Green Home Automation - Leeds, Yorkshire

Automation Off-set by Environmental Consience
For our brief, the client wanted HD video and very high quality music distributed throughout the home, integrated lighting controll and a high quality cinema room.
The client’s other major consideration was the ecological impact of the project, and he wanted to incorporate several eco-technologies into his new house. He requested a ground source heat transfer system, capable not only of heating the house, but of cooling it in the summer. He also wanted a rain water collection system and to have intelligent rain sensitive automatic windows.

A simple controll system was clearly must and demonstrations of the Integrated Crestron system in Finite Solutions Show House sparkd the clients interest and the desire for a fully integrated home with  the highest of entertainment systems with the most minumal uses of energy was born.

Family Friendly
The client was also very keen that technologies in the house should be accessible to all the family, and requested that two levels of control could be provided; a basic robust system for TVs and music around the home for his children, and an advanced yet simple to operate Crestron control system for the HVAC and security as well as envirnmental systems.

High Speed Data Network Backbone
For the AV and control requirements of this major project Finite Solutions designed and installed a comprehensive gigabit ethernet network throughout the property for the provision of  high-quality audio distribution plus communication with the various environmental systems, sensors and controllers. Through this network the entire house could comunicate with itself via our systems plus allow off site monitering for srvcing by ourselves and by the client for controll on his iPhone running our Crestron program when he was abroad should he require.

Initialy the level of data network specified was considered excessve by the clients but due to the demands of the system on the data network  a simple system can simple not reliably handle this degree of traffic and we felt we had to insist that he trust us at design stage. Ultimately the system is solidy reliable and robust due to the quality of tits comunication backbone which is the data network!

Discreet High Quality Sound
In order for Finite to get the very best music quality a Kaleidescape Music and Movie server was installed  feeding in to custom made DACs  for use on the digital outputs and Rotel power amps driving Anthony Gallo , linn and B&W speakers. The final result is very high quality sound, and an attractive, discreet finish that even the family youngest children can use

HD Throughout the Home
The high defintion video distribution carries multiple HD Virgin media boxes and Kaliedescape DVD server pictures round the house, visible in all rooms with TVs which vary from Samsung to Loewe in quality. The sophistication of control varies from room to room, from Universal MX-900 simple remotes in the children’s rooms to a Crestron control system in the cinema and kitchen areas.

Lounge Mixed Use Lounge Cinema Room
Within the cinema area a 65" LED screen and Sim2 HT3000 full HD DLP projector which is hidden when not in use on a projector lift and activated on an electric drop down screen. An Arcam FMJ 7.1 audio system runs through a B&W speaker system for a room used day in and day out for general Tv watching and night time movies.

Intelligent Lighting Control
As lighting was a major requirement, the house uses a Niko centralised lighting control system, with mood lighting throughout. Features such as an “All off” button next to the front door and master bed to allow the lights to be switched off when leaving the home  or going to sleep - saving time and energy. Holiday modes have also been set to simulate presence within the home when the family are away, and certain indoor and outdoor lights turn off automatically during daylight hours, managed by a daylight time clock.

The lighting design also completed by Finite Solutions incorproated considerable amounts of LED and low voltage lighting where suitable to reduce energy consumption but where conventional bulbs wewre required teh dimmming system limits the maximum light level to 85% of max which is inpercievable for our client yet save around 25% of the energy uses these fittings would use were then on a full brightness constantly.

Cutting Edge Environmental Technology
Bearing in mind the environmental concerns, HVAC and greywater were issues to be addressed. Finite acted as consultants at the initial design stage for all the environmental features to ensure they could be designed in such a way that would not only be environmentally effective, but also so that they would integrate fully with the control system.

Ultimately ground sound heating was linked to a sensible heat heating control system which ensures very low room and water heating bills which is enhanced still further via integration to the Crestron control system which allows the client to see the temperature in every room and turn off in an instant rooms not required for day to day use, or turn on the system to warm up the house on his return from holiday.

Energy monitors were linked to the mains power, lighting and AV system which allows the client to pick up his Crestron touch screen panels or his Crestron linked iPas to see how much energy the house is using and turn off rooms, systems and even the entire property from his armchair so he can ensure he only uses the energy he is comfortable with. The contribution of roof mounted solar panells can also be viewed on the touchscreen to evalute there performance day to day.

Due to the sheer number of system Finite Solutions were integrating with our weekly site meeting with the other contractors, architects and designer were essential, as was the production of our coordinated drawings which allowed aparties to understand how and where there equipment should be installed thus avoiding any delyas or mistakes on site. Ultimately a very complex project range mostly very smoothly and time thanks to the upfront in advance of build effort of all parties.

Bespoke Cabinitery
As much of the equipment was to be installed within bespoke cabinetry around the house, Finite needed to take into careful consideration placement of power and data sockets within the cabinets. A good working relationship with the cabinet makers and electricians and clear concise documentation was vital to the success of this process.

But Not Without Challenges...
As in most of Finite’s installations the distribution equipment is housed in a central comms room. In the Uffuzzi House the room is also the central plant room for certain water valves, and at quite a late stage of the installation there was a major water leak caused by a burst pipe, flooding the room, including its equipment, to the point of it being unusable. All of the AV kit in the comms room needed to be replaced, and in the case of the custom made audio DACs, rebuilt.

Despite the setbacks, Finite Solutions managed to create a truly balanced home, maintaining the need for hi-quality entertainment with environmentally friendly solutions, to ensure the property is as green as it is a true technological haven.