Why Your Should Make Your Covington Home Smart

A study done by Lowe's smart home automation found that while Rosie the Robot is the futuristic feature consumers would want most from "The Jetsons," more than 70 percent of smartphone users in America just wish they could control something in their home from their mobile device. Above all, families want to make their homes safer, more energy efficient, and easier to manage.

Read this blog to learn more about it: The Best Benefits of Lighting Control In this blog, we’ll show you how Acadian Home Theater & Automation partnered with Control4 to meet all of your smart home needs in Covington, Louisiana. Here are the top three reasons why investing in smart home automation is worth it.

1. Add Convenience

Whether it’s summer and you have big plans to take a vacation, or it’s the middle of the year and work and school is quite demanding, a smart home system will help you manage your household and daily schedule. Managing a home and a family requires a lot of attention. Your Control4 system can act as a personal assistant, monitoring your property for security, keeping the house at the best temperature to save energy, and planning parties for entertaining guests. The truth is that being able to control your home with a mobile device – like your iPhone – is super convenient. And the magic of automation even allows you to take a hands-free approach since your system can think and act on its own. Simply tell it what to do using your smartphone, tablet, or in-wall touch screen with the Control4 app, and then go about the rest of your day without a second thought. Control4’s interface is also easy enough for anyone to use, from your 10-year-old to your grandmother, so you don’t have to be the only one in control.

If you're like me, you already have used your smart phone or iPad around your house to stream music, control your DirecTV DVR or remotely control some device you have at home.

Of course, in my business, we create lots of home automation and control systems from manufacturers such as Crestron, Savant and Control4.  Invariably, everyone wants their smart phone or iPad to be programmed as a control device for whichever one of these systems we install.  And honestly, those phones and pads will work VERY well for that purpose.  Now as soon as I say that, let me be quick to add that those will not operate as seamlessly for that purpose as the manufacturer's own branded mobile device.

Still, for ease of use, each of those manufacturers has created apps for those commonly owned media devices for the simple reason that the consumer is already familiar with it and generally keeps them handy.  Those apps work as well as the control system manufacturer can possibly program those phones and tablets to perform that way.  But know that there will always be some kinda glitch--some incompatibility--that the consumer will experience when using their phone or wi-fi pad to control their home automation system.

Here's a good example of what I'm talking about.  Back in the day, you either owned a PC or a Mac.  If you created a document or spreadsheet in one type of platform and emailed it to s0meone who owned the other type of platform, they couldn't even open the thing let alone read it.  One day, the industry smartened up and started creating programs so the two could talk to each other.  Now the two could interface and everyone was happy.  But anyone will tell you that the two don't work together perfectly and your sometimes encounter formatting problems in documents or linkage problems in spreadsheets.

That's the way it is marrying the popular smart technologies with automated systems.  They WILL work and will be quite enjoyable when they do.  But for best results, use the mobile device designed for the product.

What is the magic that makes home automation work so spectacularly?  Well, it has about as much "magic" as Disney's Magic Kingdom does.  In other words, its really huge amounts of science, engineering and technology operating at breathless speed!

If you've ever seen a home automation "control system" at work, its all "oohs and ahs!"  Maybe it works like this:

You press a button that you named "Good Morning."  At that one touch, your bathroom vanity lights and heater turn on to a pre-set level just right for you, your dressing room light turns on, shades slowly rise to let in morning light, interior lights gently fade on, your preferred morning show turns on so you can catch your favorite music or else the morning headlines and your security system is disarmed so you can step out onto the back patio without having to squint at a keypad.

What's going on here?  The brain of the control system (the CPU) recognizes the button you pressed and instantly processes complex commands to activate specific strings of code simultaneously to each of the sub-systems (lighting, climate control, motorized shades, security, etc.) telling them what to do nearly instantly.

Now each manufacturer of their respective systems provides an app for their product.  But consider the following.

