This is somewhat related to the home theater thread... Anyone into home automation? I'm just starting to investigate the tech and possibilities. With the right gear, you could have a smart house almost as futuristic as Star Trek. You can do things like command the system by voice using Amazon Echo. "Lights on!" Or "Watch Netflix!" At the very least, you can set things up so when you turn on the A/C via a Nest thermostat, the ceiling fans also turn on. Or at 10:00 PM, when you go to bed, all the lights and ceiling fans get turned off. Motion sensors add more possibilities, like if you walk into a room and it's after sunset, the lights turn on. As it gets later past sunset, the lights dim. Minimally, you can replace an existing wall switch with a smart one and add one or more additional switches anywhere you want to create 3-way or 4-way set up. The additional switches talk to the first via wifi. I'm interested in anyone else's experience. What gear do you use? Does it work well? And so on.
I totally have all that. Pretty spendy though, about $10. I just clap my hands. Clap On... Clap Off. barfo
If I had the money id play with it for sure, right now im just working on getting new cupboards in the kitchen and clearing the over grown backyard so I can build a green house with an aquaponics system. My chainsaw works.
Here's a starter system: http://www.smarthome.com/isy994i-ir-pro-insteon-home-automation-starter-kit-premium.html About the price of a low end UHD TV.
You should apologize for whatever the hell you did and beg Mrs Crane to come back home. No tech is going to replace her.
Thats not a bad price. Once im self sufficient ill probably look into it to increase efficiency. What id really like is blinds to go up during the day on the north side of the house when I walk in the room. Pulling up shades is just too much work so much so that I usually just turn the light on during the day.
That's a good idea. Another is if you open a window, the system turns off the A/C so you're not wasting money cooling the yard.
That would be good in oregon. Down here you simply dont open windows because even in the rare case it is below 75 at night the bugs are horrible and "no-see-ums" can get through most screens. How about automated windows linked to a thermostat outside, opens them up at 65degrees, close if house gets too cold or too hot.
My home is fully automated to keep weather, wildlife, and worrisome strangers out. It requires no power and operates continuously.