Consumers want electronic stuff--and lots of it.
According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Internet Home Alliance (IHA), homeowners show a strong interest in technology ranging from appliances to entertainment systems. IHA surveyed 400 new or prospective home buyers to learn how they make decisions about purchasing, installing, and maintaining home technologies. Forty-nine percent of the buyers presented with at least one home technology option made a purchase. Home security led the list, followed by pre-wiring for cable or satellite TV and a built-in home theater.
Respondents assigned "somewhat important" status to technologies including structured wiring, multi-zone HVAC, air purification systems, wireless home PC networks, energy management, community-wide high-speed Internet connections, and home control/ automation and lighting control.
This year, there are several new exciting home technologies to choose from. For example, Sony launched its version of the 21st-century intercom system, at the same time lowering the entry point for multi-room audio and video. The two systems, designed specifically for new-home construction, take a cookie-cutter approach to whole-house audio to provide a lower-cost alternative to custom-designed systems. By using pre-selected equipment, installers can reduce design and installation time for whole-house entertainment systems, resulting in systems retailing for $1,000 to $2,000 per room, including installation.
Sony's audio-only package is built around an in-wall module combining a CD player, AM/FM radio, amplifier, intercom, and room monitor along with Sony-selected speakers. The video package adds DVD players for each local room. The system supports from one to seven sources and from one to seven zones. It is designed for new homes costing up to $500,000.
Attempting to bring new energy to the mature water heater market, Rinnai floated a new product concept--flat-panel TVs--to complement its tankless water heaters. In an effort to bring "35-year-old technology" up to date, Rinnai has added a waterproof 12-inch LCD TV for use in upscale bathrooms. Built into waterproof housings designed to be mounted beneath a showerhead or in another location away from direct spray, the Rinnai TV can be connected to cable, satellite, or antenna feeds to bring TV programming to the shower or bath.
The company claims its wall-mounted, continuous-flow heaters shave $6 to $10 a month off the cost of utility bills compared with tank water heaters because the water is heated as needed rather than heated and maintained. Digital technology enables users to further tailor water temperature and usage to their needs, and the TVs include buttons that communicate with the water heater.
LG Electronics, the company that brought the world the Internet refrigerator, now has a networked washer/dryer, the Remote Monitoring Laundry System. The concept enables folks to monitor their laundry cycle from elsewhere in the home using a remote device. Positioned for use in existing homes as well as new ones, the Remote Monitoring system communicates using Power Line Communication (PLC) technology over standard electrical wiring.
LG Electronics. The company that brought the world the Internet refrigerator now has a networked washer/dryer, the Remote Monitoring Laundry System. The concept lets you monitor laundry cycles from elsewhere in the home using a remote device. The Remote Monitoring system communicates using Power Line Communication (PLC) technology over standard electrical wiring. 800-243-0000. www.lge.com. Circle 182.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Sony. Two systems, designed for new-home construction, take a cookie-cutter approach to whole-house audio to provide a lower-cost alternative to custom-designed systems. By using pre-selected equipment, installers can reduce design and installation time, resulting in systems retailing for $1,000 to $2,000 per room (including installation). Systems come pre-programmed to control Sony components. 800-222-7669. www.sony.com. Circle 180.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Rinnai. The firm is floating a waterproof 12-inch LCD flat-panel TV to complement its tankless water heaters. The TV can be connected to cable, satellite, or antenna feeds. Using buttons on the TV and feedback from the screen, homeowners can set fit and temperature levels for the bath, including automatic shutoff when the proper level iS reached. 800-621-9419. www.rinnai.us. Circle 181.
[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
This story first appeared in CUSTOM HOME magazine.
No comments:
Post a Comment