As a provider of home automation control systems and home theater solutions for commercial and residential clients, one of the largest issues we come up against is making numerous components and systems work together – integration. Ultimately, it is our job as integrators to provide the best customized solutions for our clients, making complex components, software, and systems work together harmoniously in a simple way. Each client has different needs and requirements for their specific systems, and at Certified Connection, we aim to cater to each and every client to suit their exact needs.
Customized home automation and/or home theater systems often require that we pull from the top-of-line components available in the market in order to provide the best system for each client. This means making products from manufacturers x, y, and z work together event though they may have different operating systems or software.
For example, when we work with a customer to install a home automation solution with lighting control and environmental controls, that customer wants to and should be able to access all of these controls from one device, whether it’s a universal remote, an iPad, or a smartphone device.
Manufacturers often claim that certain components will work together seamlessly or provide software or modules that are intended to allow them to work together. But in reality, and unfortunately, this may not be the case – which makes our job even more difficult.
Of course, the companies that provide specific components have proprietary systems, which is what keeps them on the cutting edge and keeps them at the front of the market. But it seems that there could be and should be some common ground from which they can work together to provide more easily integratable components and systems to benefit integrators and ultimately their customers. If a source vendor claims to have patches or modules that integrate components with another company’s components, they should be tested and tested again to make sure they truly work.
As integrators, we want to be able to provide the best products and services to our customers, giving them the best seamless, high-end systems. It would benefit everyone if source vendors could figure out a way that we could all just get along.
Certified Connection is the premier provider of custom-designed home control systems and home theaters to residential and commercial customers. For more than 10 years, Certified Connection has served homeowners and businesses in and around Boston, throughout the South Shore, and the entire Cape.
By: Certified Connection
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Eytan Vestin of Certified Connection was recently appointed to the Jewish National Fund (JNF) New England Board of Directors. The JNF, founded in 1901, is an organization involved in supporting Israel through education, community activism, and ecology. Over the past century, the organization has worked to educate people about Israel and the environment. It also is proud that it has planted 250 million trees, built more than 200 reservoirs and dams, developed more than 250,000 acres of land, and created more than 1,000 parks. All of these projects have helped more than 1,000 different communities.
Eytan is proud to be part of this organization and is excited to further its cause as a member of the board.
Certified Connection is the premier provider of custom-designed home control systems and home theaters to residential and commercial customers. For more than 10 years, Certified Connection has served homeowners and businesses in and around Boston, throughout the South Shore, and the entire Cape.
By: Certified Connection
Everyone knows making cosmetic improvements to your home can increase the value of your home, whether it’s fresh landscaping, granite counter tops, or stainless steel appliances. These days, savvy homebuyers are also looking for more energy efficient homes.
A recent article on ECNmag.com, “Building Value with Energy-Saving Upgrades in Homes and Businesses,” discusses how “improving the energy performance of your home can make it more comfortable and attractive, increase its value, and help you save money on your energy bills.”
These days adding energy-saving components in your home, such as:
- Appliances
- Windows and doors
- Insulation
- Heating and cooling equipment
- Automated thermostats
can increase the value of your home and help attract more potential buyers.
According to the article, the Department of Energy recently announced a partnership with The Appraisal Foundation that will provide information about energy-efficiency and building performance information for commercial buildings. Through this partnership, appraisers will have access to the information they need to evaluate energy performance for building appraisals. It will help improve the availability of tools and data for appraisers so that they can accurately incorporate the value of energy-efficiency upgrades into a building’s appraisal.
Other additions that can help you save money on energy bills and potentially increase the value of your home are:
- Installing home lighting control or other home control systems to manage when home electronics are switched on and off.
- Installing energy monitors to monitor total energy consumption throughout the day, week, month, or year.
Check out the Energy Savers website for additional information on ways to save energy in your home, vehicle, or workplace.
This post is written in collaboration with our friends at Present Value LLC, a worldwide international appraisal and advisory company that provides a range of professional services such as Certified Machinery and Equipment Appraisals, Inventory Appraisals, Asset Verification Services, Business Valuations, and Real Estate Appraisals.
Certified Connection is the premier provider of custom-designed home control systems and home theaters to residential and commercial customers. For more than 10 years, Certified Connection has served homeowners and businesses in and around Boston, throughout the South Shore, and the entire Cape.
By: Certified Connection
Additional Reading:
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Home Automation: Cool and Cost Effective
The Energy Detective (TED)
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Lower Energy Costs and Increase the Value of Your Home by Making it More Energy Efficient A recent article on ECNmag.com, “Building Value with Energy-Saving Upgrades in Homes and Businesses,” discusses how “improving the energy performance of your home can make it more comfortable and attractive, increase its value, and help you save money on [...]
If you thought Blu-Ray was the last color you’d be hearing about with regard to your home entertainment, think again. The newest and most exciting color stands ready to change everything: Sony’s UltraViolet. UltraViolet arrived on the market recently without a whole lot of fanfare. For some time, announcements of new Sony Pictures movies or [...]
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