Smart Switch: Intelligent Lighting Systems for Sustainability

Lighting is a significant contributor to a building's overall energy consumption. However, smart lighting, which combines intelligence based on IoT, sensors, and energy-efficient sources, can actually lower the amount of energy consumed by lighting. Smart lighting has long been popular in commercial and industrial settings over the years, focussing on energy conservation. 

More pocket-friendly solutions are now catching up with users in residential environments beyond the apparent benefit of significant energy savings, such as creating a comfortable environment and preserving user wellness and convenience, thanks to technological advancements.

Have you ever wondered what type of lighting is the most environmentally friendly? Let us dive into the comprehensive ways smart lighting systems can cut down on electricity usage and are good for your pocket:

Daylight Sensors and Dimmers

Smart lighting solutions can alter lighting based on available daylight in addition to user occupancy. These photo-sensors prevent lights from turning on when there's ample natural light. As a result, you won't have to worry about turning off your lights constantly. Plus, this also means higher energy savings. Additionally, daylight controls can be integrated with dimmers, usually used to increase a room's visual appeal. However, it can provide multi-faceted benefits like helping you save money on your power bill and reducing electricity consumption. In addition, dimmers are proven to extend the life of your lights because they reduce the flow of electricity to the bulb and allow lights to operate with lower power outputs.

To improve energy savings, consumers can combine light dimmers with other controls such as motorised blinds and other window coverings. These lighting systems adjust light intensity according to space conditions and are a promising solution in an age where sustainable solutions are becoming more important.

Smart Occupancy Sensors

Sensors that detect indoor activity in a specific area are called occupancy sensors. They save energy by turning lights off or limiting light output when unoccupied space. Additionally, they enhance your experience by turning the lights on automatically when someone enters a room. Smart Sensors that respond to occupancy have contributed towards making automation solutions more intuitive and sophisticated. As a result, much of the smart home experience revolves around these sensors. 

Furthermore, increasing the performance of smart homes and eliminating clutter by simplifying various functions, occupancy sensors help streamline lighting solutions and the corresponding energy consumption. 

Timers and Automation

Lights can be turned on and off at precise times using timers. One can automate indoor and outdoor lights with programmable digital timers, which resemble digital thermostats. They can be used in conjunction with other controls to a great effect. For example, a daylight sensor that turns lights on in the evening and a timer that shuts the lights off at a specific hour of the night may be the finest combination for aesthetic, smart lighting. Homeowners can also save energy by using timers to switch lights on and off when not at home.

Motion Sensors

Motion sensors for lighting control evolved from the initial function in home security against intruders. There is now a range of sensors that are specifically developed to control lighting for various applications. They provide an inexpensive and effective way to save energy by shutting off lights as per occupancy. 

Smart Window Treatments

Connecting motorised blinds to a smart home hub can help save energy by allowing the blinds to react independently to readings from temperature and sunlight sensors that are also linked to the smart hub. As a result, the blinds will know when to close during the hottest portion of the day to save energy and when to open during a sunny winter day to enable the sun to heat a room naturally.

Up to 50% of your home's heating and cooling energy go waste if you don't use energy-efficient window treatments. Thus, smart window treatments bring down lighting costs and significantly optimise the heating/cooling requirements of a space.

Personalisation and Flexibility

To get the most of your smart lighting systems it is best to have them tailor-made to your needs. Integrate various smart home components to get efficient results. All of the above components can be brought together to optimise consumption. These include light dimmers, timers, sensors, in combination with other automation controls such as motorised blinds and other window treatments, help to reduce carbon emissions by maximising the use of natural light and surrounding conditions to meet the energy demands as needed. 

We need to consume resources more efficiently to meet the needs of a growing population. Switching to intelligent lighting solutions would drastically minimise energy use. Smart lighting systems that change light intensity based on the given environment are suitable for satisfying the growing need for ecologically friendly solutions. With advancements in IoT and the growing interest in energy efficiency, a smart lighting system is a game-changer.

