Electric.ie July/August Edition

30 ELECTRIC.IE • The Magazine & Website for the Irish Electrical Industry • H omeowners are wising up to –Š‡ „‡‡Ƥ–• –Šƒ– –Š‡ •ƒ”– Š‘‡…ƒ ‘ơ‡”ǡ ƒ†…‘–”‘ŽŽ‹‰ †‹ơ‡”‡– ƒ•’‡…–• ‘ˆ –Š‡ Š‘‡ via a smartphone or tablet is becoming more commonplace as mobile technology becomes ingrained in our everyday lives. A recent study found that 73 per cent of adults accessed the internet “on the go” using a mobile phone or smartphone in 2017, more than double the 2011 rate of 36 per cent. We’ve seen the adoption of smart technologies by all ages too – it’s not just the millennials leading the ™ƒ›ǡ „—– ƒƫ—‡– •‹Ž˜‡” •—”ˆ‡”• ™Š‘ are fully embracing the smart home revolution. With the wide scope of smart home products available, where does •ƒ”– ‡‡”‰› ƒ† Š‡ƒ–‹‰ Ƥ– ‹–‘ –Š‹• Žƒ†•…ƒ’‡ǫ ‘‡…–‡† Š‘‡ †”‹˜‡”• Research has shown that smart energy is the number one key driver for the connected home, taking priority over smart security, entertainment or smart appliances such as washing machines or fridges – and smart heating controls are leading the way. For electrical engineers and ‡Ž‡…–”‹…‹ƒ•ǡ –Š‹• ‘ơ‡”• ƒ Ž—…”ƒ–‹˜‡ business opportunity to capitalise on the growing demand for smart heating systems. Smart heating lets customers control their heating when they are away from home, using an app on Wising Up to the Smart Revolution ർ Joe Crawford, Marketing Manager at Schneider Electric, discusses the growing market for smart heating systems, and how customers are driving demand for enhanced systems that offer personalised room temperature control. their smartphone or tablet. So when plans change, heating programmes can be altered from anywhere. Innovative additions such as smart radiator thermostats make it even easier to create designated ‘heating zones’ in the home, allowing users to take their heating to the next level and control the temperature on a room-by-room basis. This means your customer is no longer stuck between heating the whole house to the same temperature or having to switch ‘ơ –Š‡ Š‡ƒ–‹‰…‘’Ž‡–‡Ž›Ǥ ˆ–‡” all, you wouldn’t use one switch to control all the lights in your house, •‘ ™Š› †‘ –Š‡ •ƒ‡ ™‹–Š Š‡ƒ–‹‰ǫ —•–‘‡” „‡‡Ƥ–• There are many instances where this can be especially handy. For example, if a person is cold in bed, they can remotely switch the heating on just in the room they are occupying, all without having to leave the duvet. Alternatively, if the homeowner is out of the house and receives a call that unexpected visitors are stopping by, they can adjust the temperature in the living room or kitchen so it’s comfortable for their return – either increasing the heat on a cold and wet day, or switching Š‡ƒ–‹‰ ‘ơ ‹ˆ ‹–ǯ• ™ƒ” ƒ† •—›Ǥ Another aspect of heating zones ‹• –Š‡ •ƒˆ‡–› –Šƒ– –Š‡›…ƒ ‘ơ‡” ƒ……‘”†‹‰ –Š‡ •’‡…‹Ƥ…‡‡†• ‘ˆ occupants. Research has shown that keeping a baby’s room at a …‘•‹•–‡– ͱͤ 0 C can reduce health risks, so creating a zone in that room gives parents the ability to set and monitor the temperature from anywhere in the house. In addition, zoning rooms used by elderly relatives or those Schneider Electric