Featured Product of the Month: the Infratech heater

Posted by Aterra Designs on Jul 16, 2015 5:00:12 PM

Mass Customization: forever changing the way homeowners buy, and builders sell.

Posted by Aterra Designs on Jul 5, 2015 8:31:35 AM

AZ Central: Consumers want to control lights from smartphone apps

Posted by Aterra Designs on Jul 3, 2015 5:29:05 AM

David M. Brown, Special for The Republic | azcentral.com 12:22 p.m. MST May 22, 2015

Systems allow homeowners in all budget ranges to enjoy security and convenience.

Don't be in the dark about home security. Thieves aren't.

In the same spirit, live comfortably. You and your family deserve it.

"A new survey from Lutron shows that consumers are looking for their homes to get 'street smart,' " said Melissa Andresko, communications director for Lutron Electronics Co. Inc., based in Coopersburg, Pa. "The ability to control lights and shades from their smartphones when they are away provides peace of mind and a greater feeling of security."

Founded in 1961, Lutron says its products save an estimated 10 billion kWh of electricity, or approximately $1 billion annually, in utility costs. The (Street) Smart Home at Lutron includes products for all budgets: Caséta Wireless for the general home owner and, for luxury homes, the RadioRA2 and Homeworks QS from Lutron.

"The Caséta Wireless system gives consumers the ability to control lights and shades inside or outside the home -- either from a remote control or the Lutron app," Andresko said.

In-wall dimmers control overhead lights can work with low-energy-use CFL and LED bulbs, and plug-in dimmers can control table and floor lamps. The Pico remote control can be used as a hand-held remote to control dimmers or it can be surface mounted to the wall, attached to a car visor or placed on a tabletop pedestal.

The Lutron Smart Bridge plugs into a home's Wi-Fi router and sends radio frequency communication signals to compatible Lutron devices inside the home, include Serena remote-controlled shades, while providing convenient home control from any iOS or Android-based smart phone or tablet.

"Caséta provides flexibility, reliability, convenience as well as affordability for just about anyone," Andresko said.

The upgrade RadioRA 2 offers total home control with the capacity to vary atmospheres by customizing and controlling the lighting, shading, sensors, fans, temperature and appliances throughout the home, using a seeTouch wall-mounted keypad and Lutron Home Control+ app.

Available on iPhone, Android and iPad, homeowners can use the app to control or check their home from anywhere in the world.

HomeWorks QS is designed for exclusive homes with its dimmers, sensors, shading, audio/visual, HVAC and home security controls and compatibilities for the interior and exterior of a home. This system is controlled by a HomeWorks QS keypad and Lutron Home Control+ app, and the keypads can be customized to the style, fabric and color of each room.

For security: "In the event of an alarm, interior lights turn on, illuminating a safe exit, while exterior lights flash to attract attention," Andresko said.

For comfort and luxury: "RadioRA 2 (and HomeWorks) are great for enhancing home theaters, with the way you integrate the lighting and shading with the audio-visual of the film," Andresko said.

These systems have been recently installed in $1 million-plus homes in Glendale.

Aterra Lighting, Scottsdale, has recently installed Caséta systems in Toll Brothers homes in Verrado and Vistancia/Blackstone.

Homeowners in those West Valley communities can realize a 10-to-30-percent reduction in utility bills depending on the number of motion sensors, programming and types of light bulbs that are installed in the home, said Paul Salmonson, president of Aterra.

"In the age of iPads and Smart phones, having the ability to program your home's systems for lighting, heating/cooling and other related lifestyle events is just the next evolution of home design," he said. "Gone are the days of having to turn on or off each switch individually to gain that special feel for the home."

The Smartest button? The "All Off" and/or "Good Night." "Just reach over while in bed, push it and 'Voila!' "

TecHome Builder: Aterra 1 of 5 "Not to Miss" Companies

Posted by Aterra Designs on Apr 20, 2015 3:33:39 PM

[Reposted article from TecHomeBuilder.com -- see original link below]

5 Exhibitors Not to Miss at TecHome Builder Summit

Posted by Steve Withrow, Editor in Chief

Date: March 23, 2015

Original Article Here: http://techomebuilder.com/5-exhibitors-wont-want-miss-techome-builder-summit/

Diversity of offerings is the name of the game at this week’s TecHome Builder Summit in Austin, Texas.

Whether or not you’re at the Summit, you’ll want to check out these five hidden gems to help diversify your tech offers.

Home Control Apps

Insteon recently released its flagship Insteon Hub, a central controller for all smart devices in a connected home. New features include field upgradability, easy setup and improved wireless range. The company, a member in the Thread Group and AllSeen Alliance, also offers apps that work with Apple HomeKit- andMicrosoft Cortana-enabled products from various manufacturers and protocols.

“We want to take care of our customers no matter where they’re at or what platform they’re on,” says Rich Peterson, vice president of sales at Insteon. “We’ve got a vast ecosystem of more than 200 products. There’s so much versatility and no limit to number of connected devices we can put on a network. No matter what you have in your home, we want to be ready for that. We want to be Switzerland, the one who takes care of everybody. It’s all about the end customer and the experience they get because they will become your biggest advocate.”

To that end, Insteon has joined the Works with Nest program, allowing customers to control their Nest Learning Thermostats, along with hundreds of Insteon products including light bulbs, wall switches, wall outlets, cameras and sensors.

“One of Insteon’s claims to fame is the way we communicate, using power line technology, which is 100 times more powerful than radio frequency—up to a mile in range,” Peterson says. “With our dual-mesh network, every device is spreading the message. If the internet goes down, all the products still work because they’re communicating with each other. The message doesn’t have to go back to the hub.”

