really blew me away the first time I saw it. Unfortunately most of the hardware he uses in the video is now obsolete.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2176025602905109829&ei=PDHySNKTJ5mSrAK4mek7&q=linux+mce

Some others that might work:

Home Vision (dedicated stand alone controllers )
http://csi3.com/homevis2.htm

Mister house
http://misterhouse.sourceforge.net/

Linux MCE home
http://linuxmce.com/

HomeSeer Pro 100 controller

Please let us know what you decide to do.

]]> By: mark http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/2008/10/10/home-automationcontrol-system-for-suburban-house/comment-page-1/#comment-89470 mark Sun, 12 Oct 2008 02:35:52 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/philg/?p=1105#comment-89470 Take a look at MaxHome. http://maxhome.com/ Take a look at MaxHome.

http://maxhome.com/

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