We all like to do our bit for the environment, but did you know going green could also be good for business? Earlier this year at the 11^th Global Engineering Conference a number of industry experts spoke about the link between green buildings and worker productivity. Speakers at the event, which was themed “20/20 the Future in Focus: Rethink. Restore. Regenerate”, demonstrated the ways in which temperature, lighting, and the feel of their workplace influenced employees.

It’s bad enough being stuck in the office over the summer months, but even worse if it’s too hot or even too cold. Architects list temperature as the top complaint amongst office workers and say custom climate control systems are the answer.[i] KNX energy management for HVAC systems not only allows users to tailor their working climate to their personal preference it also helps cut waste and keep costs down.

Not surprisingly, lighting also plays an important role in keeping employees happy at work. Humans like natural light – that’s why so many of us flee to warmer climates in the summer!  DALI responsive lighting controls utilise the sunlight in a space and reduce the need for electric lighting. This again keeps energy usage down and cuts energy and maintenance costs.

Finally, how we feel about a building affects how we work and interact in it. The biophilia hypothesis suggests humans have an innate connection with other living systems. Securing an environmentally friendly and sustainable future for a building through energy management and design therefore has a positive influence on the workforce.

As specialists in KNX technology, DALI lighting and HVAC systems, Intecho can help you on your way to having a happier, greener workforce.

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With the London 2012 Olympics just around the corner, what better time is there to get fit? People from all over the world have been working up a sweat swimming, running and cycling in preparation for the games. Not wanting to be left out of the race for gold, the technology industry has produced some great gadgets to help get the most from a workout.

Whether you’re in the gym or out in the fresh air, there are a number of ways to record and monitor your fitness levels. Armbands, watches and even running shoes are installed with GPS systems and pedometers, which capture distance and speed while you exercise. This information can then be fed back to your home computer systems so you can easily keep track of your progress.

If you prefer to exercise in the comfort of your own home personal gym suites now offer more than just a good cardio session. Say you’ve got a big event coming up and you want to get the most out of your training sessions, with internet enabled fitness equipment you can tailor your workout to a specific route and terrain. This allows you to fully prepare for the race and make sure you beat your personal best.

After all that hard work, you’ll no doubt want to see how it’s paid off. There are a variety of apps and appliances that produce detailed fitness analytics such as weight loss, BMI, and calories burned. Using KNX home management technology Intecho can sync your workout with your computer system to help keep everything on track. All you have to do now is sit back and relax.

Intecho are industry leaders in KNX technology, the worldwide standard for open, royalty free building control. The flexible and customizable nature of this technology means Intecho can create the perfect fitness solution combining intelligent home gym suites with real-time analytics. To find out how Intecho can help you reach your 2012 fitness goal get in touch through our Contact Us page.

 
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April is a big month for the hospitality industry. With the Easter break falling at the start of the month two of the UK’s major airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, are expecting a combined total of 4.9 million holiday-goers before Sunday 15^th April.[1] At peak times such as these it is imperative that hotels provide the ultimate guest experience. Intelligent building technologies can help make sure guests get the most out of their time away.

As hotel owners you want your guests to start enjoying themselves from the moment they arrive. Through using KNX technologies you can ensure everything runs smoothly from checking-in to checking-out. Room management and smart card systems provide accurate information about each room. Smart cards, used by guests and staff, show when a room is occupied, when it is being serviced, and when it is ready for the next guest. Your guests are not kept waiting as data from the network provides to-the-second room status.

When on holiday comfort is key. There is nothing worse than getting to a hotel room to find it is too hot, too cold, too bright, or too dark. This is where DALI lighting systems and KNX climate controls can really make a difference to your guests’ stay. The room management system allows guests to choose their preferred temperature and lighting settings. These settings then adapt to the environment throughout their time with you to optimize their comfort.

