Automated Home 2.0
Loxone has been installed in one of the most knowledgeable automation enthusiast’s house. We take this as a great sign and compliment that Loxone was the solution that they went for. Mark, one of the homeowners, has been running a home automation website for over 20 years and obviously is therefore very knowledgeable in the industry. In his previous home he had lots of island solutions and knew that for their new build he wanted a fully integrated home automation ecosystem and so therefore naturally turned to the most open and large automation ecosystem in the industry… Loxone.
Interview with the Loxone Partner
Scott McMurray and his team from Epitome Living were the Loxone installers for this remarkable home. We caught up with Scott to find out more about their work on ‘Automated Home 2.0’
What has the journey been for the homeowner?
How has this project differed (if at all) from a typical Epitome Living project?
Why did it make sense to go for Loxone in this project?
What is your favourite feature on this project?
With Loxone’s ever improving energy features, it was clear that this was a solution for the future, not just to tick a box for “energy efficiency” in the short term.
Interview with the Homeowners
Mark, a true automation enthusiast, and his wife Helen had already embarked on a self-build before. Mark has been writing and curating industry news and first-hand accounts about smart home solutions and electric vehicles for more than 25 years on his aptly named website Automated Home. As the couple planned their 2nd self-build, they had a wealth of experience to draw upon, and also knew more precisely what they did and didn’t want in their so-called Automated Home 2.0. We posed some questions to Mark to find out more about their journey…
So there was an Automated Home 1.0 then?
Why was it important then to go for an ecosystem in your next self-build?
Why was home automation an important consideration for you when planning your new home?
How was the process of working with a professional installer?
Can you share a bit more about what features you have in your home as part of your Loxone installation?
– Lighting 💡
– Windows & Shading 🪟
– Access & Security 🔒
– Heating & Ventilation 🌡️
– Music 🎵
One of the things people usually learn quickly when setting up a modern smart home is that it’s really no fun at all having to get your phone out every five minutes to control stuff. This is where true automation comes into play, with the house controlling lights, blinds, heating, access, music etc all automatically based on things like your movements and the time of day. We certainly didn’t do away with wall switches though, and really like the Loxone scheme that meant each switch used an identical setup for music, lights, blinds etc, making it much easier to remember. We love the central on-wall master panel for the system in the kitchen too which gives us control of every sub-system too when required.
We’ve used lots of Loxone light fittings and we especially love the LED Pendulum Slim and the very versatile Ceiling Light Tree too. We chose Loxone’s excellent presence sensors and other sensors monitor the status of all our external doors, gates, garage doors and windows. All these devices, along with a very comprehensive data network and PoE camera system, forms the security system. Driving a car that uses your smartphone as the key is great and it led us to add motorised locks to the house to remove the need to carry a key for it too.
Loxone’s dedicated Weather Station allows the system to accurately detect local wind and rain conditions. Using this device the system will close our roof windows automatically in wet and or windy conditions too. The Weather Station also plays a part in the heating strategy for the house, acting like a weather compensator.
We’ve got a couple of outside sockets controlled by Loxone too, allowing us to use an outside LED patio lamp in the summer or Christmas Tree lighting in winter.
Summing up the project
Photo gallery
Interested in Loxone?
Whether you want Loxone installed or you want to start offering your customers Loxone, speak to us about making that happen.