Page 70 - November 2015 Green Builder Magazine

INNOVATION UPDATE By Juliet Grable

Breakthroughs in Sustainable Technology

68

The Changing Face of Home Security

The newest residential security systems are incorporating smart home
technology and greater user control.

T HE HOME SECURITY
industry is undergoing
a transformation. As
intrusion detection
merges with “smart home”
technology, new markets

are opening up. Fully integrated systems

not only lock and unlock doors and trigger

alarms, but control window shades, lighting

and thermostats and monitor for carbon

monoxide and fires. “End users” are taking

more control of their systems, monitoring
www.greenbuildermedia.com 11.2015
IMAGE CREDIT: BOSCH SECURITY SYSTEMSthem from smartphones and other
IMAGE CREDIT: BOSCH SECURITY SYSTEMS
mobile devices. A proliferation of wireless

products is even enabling homeowners to

cobble together their own systems.

“For decades, the industry made

very incremental changes,” says Stacey

Michaels, product marketing manager

at Bosch Security Systems. “Now things Smart Cameras. Bosch’s TINYON IP 2000 Smart Home Translator. Bosch’s Z-Wave
are starting to move at breakneck speed.” PIR camera integrates with the Home Control Gateway connects Z-Wave
This is creating both challenges and company’s security panels and includes wireless devices with Bosch’s security
opportunities for manufacturers and motion and audio detection functionality panels, enabling whole-home
security system providers. as well. automation and control.

A SECURE FUTURE intrusion control panels—the G-Series is now supplemental, or sometimes, even
and the B-Series—for greater flexibility replaced by the smartphone or tablet.”

Until recently, a simple residential security and integration. The B-Series panels are With such flexibility, security concerns

system consisted of motion sensors, door appropriate for smaller (including most and convenience are merging; for example,

and/or window contacts and keypads, and residential) systems, and can accommodate a homeowner might want to be able to

it relied on a telephone line. Now, such from eight to 48 security sensors. These unlock a door remotely for a subcontractor,

systems are going wireless and include panels are compatible with both IPv4 and or to check on their kids to make sure

cameras and “smart sensors” that monitor IPv6, the Internet Protocols that route they’ve arrived home from school safely.

and/or control other aspects of the home. internet traffic, and include Ethernet and The customer also has flexibility in what

The “intrusion control panel” is the USB ports, as well as a flexible modular can lock or unlock a door—whether a code

central hardware component of a security communication port that is designed or remote access through a smartphone.“It’s

system. Since this component is long lived, to accommodate current and future all about user authentication,” says Caler.

future-proofing is imperative, says Dennis communication technologies. “This can be something I know, something

Caler, senior product manager at Bosch Users can control the panel directly from I have or something I am—for example, a

Security Systems. Panels must be flexible a keypad or remotely with a smartphone, passcode, a card or a fingerprint.”

enough to accommodate past, present using Bosch’s mobile app. Increasingly, MAKING A SCENE
and future technologies, supporting, for homeowners want the ability to monitor

example, both wired and wireless devices. their own systems, or to have alerts sent One of the biggest benefits of integrated

Bosch updated its two lines of directly to them, says Caler. “The keypad systems is the ability to create “scenes.” A