Remote Lighting Design

marketing, sales, lighing

Aterra Lighting Design & Controls offers homebuilders access to web-based tools that allow customers to spec lighting packages remotely. Using GoToMeeting sessions and Aterra 3D design software, customers can virtually install in-room scenarios and adjust lighting levels to get a sense of the finished room during day, evening and night. This process can also be done in a builder’s design center with a trained Aterra designer walking through each room virtually.

“For 20 years there was innovative lighting design in the custom home market. We’ve created a process for excellent lighting design and control in the production home market,” says Paul Salmonson, Aterra’s co-owner and president.

“In fact, we live and breathe lighting design services, sales services and documentation for the production homebuilder,” he says. “And we can provide a national homebuilder with consistency of service across the board.”

By giving this much control to customers, Salmonson says, buyers are upgrading themselves, with the builder optimizing and expanding on the customers’ lighting option allowances.

Aterra studies show that its approach to lighting and controls can up-sell 3 percent of the base price of the home in incremental sales of lighting, electrical and control products.

“With this remote specification capability and our 3D design tool in builders’ design centers, Aterra has seen record growth,” Salmonson says. “In fall 2014, we saw sales spike up over 2006 volumes. This indicates that our investment in lighting specification technology is being welcomed with open arms by builders and their customers.”

Tankless Water Heaters

Eemax is responding to the implementation of National Appliance Energy Conservation Act (NAECA) efficiency standards on April 16, 2015. The resulting product changes to tank-type water heaters will impact all levels of users—plumbers, distributors, designers and property managers. As a manufacturer of tankless water heaters, Eemax says its products are already 99 percent efficient and no changes are necessary to meet NAECA standards.

Eemax’s HomeAdvantage II is designed specifically for residential hot water with durable heating elements, smart, self-modulating digital technology. There is no standby heat loss, and the small, space-saving system, which can last 20 years or longer, can be installed anywhere.

“We know what it takes to heat water, what type of methods are the most efficient, reliable and right for the type of application. We’ve built a business around this and have sustained it for over 25 years,” says Jens Bolleyer, vice president of marketing and retail sales for Eemax.

In addition to NAECA-related solutions, Eemax is investing in “distributed generation,” their concept of placing hot water generation close to the point of use while eliminating 50 percent or more of piping cost (material and labor) and eliminating the cost, complexity and waste of a recirculation system.

“We’re at a crossroads in the industry in terms of water heating with new regulations coming out. We want to educate builders and raise awareness of our product,” Bolleyer says.

Ventilation Cooling

Field Controls Healthy Home System.

Field Controls is expanding its Healthy Home System by offering a ventilation cooling option for builders in states with stringent new energy and indoor air quality standards.

The Healthy Home System is a whole-home air quality solution that uses a central fan and ductwork and treats the entire home as a system, improves the efficiency and cleanliness of the air handling system itself, and constantly monitors and manages home air flow. Since the system is added to an existing HVAC system, customers can save thousands of dollars over buying a standalone system.

HVAC installers can easily handle the low-voltage electrical components, and the other components are plug-and-play with existing fans and ductwork, says Carl Moody, regional sales manager for Field Controls.

“The Healthy Home System is a great product for builders in California or Colorado that mandate or highly recommend ventilation cooling in new energy-efficiency codes,” Moody says. “Builders and buyers also receive the most credit in those states for HVAC systems with a ventilation cooling option. It is likely these strict codes will expand across the country.”

Ventilation cooling is usually combined with energy conservation measures such as shading provided by trees and window treatments, roof reflectivity and attic insulation. Mechanical air circulation can be used with natural ventilation to increase comfort, or with air conditioning for energy savings.

Related Article: IBS Wrap Up Special Report: Emerging Tech Trends

Field Controls also offers with the system an option for home control, as its thermostat ties into a whole-home automation system. By the end of the year the system will be compatible with five of the top HVAC automation systems including the Nest Learning Thermostat.

Wardrobe Automation

Luxe Wardrobe Automation is a one-woman company based in Austin, Texas, owned and operated by Nancy Fike. Luxe’s streamlined conveyor system for installation in closets and other spaces allows homeowners to view and access garments or other items at the push of a button.

Customers can hang up to four times the number of garments that can go on a standard rod, in the same linear space. The customizable, simple-to-install conveyors are available in many configurations and lengths and in single or double tiers.

“With current building trends, customization, personalization and individualization are the keys to reaching sophisticated homebuyers,” Fike says. “In view of current home construction costs per square foot, certainly an essential concern is the most efficient use of space. Cutting-edge high and low technologies offer efficient luxury and have become modern necessities. Needing to maximize every inch of valuable space, the typical single closet rod is inefficient and a huge barrier to getting the most out of wardrobe space.

“Whether a closet is exceedingly large or too small, installing a Luxe conveyor system ushers in a world of possibilities by enabling you to create valuable additional square footage to maximize space in a bedroom, bathroom or closet. The custom Luxe conveyors can make the most of large and small spaces, high ceilings, cedar closets and wasted attic or basement space.”

Using Luxe Concierge custom software, homeowners can now integrate their PC and their Luxe conveyor. “With the click of a mouse or touchscreen technology, Luxe Concierge will bring the selected garment to you,” says Fike.

TecHome Take Aways / Are We Herding Cats Here?

Posted by Aterra Designs on Apr 10, 2015 6:49:11 AM

The Best in Home Technology: TecHome Builder Summit 2015

Posted by Aterra Designs on Mar 14, 2015 11:26:41 PM

Oh BTW, we were award finalists at IBS Vegas 2015

Posted by Aterra Designs on Mar 14, 2015 10:27:13 PM

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Featured Product of the Month: the Infratech heater

**7 Reasons Infratech heaters are the next big thing in indoor/outdoor heating**