Smart Homes

It's only fitting that the ultimate "smart house" belongs to the ultimate tech head: Bill Gates. And just what has the world's richest man done with his Microsoft mad money? Well, for one, he built a 66,000-square-foot home (hey, you need room for guests) that boasts touch-sensitive pads in each room to control climate, lighting, and music. Not impressed? Check this out: At the Gates hacienda, visitors can be outfitted with tiny electronic pins that tell the home's central computer system who and where they are; the computer then adjusts individual room settings to the wearer's preferences. When more than one pin-bearer is in a room at the same time, a thumb-wrestling match determines who gets to control the computer. Not really, but it's a nice idea.

Certainly, Bill Gates' home represents the cutting edge of technology (and the wealth it takes to buy it). But perhaps even more impressive is the speed with which more typical homeowners have adopted technologies that would have seemed outrageous only a few years ago. And consider: If we've come that far in the past few years, who's to say where we'll be in another half-decade?

Still, that's then, and this is now. And now we know that it's surprisingly simple and inexpensive to renovate or build a home that incorporates the latest home tech. In fact, for as little as $1,500, you can take your house to school for a dose of the smarts. "I see $1,500 as a good starting place," says Bob Lord of Sparks, Nevada, owner of a Mr. Electric franchise, which specializes in the sales and installation of electrical systems and accessories.

And what do you get for your hard-earned 1,500 bucks? Lord is bullish on a technology by Lutron called RadioRA, which uses radio frequency signals to control lighting throughout the home. "It's a simple retrofit upgrade that can benefit almost anyone," explains Lord. With RadioRA, homeowners can control lighting from anywhere in their home, or even in their car, within about 75 feet of the house. "I have mine set up so that my garage door opener turns on my lights," says Lord. Homeowners can also arrange a "command center" that allows them to operate lighting from, say, the bedroom. This creates an extra level of security by enabling homeowners to turn on lights from the bedroom, and it can save energy by ensuring that lights aren't left burning needlessly. If you don't want the same amount and type of light for reading as for watching a movie, RadioRA can also be programmed to create different "lighting scenes" for individual rooms and activities that can be recalled at the touch of a button.

Lord also likes RadioRA because it's an easy system to demonstrate to potential customers. "We can set up a demo so customers can actually see what they're getting," says Lord. "This is really important because it can be very hard to accurately describe what automation will do. Without good demos, people actually tend to overbuy and end up with more than they need. We really believe that even though you're dealing with a high-tech product, simplicity is a crucial component."

Of course, home tech is not limited to lighting systems, as Bob Hetherington, the founder of hometoys.com, will gladly tell you. "Home theater and entertainment systems are the buzz these days," says Hetherington, an avowed tech head. "There are flat-panel screens everywhere, digital video recorders like TiVo, multiroom video and audio systems, media servers, and, of course, Microsoft's Media Center Edition. And we can't forget Voice over Internet Protocol (commonly known as VoIP) phone service. It's a killer, and it's going to rock the communications industry in the next few years."

In fact, says Hetherington, the convergence of multiple technologies for the home has made the familiar term "smart home" a bit meaningless. "These days, I think we need to talk more about smart-home owners," says Hetherington. "The smart-home owner will have the features that suit his or her lifestyle and make it easier to enjoy that lifestyle. For some, this is entertainment systems; for others, it may be lighting control and security."

So how does one become a smart-home owner, particularly in a climate of change that has seen VoIP go from off-the-radar to poised-to-take-over-the-world in all of about 18 months, a trajectory that even Hetherington didn't see coming? Despite the high-tech subject matter, potential buyers will need to do some good old-fashioned low-tech studying to determine what technologies — and what form of those technologies — are right for them. "Spend plenty of time researching the technologies that are available and which ones are of interest to you," suggests Hetherington (mrelectric.com and hometoys.com are useful resources). "Use the Internet for background, and then talk to a systems integrator about your specific needs and wants." Remember Lord's advice: Many homeowners actually install more, and more complicated, technologies than they actually need and end up virtual prisoners to their so-called "smart house."

As daunting as it may seem, it's important to consider and prepare for what the future may bring, particularly if you're starting from the basement-up with a new house. Basic home systems that deserve careful thought include entertainment, security, communications (telephones, intercoms, etc.), computer, lighting and appliance control, and energy systems, including heating, cooling, and hot water systems. It's a long list, but preparations can be as simple as adding "wire, wire, and more wire," as Hetherington puts it. "Even as wireless technologies improve, you can't go wrong installing wire," he says. "It's cheap, so if you never use it, you won't have wasted much money. And if you do want it, it'll be there already, eliminating some potentially costly renovations."

Another leading concern among homeowners is the feverish pace with which home technology develops. It doesn't take a very smart homeowner to wonder if the technology purchased today will be obsolete tomorrow. It's one thing to invest in a $1,000 computer that has a life span better measured in months than years; it's entirely another to build or renovate your home around technologies that can seemingly change with the wind. Hetherington agrees that this is a valid issue, but says it shouldn't stop you from installing the technologies that can help you live better today. "Yes, there will be more and better technologies in the future. But you can say that about almost anything in your home: kitchen appliances, carpeting, furniture, and on and on." Rather than dwelling on what the future might or might not bring, Hetherington suggests living and shopping in the present. "If you install a system that does what you want it to do, then you have succeeded. If you keep waiting for the future, it will never come."

Lord concurs. "There's no reason for people to be intimidated by home technology. If they take the time to educate themselves and work with a specialist, they're going to find that it's actually very easy to understand. These technologies should make your life easier, not more difficult."

One, Two, Three Steps ...to a happy, high-tech home

• Research: We said it before, we'll say it again: You simply can't have too much knowledge. Use existing technology resources (namely, the Internet) to your advantage (two useful starting points: mrelectric.com and hometoys.com), but don't stop there. Ask friends, family, and co-workers which technologies work for them.
• Consult: Once you've decided which technologies are appropriate for you, schedule an appointment with an expert for systems and equipment recommendations. The more research you've done ahead of time, the better you'll be prepared for this meeting. If the expert's recommendations don't jibe with your research, ask why, and be sure the answer makes sense.
• Plan: Now that you've decided to go forward with an installation, be sure to get firm answers regarding the installation schedule. Also, ask detailed questions about the extent of renovations; this will help avoid those "what happened to the sheetrock on the bedroom wall" moments that can give even the most sedate homeowners heart palpitations.

For more information on how Mr. Electric can help with your home tech needs, call (866) mr-electric or visit mrelectric.com.

Ben Hewitt lives and writes from a solar-powered home in northern Vermont. His work appears regularly in Bicycling, Men's Journal, Outside, and Skiing.