Finally, we all want to feel safe away from home. Integrated security systems give you and your guests complete peace of mind through intelligent intruder detection and panic and emergency alert systems. With the KNX building management systems you are given real time information about the occupancy of a room or space within the hotel. Any unauthorised access is immediately reported and dealt with. These building management systems are also vital in emergency situations such as fires, structural damage or medical difficulties. They enable staff to locate and react to the problem safely and speedily.

Intecho are industry leaders in intelligent building technologies and recently completed an extensive system for Waldorf, who are synonymous with luxury and guest comfort. We use our expert knowledge base to create the perfect setting for your guests to relax and unwind. So why not get in touch and create the ultimate guest experience with Intecho?

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Figures out this week from the Office of National Statistics show that 48% of us are unsatisfied with our work/life balance. Long hours at the office combined with domestic chores at home mean that on average we’re only getting a fifth of our day to spend on leisure time. Intelligent technologies can help restore the balance in ours lives.

When you finally get home after a long day at work the last thing you feel like doing is getting the house in order. Home control systems can take the stress out of managing your living space. With KNX technologies everything in your home is integrated and synchronized, from the security systems and energy management through to home entertainment systems.

Security systems that monitor the inside and outside of your home with CCTV, sense lighting and intruder detection help give you peace of mind. Energy management networks allow you to monitor and customize your energy usage so that you’re not using any more than you need to, while not missing out on those much-needed home comforts. Finally, what’s the point of all this saved time and energy if you can’t enjoy it? You can make the most of your ‘me time’ with personalized audio and visual solutions. Whether you’re a film fanatic or a music buff, sound systems, home cinemas and wireless devices can create the perfect home entertainment.

In recent years intelligent building technologies have become more of an every day necessity to combat high energy costs, secure living spaces and save time. So why not treat yourself? By spending a little you can save a lot. To learn more about what home control can do for you get in touch through our contact us page.

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For homeowners and businesses alike investing in energy saving building technologies could result in big cost savings. Studies show that 40% of homes pay an average of £530 more per year on energy bills through not taking appropriate efficiency measures[1]. Businesses are also losing out. More research found that energy inefficiencies are costing UK small businesses £7.7 billion a year[2].

Think about the number of lights left on in the office or the amount of times you have to adjust the thermostat at home. Now imagine if every time you entered or left a room the lighting and temperature adjusted accordingly without even having to flick a switch. That is where intelligent building technologies come in. KNX and DALI systems allow for complete control of your buildings. Through being customizable in nature these systems mean that you never need to let energy go to waste again.

The right lighting can create the perfect mood and atmosphere, but it can also save on the electricity bill. The DALI systems used by Intecho are not only completely adaptable, they are highly energy efficient. A network of lights works in sync with your building, knowing when light is and isn’t needed. This means energy isn’t wasted and the lights themselves last longer.  KNX building management works in much the same way. These smart systems allow for complete control of the energy requirements of a building over a single network. With KNX technology you no longer need to worry about rooms being too hot or too cold, or if you’re appliances are using too much electricity. It’s all covered.

So when it comes to energy costs, why tackle the sprint, when you could win the marathon? Installing intelligent energy management systems helps towards a sustainable future at home and at work

January was a big month for technology. The 45th Consumer Electronics Show (CES) saw tech enthusiasts from across the globe travel to Las Vegas to see what’s new and innovative in 2012. The CES attracts big companies, with the likes of Samsung, Google and Panasonic exhibiting new products and ideas, but is also a place for lesser-known companies to show what they can do. The ‘connected home’ category continued to grow in this year’s show with more companies putting the focus on producing intelligent home technologies. Here at Intecho we’ve picked out some of our highlights.

One of the key trends at the Consumer Electronics Show was ‘intelligent kitchens’. Smart appliances such as refrigerators and microwaves exhibited by Samsung and LG gathered a lot of interest. With 68% of Brits now aiming to dine at home more often, fridges that monitor temperature and freshness, and microwaves that are both space and energy saving could be great assets at meal times.

