The guide to spectacular property in and around ... - Quinta Properties

It’s no dream. Intelligent buildings have come a long way in the last few
decades. Time was when an infra-red control over blinds and electric devices
seemed state-of-the-art. That is now almost Dark Ages technology. Today sensors
can be built into the fabric of a building to sense light, sound or even motion, and
operate switches. Move from one room to the next and lights will come on ahead
of you. Go to bed and all the electrical devices on stand-by will automatically turn
off to save electricity. Depending upon the temperature in your living room, the
blinds can come down to keep out the sun, or respond to the first rays of light in
the morning by opening. The choices are all yours. And if you’re not actually in the
home, then you can have total control over your home through the internet.
From your laptop or even PDA, you can tap into the central control system for
your home and check that the burglar alarm has not been triggered by your
neighbour’s pet. As you wait in the departure lounge, you can tell the heating to
come on in good time for you to have a hot bath ready for your arrival; drive up
to the gate of your villa or apartment complex and simply swiping your ID card
will wake your home up and
Welcome
to the
thinking
home
bring on the lights and heating.
If a water leak is detected, the
supply automatically cuts off to
prevent damage. Your fridge
can detect when vital supplies
are running low and place an
order for you. Enhanced
security is, quite rightly, integral
to most ‘intelligent buildings’
today. They can react to the
detection of an intruder by
locking internal doors as well
as sending images of what is going on to you, a neighbour or a security company.
Which of us hasn’t nervously gone to check why a neighbour’s alarm is going off?
Now a quick scan on our own computer or TV screen will tell us. All this
technology is readily available now. The next stages could be even more exciting.
There’s lighting – but not as we know it. LEDs and fibre optic lights will replace
conventional lamps – changing colour with the mood of the moment and cutting
power bills by up to 80%. Fit next generation photovoltaic cells and there may be
no electricity bill to pay – or they may even produce a profit! But anyone who
watched ‘Minority Report’ may have already had a glimpse of the not too distant
future. Who needs swipe cards or keys to make sure that your home recognizes
you and lets you in? They can be duplicated or stolen. The day will soon be here
when ‘biometrics’ – your fingerprint or iris – will perform that role far more
securely. Rich folk’s toys? Not so. All of these devices increase our convenience,
security and comfort – and can radically reduce running costs. Long-term they will
be seen as essential – and add value to a property.
Donald Balfour, C&B
Tel: 00351 289 591671
www.cb-algarve.com
Now that IS intelligent building!
A house that
recognizes
you as you
walk in or
communicates with you
while you are in
another country and cuts
energy bills by up to 70%…
...this isn’t science fiction
it’s science fact.
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