ekoLiving uses the superior LONWorks building automation technology from Echelon corporation. C-Bus is popular in Australia, but it is a proprietary or “closed” system. LONWorks is an Open System, which means it is more future proof. LONWorks is used in millions of buildings around the world, and you can be confident that the company will still be going strong in 25 years.

Is this only for new houses, or can it be retro-fitted?

It is possible to retro-fit an ekoLiving system into an existing house. In this case, Data Over Powerline technology is used, turning the home’s electrical wiring into communications cables for the Smart House system. Wireless technology can be used for audio and video distribution in a retrofit solution. Retro-fitting costs a little more and takes careful design to give the same performance and quality as in a new build.

Can I control anything with a Touchscreen?

Touchscreen control requires the Intelligent Home package. Any electrical device can be controlled with at least On/Off power. Devices that use Infrared (IR) or Radio Frequency (RF) remote controls could be integrated to the Touchscreen. Software can be created so that one button on the Touchscreen, does whatever you want, controlling any number of devices with pre-programmed logic.

How much does this cost?

ekoLiving Smart Home solutions start at US$1000. It all depends how many smart devices to be installed.

A good rule of thumb is 10-15% of the value of the home for a full system. The value of your home is increased now, and protected in the future.

What about Depreciation?

ekoLiving's Smart Home solutions are designed for longevity, unlike a home PC or a TV that depreciates to near-zero in a few years. For example, adding features like keyless entry, motorized blinds, security cameras, will immediately increase the value of your home. They will still be value-added features of the house in twenty years time – even if they are not the latest blinds or cameras by then. A home without these features, is less valuable today, and if it is not upgradeable, it will be less valuable still in 20 years.

A great deal of the value is in designing and building a Smart Building from the beginning. ekoLiving solutions are carefully designed to make your house future proof – modular, flexible, easily upgradeable.

What if I move house?

In the Intelligent Home, most of the "smarts" are in software. Software is "portable", meaning it is easy to take your customization with you from one home to another.