Away from the kitchen it was all about entertainment. 2012 is expected to be the year when the smart TV really comes into it’s own. Companies including Samsung, LG and Sony demonstrating Internet linked televisions were all competing to be the biggest, lightest and brightest. The rise in demand for online streaming of film and television in the UK means more people are looking to move away from their laptops and onto the TV screen.

Finally, we couldn’t talk about the Consumer Electronics Show without mentioning a favourite of ours, home control. Home control is a center point of our business. As one of Britain’s leaders in KNX technology we’re able to create truly connected homes through a variety of products. The likes of Motorola, Samsung, Belkin and Lowe’s announced their ideas for new home control systems at the show. These consisted of tablet based energy management, home automation gateways, iPhone control plugins and cloud networking.

Overall we’re very excited about what we’ve seen from the CES. And the good news is, whether it’s tablets or full home networks stored in the cloud, 2012 is set to be a great year for intelligent home technologies.

Leading technology firm, Intecho, has found a new home in Knutsford. The company, which specialises in intelligent building systems, recently moved to Cheshire from offices in Stafford. The move to Caledonian House, in the heart of the town, follows the national and international growth of the business.

Intecho is already working on a number of projects in Cheshire and the North West, ranging from home control and security systems for residential properties, to lighting solutions and energy management for commercial properties. The company is now looking to create career opportunities in the region and to recruit staff to work on a number of exciting contracts.

Intecho’s Paul Murphy is feeling positive about the company’s new location. “Knutsford is the perfect place for us. Not only does it provide a quality working environment for our staff, there are also great opportunities for doing business in the area.”

Intecho hopes that the move will enable it to extend its already prestigious client base.

Winter breaks are becoming hugely popular, with those who aren’t restricted by school holidays packing up and disappearing in search of winter sun or perfect white slopes. Back at home the rest of the country is left shivering through short days and long nights, their home heating and lighting working overtime. Due to this need for lighting it can be more evident at this time of year when a home has been left un-occupied. That is however, unless the home in question is an intelligent home. Homes with intelligent control systems installed can create the illusion of a home being occupied even when the homeowners are in fact thousands of miles away.

Through intelligent home controls there are a number of effective ways to make your home appear occupied in your absence. Lights can be managed through automated pre-sets to go on and off at particular times or according to external natural light intensity, and also curtains to open and close under the same parameters. You can bring your home entertainment system into the loop, arranging for your TV or music system to come on at pre determined intervals, and this combined with external security lighting and a good alarm system should ensure that your home remains secure.

Some homeowners looking for an extra piece of mind choose to install security cameras throughout their home providing them with the ability to literally keep an eye on their property. One important feature of this being the ability to access the system and view cameras live from off-site, via remote access. The remote access facility allows a homeowner to access and alter every element of their home control system from anywhere in the world with internet access. Via a secure personal portal the residents can alter everything in their home from lighting to timed heating settings, and window coverings to the angle of a security camera. They can make live changes or alter pre-sets, check on the house alarm status and if they have them installed, view their security cameras live.

With technology such as this in operation even the most over cautious of homeowners can put their mind at rest, from the office or from half way around the world. Intecho offers a whole range of intelligent home features, which provide a host of benefits in security, energy efficiency and luxury. Each system is tailor designed to each customer’s individual needs and specifications, and can be installed with minimal aesthetic and logistic disruption. We’re always happy to discuss the possibilities for your property, so if you would like to know more please get in touch.

The festive season is over and a new year is here. With many homeowners cowering by their letterboxes awaiting the first of the winter bills to arrive, what better time to make a new years resolution for energy efficiency. Following huge recent increases in the cost of fuel most are expecting their worst energy bills yet, and are currently exploring ways to make savings through energy efficiency. One thing we can be thankful for is a relatively mild winter so far, but looking forward, rates are likely to further increase, and so the advice is to plan ahead.