How to Customize Your Baton Rouge Home with Smart Home Automation Scenes

You may think that having a smart home is all about the convenience factor—controlling your house with a mobile device so you can focus on the important parts of your life. While that’s true, smart home automation is also about creating unique experiences. Yes, it’s quite nice to be able to turn the lights on and off with your phone. However, how do you create the right environment for an important dinner party with your boss using smart controls? In this blog, we’ll explain the concept of ‘smart home scenes’ and how you can use them to automate different events in your Baton Rouge, LA home.

Gain Comfort and Peace of Mind with Lighting Automation 

What would it be like to have complete hands-off control of your home’s lighting? You may be envisioning a smart assistant you command to dim the lights or turn them on and off. What we have in mind goes way beyond that. We’re talking about lighting that completely anticipates your needs in your Tampa, FL, home and adjusts throughout the day without you having to worry about a thing. 

That’s what Lutron lighting automation accomplishes by combining personalized lighting scenes with schedules and sensors. Below we highlight some of the most common ways clients use automation to light their homes. 

QMotion Fabric Selections for Your New Orleans Property

Often families become pre-occupied with the way their curtains look, including the pattern, color, and style. However, there are other aspects to consider, including the openness factor, UV-ray prevention, and material quality. These properties will help your family save energy and still allow you to enjoy the beauty of your shades. Read this fabric selection guide to get a better understanding of all the items to consider when you purchase motorized shades for your New Orleans, LA home.

SEE ALSO: 3 Reasons Motorized Shades are Worth Your Investment Fabric Types Solar shades are commonly used to block out the sun’s UV rays to protect furniture and keep the home cool. They can reduce your cooling costs during the year by keeping out the heat and also lessen your need for artificial lighting. QMotion has a new fabric type called KOOLBLACK, which is a dark fabric that reflects the sun’s rays instead of absorbing them. By reflecting the light, the KOOLBLACK shades reduce heat gain and save energy. They also give you more visibility so you can see outside. KOOLBLACK shades are ideal for work environments and for the home too.

Fabric Color Light fabrics are ideal for common areas, like living rooms and kitchens. They reflect a high percentage of light to keep out heat, while still preserving natural light to reduce the need for artificial light. Dark color fabrics don’t let as much light in through the window but increase the exterior visibility during daylight hours. So if you want to see outside, pick a darker color fabric. Dark fabric colors are ideal for media rooms or home theaters to reduce glare on the screen as well. They can also be used in bedrooms to ensure privacy.

Openness Factor The openness factor refers to the tightness of the weave of your shade fabric, which determines how much you can see through it. A blackout shade, for example, would have an openness factor of 0% because you can’t see anything through it. Sheer fabrics, on the other hand, let you see outside, but the tradeoff is that they let more light and heat inside your home. If you choose a shade with an openness factor of 1%, 99% of the UV light is blocked. Though it will be harder to see out of them you will conserve more energy. If you pick a sheer fabric, keep in mind that people may be able to see inside your home at night. So when you get started choosing your motorized shade fabric, make sure you take the openness factor into account.

Dual Shades Yes, there are many different types of shade fabrics, but you don’t necessarily have to choose just one for every room. Double roller applications let you have the benefits of both shade types – sheer and blackout. Hit your remote control or button on your mobile app and the blackout shade will drop down for a movie. Then, later on, change it and lower the sheer shade so you can read a book in a bright, sunlit room but still stay cool.

2014 could very well be the year home automation comes into its own.

One writer in his blog listed six good reasons he believes 2014 is the break-away year for home automation.  But what impact will that have on homeowners in general?

First, the marketplace changes dramatically when people go beyond having heard of a technology to actually grasping what it is AND its benefit!  Due to mass marketing, people have seen commercials about being away on vacation and remember they didn't change their thermostat settings, so the actor in the commercial simply does so on his phone.  Or else its the one where they can't remember if they locked the house and--again--casually do so on their phone or tablet.  As a result, the public is beginning to understand that is an example of what home automation (AKA smart homes) is about.  John Q. Public, therefore, now gets both what home automation is and also why it can add security to our lives.  Smart technology is found in our phones, homes and even cars (see our post on smart car technology here!).