How to use AI to automate your commercial offices with smart devices.

 Implementing home automation and lighting control systems in commercial settings can provide numerous benefits, including improved energy efficiency, enhanced comfort and productivity for occupants, streamlined operations, and reduced maintenance costs. Here are some key considerations for deploying these systems in commercial environments:

          Energy Efficiency: Utilize smart lighting systems with occupancy sensors, daylight harvesting, and scheduling capabilities to optimize energy usage. These systems can automatically adjust lighting levels based on occupancy and natural light availability, minimizing energy waste.

                     Centralized Control: Implement centralized control systems that allow facility managers to monitor and manage lighting across the entire commercial space from a single interface. This enables convenient adjustment of lighting settings, scheduling, and troubleshooting.

                     Integration with Building Management Systems (BMS): Integrate lighting control with the building's BMS for seamless coordination with other building systems such as HVAC, security, and access control. This integration enables comprehensive building automation and optimization of energy usage.

                     Occupant Comfort and Productivity: Tailor lighting settings to enhance occupant comfort and productivity. Consider implementing circadian lighting solutions that mimic natural daylight patterns to promote well-being and maintain optimal alertness levels throughout the day.

                     Personalization: Offer customizable lighting settings for individual workspaces or areas within the commercial building. Employees may have preferences for different lighting levels or color temperatures based on their tasks or personal preferences.

                     Task Lighting: Implement task-specific lighting solutions in areas where precision tasks are performed, such as offices, laboratories, or manufacturing facilities. Task lighting  can improve visibility and reduce eye strain, enhancing productivity and accuracy.

                     Maintenance Monitoring and Alerts: Deploy smart sensors and monitoring systems to track the health and performance of lighting fixtures. Proactive maintenance alerts can help identify issues early, minimize downtime, and extend the lifespan of lighting equipment.

                     Integration with Occupancy Tracking Systems: Integrate lighting control with occupancy tracking systems to gather data on space utilization patterns. This Information can inform space planning decisions, optimize resource allocation, and identify opportunities for efficiency improvements.

                     Scalability and Flexibility: Choose scalable and flexible lighting control solutions that can accommodate future expansion or changes in the layout of the commercial space. Modular systems and wireless technologies can facilitate easy scalability and reconfiguration as needed.

                     Compliance and Sustainability: Ensure that lighting control systems comply with relevant building codes and sustainability standards. Look for energy-efficient lighting fixtures, controls, and automation strategies that support the organization's sustainability goals and initiatives.

By implementing home automation and lighting control solutions tailored to commercial environments, businesses can create more comfortable, efficient, and productive workspaces while also reducing operational costs and environmental impact.

 

Automation Forecast 2022: What's In, What's Out

As we enter 2022, there is plenty to unpack from the previous year in terms of smart homes, especially 

automation systems. In this post-pandemic world, traditional lighting methods are fast becoming mundane 

thanks to consumer awareness and easier availability of automation products – not to forget the added 

advantage of affordable prices. What are the automation trends that will drive the coming year and how 

feasible would these changes be for Indian homes?

Let's take a quick look at some of the most anticipated smart home automation systems trends for 2022:

Energy Efficiency

Smart Homes are designed for optimal performance by using internet-connected devices to enable remote 

monitoring and improve user experience. In 2022, we expect to see more homes getting smarter and 

energy efficient. The technological boom enables power savings, reduced usage and provides plenty of 

smart home appliances that are compatible with clean energy sources like solar energy.

Automated lighting solutions adjust lighting based on occupancy and available daylight. Light dimmers 

integrated with other controls like motorized shades and window treatments reduce carbon footprint by 

making the most of natural light and keeping the indoors cooler or warmer as per occupant requirements. 

These lighting systems alter light intensity based on room conditions and cater immensely to the 

increasing need for sustainable solutions.

Smart Sensors

Smart Sensors contribute towards making automation solutions more intuitive and sophisticated. Much of 

the smart home experience revolves around these sensors.

