Are you realizing the dream of having your own home, with the desire to build your new home as a Smart Home from the start? We show you how to do it, at what costs to expect as well as the best procedure for installing a Smart Home Automation system in new construction.
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Plan home automation from the start with a Smart Home system
So what do the concepts “eHome”, “Smart Living”, “Smart Home” mean in two words: Smart Home? Smart Home is understood to mean the possibility of interconnecting devices, lights, switches, and buttons used at home; the devices record data, which allows you to perfectly control your home daily according to your needs.
Building automation includes various functions. With smart devices like surveillance cameras, motion and smoke detectors, smart locks, and water detectors, you manage to keep an overview of what is going on in and around your home. Plus, smart heaters, data analytics, and light and shade controls save you up to 17% Plus of energy.
Finally, by buying intelligent equipment such as robot vacuums, a cleaner, and mower, or even intelligent audio devices, you are sure to live a unique experience in terms of habitat. In short, the Smart Home rhymes with more security, more energy efficiency, and comfort in everyday life.
Planning a Smart Home System in a New Construction
There is no doubt that the future will be digital. All systems handle with a smart device which works fast and is very handy. Homeowners wishing to increase the market value of their property for future generations should therefore really consider installing a Smart Home system during major renovations or in new construction.
Planning as early as possible is the basics. During the first interview with the architect, tell him your wish to install a Home automation system as well as your needs. Particular attention should be paid to the planning of the electrical engineering system, to define the interfaces with heating, sanitary installations, and network technology.
In this context, you must discuss your needs with planners in building technology such as the planner-electrician but also with heating installers, ventilation, and sanitary facilities. To obtain your building permit without any problem, find out more about the rules applicable to construction.
Read More: 4 Best Smart Home Devices and Systems
The installation of a best Smart Home system encompasses both the networking of technical building equipment and household appliances and that of the components of entertainment electronics. A Smart Home, therefore, includes several elements:
- End devices or actuators: Thermostats for radiators, lamps, roller shutters, a stereo system, and a washing machine among others.
- Input devices: Smartphones, tablets, touch screens, and voice commands among others.
- Sensors: These are used to measure the ambient temperature, the degree of humidity, and the brightness of rooms.
- Control unit or gateway: All sensor data is transferred to the gateway. After data analysis, automatic commands are sent to radiator valves or other actuators. A process by which devices can communicate with each other like a “nervous system”. The gateway then plays the role of “brain”.
- Networking: By cable or radio, communication between the actuators and the gateway is made possible by networking.
Cable or radio? Smart Home Automation systems and technical possibilities
There are generally three variants of technical possibilities for equipping a new building with the most secure Smart Home system. Here, intelligent communication between individual devices or actuators is at the heart of the process.
For new constructions, it is not uncommon to choose the so-called “bus systems”, also called “closed systems”, but we also often find mixed solutions, that is to say, so-called semi-open systems. . Discover further information on the “open” systems, “semi-open” and “closed”.
When it comes to choosing a cable or radio networking, budget is also an important part. We briefly present these two variants:
- Radio Networking: Purchasing and installing radio systems is generally cheaper and easier than wired systems because the devices communicate through wireless networks, such as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. However, they are also more sensitive to disturbance.
It is advantageous to opt for a radio system compatible with open radio standards. To be able to extend the Smart Home with components from other manufacturers that are less expensive and offer additional options, the radio system must therefore not be limited to connecting proprietary products.
- Wired networking: Wired or wired systems (bus systems) are more expensive than radio systems. Indeed, the laying of power lines involves more important installation work and is generally impossible to carry out oneself if one does not have the required technical knowledge.
However, since you can adjust it exactly to your needs, wired networking is worth it in a new build. In the best case, the power lines are laid as part of the structural work before the plastering and plastering work. This helps prevent the appearance of cracks in the plaster that could be expensive, depending on the type of intervention.
After going through the planning and the technical and construction possibilities, let’s finally tackle the hottest topic by far: costs.
See More: Advantages and Disadvantages of Home Automation
Cost overview of a Home Automation system
As with any system whose size, technique, and performance may vary, the expense can also be more or less. The price of a Smart Home depends on the one hand on the system chosen, and on the other hand on the scope of the components used – for example the number of rooms involved and the devices chosen but also functions such as protection against burglaries, warning signals, and heating control.
Therefore, it is not possible to indicate precise costs. However, you can find various representatives of the smart home Automation systems industry who offer rough estimates, such as the cost estimates to be found on home & smart, the consumer portal for smart home solutions, and the IoT (Internet of Things). ).
If starter packs for upgrade solutions, including for example a control unit, motion, and smoke detector as well as a radiator thermostat (e.g. from Qivicon or HomeKit), are available from CHF 300.–, the price of complete smart home solutions with bus systems is between CHF 10,000.– and CHF 20,000.–. For the planning of investments in new construction, the basic cost rule of “Loxone”, supplier of smart home systems, is even more precise, as home & smart states:
- 1% of the total construction cost for basic equipment
- 4% of the total construction cost for medium-sized equipment
- 7% of the total cost of construction for complete equipment, from ordering music to monitoring
With this overview, you already have the first idea of the costs to be expected for the installation of a smart home system in a new building. Besides, the electrical installation company ISP Electro Solutions AG, headquartered in Ostermundigen (Switzerland), offers further sample estimates:
Cost estimate for a detached house (new construction)
- 12 buttons with temperature sensor
- 2 motion detectors
- 20 switching channels
- 16 channels for blinds
- 16 channels for heating
- Viewing by tablet or smartphone
- 6 buttons with temperature sensor
- 1 motion detector
- 12 switching channels
- 8 channels for blinds
- 8 channels for heating
- Viewing by tablet or smartphone
Costs: approx. CHF 11’500.00
Costs: approx. CHF 6’500.00
A Smart home installer offers cited include, among other things, lighting, shading, and heating management as well as button, tablet, and smartphone control, not to mention commissioning. It is clear that the price of a Home automation system mainly depends on the number of parts, functions, and devices. With more rooms, you usually want more functions, which means more devices to install. The less sophisticated the smart home system, the more you save.
In the end, your Smart Home must not only fit within your budget but above all make your life easier. To conclude, here are again the main steps in planning a best Smart Home automation system in a new construction:
- Clarify the needs: Do you want more safety, energy efficiency, comfort, or all at the same time? Define everything your Smart Home should be able to do.
- Plan as early as possible: Consult the architect and building planners and learn about the rules applicable to construction.
- Define the budget: For secure you a price range with a ceiling that is not exceeded and ask price offers from various Smart Home system providers.
- Technology and choice of smart home system: Decide between a radio or cable system (bus system). Radio is less expensive but more sensitive to interference. A bus system, with wiring directly in the framework of the shell, is recommended in new constructions. Also decide whether you prefer to install in your new build a starter pack with expansion possibilities (note: product compatibility between several manufacturers) or a complete system.
To Read Also: How to choose the best security system?
Discover here more information on the definition and use of smart home systems. Would you like to know more about smart home upgrade solutions for owned or rented accommodation in an existing building? So click here.