Second, as people are understanding the value of home automation, they realize its something they want for themselves.  Remember in the early days of the internet when travelers wanted internet access in their rooms and had to pay a small fee for it?  Hotels quickly learned they could entice guests with "free wi-fi access."  That's because they understood the value of offering that amenity to their guests.  Before you knew it, it seemed wi-fi was everywhere.

That might be just how home automation takes off.  What has been a growing technology in recent years may just about mushroom into popularity the way desktop computers gave way to laptops and tablets

Update Your Covington Property with Smart Surveillance & Security Many families in the Covington, Louisiana area travel around the holidays, which means empty houses and abundant opportunities for break-ins. So how do you keep your home safe while you are away? Today’s surveillance cameras give you a lot of options for monitoring your home. You may be surprised by all of the advanced features security and surveillance systems offer your family. In this blog, we’ll cover some of those finer details on what you can do with security cameras. With a lot of knowledge at your side, you’ll be confident in protecting your home and can also find new ways to use them for everyday activities.

Luma Surveillance Cameras Acadian uses Snap AV’s line of Luma surveillance cameras for a number of reasons. First, their analog and IP systems give you easy-to-use controls. When you have days’ worth of video footage, it can be difficult finding the image you are looking for. With the Luma user interface you can playback video, fast forward, snip pieces of video and capture screen shots with just a click or a tap. Initially the interface presents multiple camera views in a multi-window format. But you can easily change this and make one specific camera angle a full screen on your desktop or mobile device. A colored line in the timeline of the video at the bottom of the screen indicates a unique event. So if you arrived home at 5 p.m., the surveillance camera hanging above your garage will mark that event in the timeline. All you have to do is press “watch live video” to switch back to video streaming in real time. If you want to find even older recordings, click the search icon and choose from a list of entries organized by date and time.

Types of Surveillance Cameras When you hear the words NVR and DVR you might get confused, but they simply mean Network Video Recorder and Digital Video Recorder. The Network Video Recorder records IP cameras that are transmitted with a network cable just like your computer. The cameras connect with a network switch or router, whereas a DVR transmits video using a coax cable. Why does this matter? Analog cameras, or DVRs, can be beneficial for plug and play-type jobs where the home simply needs an update rather than a brand new installation. If you purchased a home with a wiring infrastructure in place or CCTVs this may be a beneficial and cost-effective solution. However, if you are installing a surveillance system for the first time in your house, a NVR may be a better choice. IP cameras allow for more flexibility as to how and where video footage is recorded since there’s no transfer between analog video to digital. IP cameras also offer higher resolution images.

Luma IP cameras give you a lot of quality features, like high-definition video and sending alerts via email or text. The Luma Surveillance 700 series IP outdoor camera for example offers an ultra-high resolution 4 MP digital image with motorized zoom and focus. They have cameras suited for wide angle views like monitoring a back yard, and for closer proximities, such as screening visitors at the front door. You can adjust the camera from your computer, using the zoom and focus controls on the interface.

The 700 series cameras also allow you to capture movement based on precise settings. For example, you can create an alert that gets triggered when a vehicle crosses a specific point on your driveway. These advanced features let you select up to eight target areas in a grid view using a click and drag of the mouse.

Make life easier around your New Orleans home with new automation technology

 As more and more technology finds its way into our lives, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by all the different devices in our homes. Our TVs, speakers, computers, gaming consoles, phones, tablets and even some appliances are all smart devices now, delivering a constant stream of notifications, feedback and information.

What if there was a way to link devices into one cohesive network you could control simply from one device anywhere in your home? This is the promise of home automation, particularly smart home control. With the right smart home control system, simplify everyday chores around your New Orleans home and enjoy a more relaxed, more comfortable lifestyle.

Here are five devices that can be linked to a control system to give you control over your home technology again.