In addition, they increase the performance of smart homes and eliminate clutter by simplifying various 

functions. For instance, occupancy sensors switch on or switch off devices based on sensors, which 

prevents electricity wastage. An added bonus is one doesn't have to constantly worry about leaving the air 

conditioner or lights on. One can integrate these with motion sensors to activate security cameras and send 

notifications to smart phones. Similarly, smoke and carbon dioxide detectors can minimise potential fire or 

smoke hazards.

Home Theatre Systems

With homes becoming refuges and restricted access to movie theaters, customers have a newfound interest 

in owning a home theatre system. Integration of various smart home products can create the ultimate smart 

home viewing experience. 

These include a projector, screen, and surround sound, as well as lighting, motorised blinds, and other 

accessories. All home theatre components can be accessed and managed using a single device, such as a

smartphone, tablet, or remote, using automation. Reclining in the comfort of your couch or chair, one can 

simply use the smartphone to turn on the sound system and screen, browse content, adjust the volume, 

turn out the lights, and push play. Not only can automation make the functioning of the home-theatre 

system simpler, but it can enhance the cinematic experience.

Smart Home Security

Security and access control systems that combine lighting, alarm, and closed-circuit video management 

into a single interface will become more popular in the coming year. Motion sensors are projected to 

become standard features of alarm systems as they become more advanced. Integrating security provisions 

like Intrusion Detection System and IP based Video Door Phone on remote smartphone devices to 

monitor, record visitor entry and have control of electronic locks will also gain popularity.

Automation is an excellent tool for making our lives more convenient, comfortable and hassle-free. 

Saving time and increasing efficiency, these smart homes are not only for the tech-savvy but also for those 

looking for cost savings, energy efficiency, and increased security. With automation on the rise, 

improvements in IoT and innovations like the 'meta-verse', smart homes will be the new normal soon.

Home Automation Systems and Working Parents

There has been a constant evolution in man’s lifestyle, the curiosity to know more, and the aspiration for a shift in standards of living, that integrates humans with a world of technology and development. We can see how technology over the years has slowly made its way into the spaces we inhabit. The flexibility of which, can lend a helping hand to many working parents.  

The automation market of today is aiming at the absolute touch-free functioning of day-to-day activities. This revolution brought a myriad of new trends into the construction realm, which includes automated domestic help, temperatures control, facial and voice recognition, etc. Besides the fact automation that serves one’s routine, there is a rising need for integration of workspace at home. Fabricating intact communication at home, the new trends offer at-home conferences, keypad touch panels and contact of various devices, automated communication systems for a company, etc. 

From the smart clock that is automatically adjusted to one’s daily schedule to the sustainable features, these systems offer additional security and monitoring. Following are the most commonly used options available in the market : 

1. Smart Home basics

• Let’s start with the basics, with smart tv, lighting controls, and audio and video systems that can be turned on and off as per one’s need, and subsequently, a schedule can be formed for yourself and your child. Video doorbells not only sense, and alert you when someone is at the front door, but can also show you video footage of who is there and use intercom technology to talk to your visitor. Water Heaters can turn on and off based upon the time clock. Little kids can walk into the bathroom and not worry about how to turn the light switch on when the sensors turn them on automatically.
  
  

2. Automated Locks

• When your kids return home from school or if they lock themselves out of the house while you're at work, home automation systems give you the ability to unlock the door remotely. Better more, with their specific individual codes, they may gain access right away, and you'll get a notification on your phone as soon as they do. 

3. Smart Shades

• With motorized shading solutions, one can pull up or pull down shades for privacy or can be set to a schedule so that they can greet you with sunlight at the same time each morning. Smart privacy windows can be installed or a film you place over your windows. This changes from a normal window to an opaque window with zero visibility, from a remote or from your smart device. Many privacy windows also protect from harmful UV rays and work as insulators to maintain a comfortable temperature.

  

4. Saving Energy

• Kids that are too young to understand the importance of saving energy may leave fans, lights, and appliances on for longer than required. Using a home automation system makes it easy for you to handle all these controls with just a press of a button, no matter how far away you are from home. The efficiency of this system not only saves time but also helps in conserving energy. 