As well as making monetary savings, improved energy efficiency also holds potentially huge environmental benefits. It is estimated that private homes are responsible for producing around a quarter of all Carbon emissions in the UK, and so by reducing our energy consumption and limiting waste we can all help to make a difference to our planet’s future. With much to be gained, how can we practically begin to make changes in the way we live… There are many things that can help to limit wastage, such as improved insulation, better monitoring of the use of home appliances, or leaving the car at home a little more. Many of the changes can be small, simple adjustments in the way we live our day-to-day lives, for example turning lights off, and only running fully-loaded dishwashers.

The stakes are high; research shows that by maximizing the energy efficiency in the home an average family can stand to save £250 per year, around £40 of this wasted on appliances left on standby alone. Many households over the past couple of years have installed home energy monitors to track how and where their energy is being used, and more importantly wasted, and Government guidelines suggest that those who use these monitors effectively can reduce their consumption by between five and fifteen percent in the first year.

Managing energy efficiency in practice, particularly with a family to look after can be difficult, hence many now taking an extra step into installing full intelligent home management systems. By using an intelligent home system many energy saving actions can be taken care of automatically and so a lot more reliably and effectively. Although requiring an initial investment in set up, the energy savings involved roll out over the entire future of the building, not only meaning that your investment will eventually pay for itself, but also that during that time you will be adding value to your property and making reductions in your carbon emissions.

A common energy saving action taken care of with an intelligent home system is turning off lights; either in un-occupied rooms, when daylight intensity is already sufficient or on leaving the house. Also, either on leaving, during certain hours of the day or on demand, selected power sources can be switched off. This eliminates the problem of appliances left on standby or on charge longer than necessary, which on average accounts for eight per cent of a household’s annual electricity bill. Drawing curtains in the evening improves insulation and reduce drafts in the home, helping to reduce heating costs. This is also something that your intelligent home system can take care of, either closing at a pre-determined time or as daylight reduces. There are many ways in which home controls can assist in saving energy, and it is also possible to monitor energy usage through the system without the use of an external appliance such as a home energy monitor.

When your next energy bill arrives consider what difference energy efficiency could make to you. An intelligent home system can help you achieve maximum benefits whilst saving you the time of manually policing usage around the home. Contact Intecho to discuss the options available and how home controls could make a difference to your bills.

Homes with intelligent lighting systems such as DALI installed give occupants total control over their home lighting environment, both in achieving a desired atmosphere and to automatically illuminate spaces when required, and according to preset levels. Using KNX technology this can also extend to the control of specific power sockets, including those used for external lighting – both temporary and permanent. Meaning that your festive array of Christmas lights can be included in home settings.

One feature within an intelligent lighting system that could help with your Christmas illuminations is scene setting. Through this feature it is possible to arrange a selection of pre-set lighting scenes ready to come on at either scheduled intervals, a pre-determined level of external light, or manually. For example, you could set your external Christmas lights to come on as the light intensity outside drops, and go off again either at a pre-determined time or as the sun comes up in the morning, meaning that they manage themselves, with little intervention needed from you.

Indoors you could manage your lights according to the time you’re due home (even remotely from your smart phone) or alternatively opt to use a welcome scene. A home welcome scene can incorporate all lighting within the home, including lamps, and temporary lighting i.e. Christmas decorations, and also set those with dimming capabilities to whichever intensity you desire. This can also be linked to other controlled elements such as to close curtains or increase the heating as you enter. So with the push of one button as you come through the front door your home will remember just how you like it.

Come Christmas Day you can further utilize some of your pre-set scenes to create perfect atmospheres as the day pans out. I.e. a morning scene with tree lights and main lights for the kids to open their presents, an afternoon scene with pleasant wall lighting in the dining room for Christmas dinner, and then a soft lit and decorative evening scene ready to settle down with a Christmas film. Perfect.

If you would like to learn more about using intelligent controls in your home then please drop us a line. Intecho wishes you a peaceful and relaxing break this Christmas, and happiness and success in the new year.