SEE ALSO: Home Automation System Trends to Watch for in 2019 

MOTORIZED SHADES

Adjusting your home’s shades may not be a physically daunting task, but it is time-consuming. Motorized shades can be controlled remotely from your bed or couch, so you don’t have to get up to adjust them all the time. You can also program your shades to adjust themselves automatically based on a premade schedule or by following the sun’s path through the sky.

Keep your display, speakers and other components out of sight for a cleaner look for your living spaces

 Despite the stunning images and spectacular sound offered by high-end home A/V systems, oversized TVs and standing speakers aren’t the most appealing things to look at. Not to mention all the space they can take up that could be put to better use.

If you’ve been looking for a way to clean up your home’s interior design without throwing out your expensive TV and speakers, there’s no need to stress. With the latest hidden A/V technology, it’s easier than ever to keep your equipment out of sight. In some cases, your components may not even need to be seen at all. Read on to see how easy it is to set up a hidden home audio-video system in your Baton Rouge, LA, home.

SEE ALSO: Why Choose Acadian For Your Home Theater Installation?

HIDING YOUR TV

Whether you’ve installed a screen and projector in your home theater or have a flat screen TV, your display is the largest component of your home A/V system. This makes it the hardest piece to conceal. For homeowners who’ve opted for a projector, just roll the screen up when it’s not in use. If you’re looking for a new display that’s easy to hide, LG’s Signature OLED TV R9 features a screen that rolls down into the base.

These solutions won’t work for homeowners with large, bulky displays, though. But don’t despair if you’re in this situation; there are still ways to hide your TV and get a more streamlined look for your home.

Add some personality to your home theater while streamlining controls and more with these home theater design tips for Baton Rouge residents

 At Acadian Home Theater & Automation, we believe the smart technology in your home should reflect your lifestyle and needs. Nobody’s home is the same as anyone else’s, and your home automation system should be just as unique.

That principle extends to your home theater as well. Everyone has their favorite movies and genres, so your home theater should be just as personal. Coming up with ways to make your home theater stand out can be difficult, so we put together this list of tips to help Baton Rouge, LA, residents differentiate their home theater design from that of their neighbors.

SEE ALSO: Must-Have Upgrades for a Superior Home TheaterHIDDEN SPEAKERS AND TVSpeaker and home theater display technology has evolved rapidly in recent years, making it simpler to get higher performance from more smaller devices. In terms of home theater design, using smaller devices lets you take your speakers and display off the floor, freeing up floor space and removing elements that could detract from your aesthetic.

In-wall or in-ceiling speakers are popular options, which helps create a 3-D soundscape while giving you a cleaner look for your theater. As for your display, you can mount flat-screen TVs behind a retractable wall panel or install specially made furniture that hides your TV until you’re ready to watch something. Another option is to install a projector and screen, which gives you more of a theater feel as well as letting you hide your display by rolling up the screen when it’s not in use.

LIGHTING CONTROLLighting control makes your home theater easier to manage as well as providing design benefits. Lighting control systems utilize dimmers instead of on/off switches, giving you much more control over the ambiance in your home theater. Complete darkness can enhance the tension while you watch your favorite slasher movie. Alternatively, you can make things a bit brighter if you’re watching a children’s movie with your family. Lastly, lighting control lets you save time by creating and saving presets.

Safeguard Your Mandeville Property with Smart Home Control

 It’s 3 AM and you just heard a window break downstairs. You get out of bed and call the police, but how do you make sure your family is safe from an intruder while waiting for the authorities to arrive?

A home security system can keep you from having to deal with this nightmare situation, and Control4 automation offers a suite of services to safeguard your property.

From smart lighting to locks and sensors to security cameras, Control4 technology helps you protect your family with an easy-to-use centralized control system. Read on to learn about the features that make Control4 a vital addition to your Mandeville home.

 SEE ALSO: What Are the Best Technologies To Include In Your Home Security System? 

Arm Locks and Sensors

Concerned about all your doors being locked when you go to bed at night? Use your Control4 app to check their status from bed and remotely lock any that haven’t been secured.