5. Smart Kitchens

• We often struggle with the efficiency of work that happens in our kitchens. Imagine if all the devices we use in the kitchen can be controlled and monitored from anywhere. From notifying you when the refrigerator door is left open to giving you timely updates on the load of the dishwasher or even if the stove or faucet has been left on. 

6. Smart Nurseries 

• Baby monitors incorporated with a video camera have made the life of parents stress-free. Multiple sensors when triggered send alerts to your smart device and can instantly be checked on. Whether it is a smart bed stand that acts as a baby station, and smart hub, or a changing mat that measures your baby’s weight to make sure they are properly fed, these products are changing the nursery game. A very common feature that a lot of parents use is having the maid watch over the kids at home, but with cameras that make it easy to check up and communicate with kids and the maid on your smartphone. 

7. Pet care

• Taking care of your fur-babies has been made easier than ever with smart pet care. From smart pet doors that open and close on command to the smart feeders that dispense food and water on schedule with a click on your phones. 

Further, working parents with differently-abled children can make use of home automation systems to monitor and keep track of their well-being. From a medical alert emergency button that can alert you or emergency service for immediate care, to activity-tracking that helps you schedule their food and medication on time. 

In a world where the line between work and home is blurred, it becomes quite tedious to have an organized home set-up with children around. Switching to smart homes or home automation systems can be efficient and less stressful especially for working parents. With rapid technological changes, it is quite clear that many contemporary and modish products will be introduced in the future, to enhance the scenario of what a futuristic home would look like. If you think you are ready to take a look at some Smart Home products, Anusha Technovision ( ATPL) has a lot to offer in the way of affordable and reliable Home Automation.

- The piece is written by Alok Hada, Director, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd.

 

Contactless technology for safer built environments

In the past year, online searches for contactless products have increased by up to 2000%. As anxiety continues to spread over the outbreak of COVID-19 through contact or shared surfaces, these technologies offer a potential solution for homes, offices or any built environment that wants to reduce the risk of the viral spread. Here is a mini list of contactless technologies that are available at your disposal:

Digital Control: One of the most famous examples of contactless technology, IoT technologies, is the use of apps on your smartphones or tablets to control lighting, temperature, security, and more. This technology allows one to change the inhabited environment or access data without any external contact, eliminating physical interactions. Due to its flexible usage, you can apply this technology to almost any built space. 

Motion sensors: This technology eliminates unnecessary contact and the hassle of finding and turning the light switch on. With this technology, one minor but significant point of contact in workspaces and homes can be eliminated, reducing the potential risk of germs and diseases. Not only are we procuring safety measures, but ensuring the reduction in energy use and costs by adequate margins.

Smart bathrooms: One of the most important spaces to use contactless technology and to maintain hygienic and safer environments is a bathroom or public restrooms in workspaces and public places. Technologies such as intelligent toilets flush automatically through a timer and sensor and open and close automatically as well. Motion sensor toilets and faucets, intelligent bathroom systems have already received a spiked interest in society. 

Voice Control: Another aspect of contactless methods of interfacing with intelligent system is through the use of Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Siri etc. to achieve a change in your lighting or to change the channel on your TV or to adjust the temperature on your AC or to even open your doors.

Smart Home Technology For A Sustainable Lifestyle

Living a sustainable lifestyle requires a great deal of dedication and awareness. Over the years, the environment has been harmed and polluted in numerous ways by us. Keeping that in mind, we are learning together to make a change by doing small bits to reduce the carbon footprint.

 

Before investing in smart home technology, it is crucial to understand what it means. Smart home technology incorporates a range of products that can be used at home to make everyday life more comfortable and simpler. The home can be transformed using advanced technology with a simple set-up and connection to the internet system.

Though smart home systems vary widely in pricing and capabilities, there are a number of affordable options available to make the right choice. Whether you select one simple device for your home or make your full home a smart home, you can pick the one suitable for your needs and budget.

