Page 32 - Green Builder April 2017 Issue

SMART AND CONNECTED TECHNOLOGY

NuBryte Touchpoint

Consumers are overwhelmed with a growing list of small
monthly fees. From a la carte video channels to subscription
fees, these fees can be frustrating. They can also hurt a
consumer’s credit score, if they live close to the edge of their
actual earnings.
That’s why Wi-Fi products such as NuBryte’s Touchpoint are
a welcome shift. This IOT security system, priced at about
$250, is a one-time purchase, not a lifetime commitment.
There is no contract and no monthly fee to secure the home.
NuBryte comes with built-in security camera, motion
sensing, and digital dimmers, making this an instant smart
solution. No special “smart bulbs,” external sensors, or
batteries to change—simply replace a light switch for
complete control.
Other capabilities include energy use tracking, to determine
which appliances are using the most energy this month, and a
Wi-Fi based wireless intercom (requires two or more NuBryte
units). There’s more to come: Recently, the company
announced that it now has access to Amazon’s Alexa voice
command system, and has partnered with Google Calendar.

Vivint Smart Home Sky

smart home assistant

When consumers say they want an intelligent device, what they
often really want is an intelligent home. Vivint Smart Home
addresses this need with Sky, a smart home assistant that
automatically manages connected devices in a home, including
locks, lights, the thermostat and the security system.
Using data from Vivint’s smart home system, Sky can
determine whether a home is occupied or vacant. The system
will also contact the occupant via smartphone to ask if it should
lock the doors, close the garage or arm the security system, if
necessary. Eventually, the unit can learn a routine and perform
the actions automatically.
Sky can also automatically adjust the temperature to be
comfortable when people are home and to conserve energy
when they are gone. These actions can cut monthly heating and
cooling costs by 10 percent to 15 percent. The unit can also
make suggestions on other ways to save energy.
Vivint offers a free app that allows Sky users to track their
energy use and the home’s solar power production, if any. Sky
will show current and historical energy usage, near-real power
generation, and automatic conservation options. Voice
commands are possible with a tie-in to Amazon’s Alexa.

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