Our Security and Surveillance Solutions Protect Every Aspect of Your Louisiana Home

Installing a security and surveillance system seems to be fairly straightforward, but perhaps you have not considered the many different ways you can use it in your everyday life. Security alarms and cameras aren’t just about protecting your home in the Baton Rouge, LA area; it’s also about simplifying your day-to-day tasks and keeping an eye on everyone in your house – even the dog! Continue reading to discover all the benefits of installing one of our systems in your house.

SEE ALSO: Security & Surveillance Solutions for Your Baton Rouge Home

Baby Cam, or Nanny Cam

When there is a baby in the house, there is nothing more important than making sure the little boy or girl is taken care of. When they are that small, they need constant attention and a watchful eye to make sure nothing goes wrong. We have small cameras that are most appropriate for capturing your little one 24-7. You will be able to check in on him or her at any time through your mobile device or computer. The video is in color and crystal clear so you can see even the smallest movements. Of course, we have audio tied to it as well so you can hear if the baby is crying. Our cameras are also wonderful for keeping an eye on the nanny too so you can observe how they handle your kids.

Pet Care

Screen Visitors

Our goal is to help you stay connected with every member of your family and make sure they are safe at all times. While safety and security are top priories when installing these systems, we like to assure you that there are many other ways you can take advantage of the technology too. Do you need an update, a new install, or a repair? Call us or message us online!

Different Ways to Access Your Lighting Control System

Lighting control is one of the best features of home automation because it’s convenient, helps you save energy, and makes your Covington, Louisiana home look beautiful. While there are a lot of practical benefits, such as saving money on your utility bills, there’s also the benefit of being able to control your lights different ways. You get to decide how you want to brighten or dim your house. Continue reading to learn more.

SEE ALSO: How to Incorporate Lighting into Your Interior DesignDimmers: Dimmers allow you to raise or lower the lighting to varying degrees, instead of simply turning the lights completely on or off. Years ago, dimmers typically were round knobs on the wall that you would turn to the right or left. However, today we have more sophisticated controls to change lighting levels. Lutron for example, has a new LED lighting strip, called the Grafik T, which brightens as you raise the lights to a high level and darkens as they go down low. The lighting strip comes on with just the touch of your finger. We also have up and down buttons that you press to change the setting.

Keypads: Another way to control your lights is through custom keypads on the wall. These keypads can be tailored to any home automation scene you like. For example, you could list, “All on,” “All off,” “Movie,” Good Morning” and “Goodnight” on the keypad in your kitchen. And, every keypad could be different in every room of your home for different functions. Imagine walking out the door in the morning for work and simply pressing “All off”.  The best part about the keypads is that you never have to guess which switch does what; they are all labeled.

Mobile App: Having control keypads in your home is a must have for quick and easy access while you’re hanging around the house, but mobile apps take your control system a step further and let you access your lighting from any location in the world. With a strong network and a smart home app on your phone, you turn off any light in the house. Download the mobile app on your smartphone, tablet, or even your smart watch to manage the features of your home.

Occupancy Sensors: These sensors allow you to turn on your lights just by walking into an area. Sensors are installed at key points on the walls so as soon as you go into a room, the lights come on. When you leave, they go off. This technology particularly helps you save energy because you don’t have to worry about remembering to turn the light off when to leave the room. Your smart home does it for you.

Protect Your Louisiana Home 24/7 with Security and Surveillance TechnologyAccording to the FBI, burglaries dropped about 8 percent in 2015. While that is encouraging news to hear, thousands of burglaries are still happening all over the country, including Lafayette, Louisiana. Last year there were about 1,500,000 break-ins and three-quarters of them happened in residential neighborhoods. While we certainly do not aim to create fear and anxiety among homeowners, this reality should cause families to consider how effective their security systems really are. Continue reading to discover three ways to prevent break-ins with security and surveillance systems.

Secure All EntrancesBurglars first look for unsecured entrances like open doors or windows. One in three residential burglaries is simply an unlawful entry, meaning the person has entered the home through an unsecured window, door, or other opening. While many of us do our best to make sure every door is locked, there are times when we simply forget. A smart security system, smart locks, and sensors can help prevent these errors. Firstly, by installing a sophisticated security system in your smart home, you’ll receive alerts on your phone if a door is left open or unlocked. With smart locks in place, you can then immediately fix the problem by locking the door via an app on your mobile device. If the door is wide open, you’ll at least know it so you can rush home and close it. Additionally, window sensors alert you if someone smashes it or if it’s left open as well.

Outsmart Your EnemyBurglars also wait for the house to be empty before they strike. To reduce their chances of being detected, they work similar hours as you. Therefore, most break-ins occur during daytime hours when homes are vacant and most vulnerable. One way to confront this is to create a mockupancy setting that makes it seem as if someone is home when in reality no one is there. Create a scene using your Control4 smart home system to make the shades rise at various times, the lights turn on and off and even leave the TV or music running to make it sound like people are inside. If the perpetrator still makes an attempt at robbery, you’ll still be able to catch him or her in the act with your surveillance cameras. Those smart cameras will also immediately let you know that someone is inside because they detect movement.

Look IntimidatingMany animals use an intimidation strategy to protect themselves. For example, the porcupine raises its quills to make itself look bigger and more deadly. You can use this tactic as well by sending the message to intruders that they are being watched. Sixty percent of burglars will go elsewhere if they see a security system is in place. Studies report that if burglars discover a security system even during a break-in, they will leave immediately. Just having a security and surveillance system in place will help protect your valuables and loved ones.

To stay safe during this holiday season and all year long, contact us online for a smart security installation.

Enjoy Premium Audiovisuals in Your Lafayette, LA Home
Just 20 years ago, all we had was cable TV – and there weren’t over 500 channels. Now we have streaming services like Netflix and Hulu, digital movie servers and rental platforms, and more. The music world has also expanded and evolved; you don’t have to buy CDs anymore to hear the newest songs. You can stream them using free platforms like Spotify and Pandora, or subscribe to hi-fi music platforms such as Tidal and Deezer. With so many sources of audio and video content, how do you stay organized? That’s where our team comes in. Acadian Home Theater & Automation can help you organize all of those sources in your Lafayette, Louisiana home, keep messy cords hidden, and streamline your controls into one easy-to-use solution. Keep reading to discover the benefits of a whole house audio/video system.



SEE ALSO: What It’s Really Like to Live in a Smart Home in New Orleans

1. Maintain the Beauty of Your Home

If you have TVs in every room of your home, the entertainment stations are bound to get messy. Blu-ray players, soundbars, video game consoles and more clutter up the room and can be an eyesore. To create a beautiful interior design, you need a professional to intricately hide all of the equipment. We can install the speakers in the walls and ceilings, even make them completely invisible; encase the TV in a piece of stylish furniture or install a motorized lift in the ceiling; and keep all of the additional equipment in a closet. With our expert wiring and programming, we can place all of the hardware in a hidden location, and then all you need is a tablet, touch pad or phone to change the channels.

2. Simplify Your Controls

Smart home automation is all about uniting different technologies so that you can easily control them with one solution. We have smart remotes that can not only access all of your sources and channels, but can control the lights, shades, and even the intercom system. Or, you can simply place a tablet on the coffee table and open an app to set your scene for a movie or video game session.

With a whole house music system, you can unite all of your music – including your iTunes, personal CD collections, and Internet sources – then easily play any song you want. Beautiful album cover art displays as the song plays. You can create playlists and then marry them with other actions, like dimming the lights, to create scenes. Choose a name, like, “Sunday Funday” and then recall the same playlist whenever you like. You’ll never get frustrated trying to figure out the remote; even grandma can use it. Our control systems are intuitive and simple to navigate. So you can throw away all those remotes and just use one simple control device.