Smart Plugs

Smart plugs can make a great addition to your home for smart set-ups. They can be used to set a schedule or use a voice command to turn on or off anything. With these plugs set to a timer, you can watch TV while falling asleep and a lot more without worrying about wasting electricity or fire risks. Not only do devices like this simplify your life, but they also keep you in line with your sustainable lifestyle goals.

Smart Thermostats

Smart thermostats work similar to regular thermostats but with greater control  and accessibility. With the integration of mobile devices, you can turn the AC on or off from anywhere in the world. It also allows you to see how much energy you have been using. 

Smart Appliances

Going eco friendly while buying your new appliance is a great option to consider. There are several appliances integrated with smart capabilities that can help your devices run more efficiently. Some of the features that these appliances come with are alerting you when the door is open, connection with smart devices etc. While purchasing these appliances, click for the certification with an official energy efficiency label to invest in an eco-friendly appliance.

Smart Lighting

One of the easiest ways of making a smart and efficient switch to a sustainable life with automation is introducing smart lighting into your home. Replacing incandescent light bulbs with smart LED bulbs can reduce your energy consumption. The LED bulbs are also safer and produce less waste over time. Using a mobile device to control the lighting in your home will ensure that you never forget to turn off lights when leaving a room.

- Alok Hada, Director, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd

Eco-Friendly Home Automation

We can’t turn on the television, browse the internet or read a newspaper without seeing a reference to ‘Go Green,’ but sometimes it’s difficult to understand what we are being asked to do. Going green can refer to many different things, but it generally refers to the little things that we choose to do to become more environmentally-friendly.

With all the tasks that one has to do, many wonder why we should make the extra effort to go green- For some, their decision is based on strong personal values,and while others are motivated because of the money they can save. Even though the most obvious reason for going green is to conserve resources for future generations, starting to implement green habits provides benefits we can immediately enjoy, like lowering the month’s energy bill.

Going Green at Home

Going green within our home is a great place to start, and it has the added benefit of lowering our energy costs. Everyone has had months when they dread opening their utility bills. How great would it be to know you are helping the environment, while also paying considerably less in energy costs?

Using Home Automation to Go Green

Since a large part of going green focuses on energy conservation, home automation systems can facilitate efforts of going green within our homes. There are many resources available to help organize your efforts of saving money and making you home a little greener. A home automation system can improve all areas of home energy usage:

1. Air Conditioning and Heating System: With a smart thermostat, you can save money and energy by programming your thermostat to go easy on your home’s heating and air system when you’re not home and remotely change the temperature from any smart phone or other web-enabled device. Adjusting your thermostat just one degree you can save 5% on your energy bill.
2. Lighting: Replacing your light bulbs with energy efficient light bulbs is an easy way to go green. When combining this with dimming, you can save as much as 25% of your lighting bills with bulbs last ten times longer than a standard bulb. A home automation system can be used to implement timers and regulate light usage within your home, and you can also turn off/dim lights remotely.
3. Electronics: A homeautomation system can allow you to program your electronics to turn off when not in use. Also, being able to remotely control your home electronics and appliances such as televisions, desktop computers and curling irons allows you to ensure you are not wasting energy. 
4. Motorised Shades- Shades not only reduce glare, protect your upholstery and fabric but also help reduce your air conditioning bills because of insulation. However, the common problem with manual shades is that unless really required, the chances of drawing the shades or parting them is not convenient. Enter motorised shades, lo & behold-touch of a button brings bright sunlight when required and another touch at a different time helps close the same shade. Motorised helps in conveniently using the shades to give user comfort and also at the same time indirectly saving considerable amount of energy

The more we learn about the importance of making green decisions, the easier it becomes to enable the small lifestyle changes that help sustain our environment. Starting with a home automation system can significantly assist in making green decisions easier. Not only does a home automation system lower monthly energy bills, it is also a small step towards the worldwide ‘go green’ initiative.

- Alok Hada, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd.