Page 58 - Green Builder Magazine March-April 2018 Issue

Here’s a roundup of the technologies

showcased in The Flex House at CES:

SMART HOME 2.0 TECHNOLOGY CAN…

Save energy. remote control and Serin deck-mount sensor-operated faucet.
There are also environmental novelties such as the Advanced
The Flex House optimizes energy use with an array of connected Clean AC 2.0 SpaLet bidet seat. Features such as the heated seat and
technologies: SYLVANIA LED lighting from LEDVANCE, smart remote control may make the concept of a bidet more appealing to
appliances and HVAC from Bosch, a smart thermostat and a solar Americans. Popular just about everywhere but the United States,
PV system with battery backup. bidets save water directly and indirectly by foregoing the need for
Smart thermostats continue to be among the most popular toilet paper, the manufacture of which is water and resource intensive.
smart home devices, and for good reason: They’re easy to use, (According to bidet.com, an admittedly biased organization, toilet
they make homes more comfortable, and they save energy. In paper manufactures require 473 billion gallons of water annually to
satisfy American demand.)
Comfort within reach. Affordable and But water-conserving fixtures and faucets do no good if plumbing
intuitive, the Sensi smart Wi-Fi programmable or fixtures leak. The Flex House de-
thermostat from Emerson is one of the most buted the Phyn Plus water moni-
popular smart thermostats on the market.
toring device, which not only can
detect leaks—a significant source
of residential water use—but can
shut off the main water valve. This
is where data-gathering capabili-
ties of smart home technology re-
ally shine. Phyn Plus processes 240
data points per second to form an
accurate picture of a home’s water
use. After learning a household’s
basic patterns, it can detect anoma-
lies. Phyn will alert the user if the
CREDIT: EMERSON
device detects a leak and will shut
The Flex House, the Sensi smart Wi-Fi programmable thermostat the main water valve off in the
from Emerson works in tandem with the Bosch Climate 5000 duct- case of a major event, potentially
less mini-split to provide energy-efficient comfort; users can also preventing thousands of dollars
program customized daily schedules and control the thermostat in water damage. The company
remotely using a smartphone. intends to build on its platform,
But Sensi steps ahead of good, solid Smart Home 1.0 technology providing detailed data on water
with its geofencing capabilities. By tracking the user’s smartphone use that will hopefully lead to CREDIT: AMERICAN STANDARD
location, the thermostat anticipates when the occupant is close to changes in behavior.
home, and can adjust the temperature accordingly. The Flex House also showcased Selling points. On the
Save water. a Nexus eWater graywater recy- WaterSense-qualified Spectra+
cling system, which can capture
Water-conserving fixtures are a great strategy, but the intelligent two of every three gallons of in- eTouch showerhead from
American Standard, users can
fixtures and faucets from American Standard featured in The Flex door water use, treating and stor- choose between four spray
House go a step further, by integrating features that maximize ing it for use outdoors, and a smart patterns by touching the outer
convenience—even as they minimize water use. These include irrigation controller from Rachio. ring of the showerhead or using a
the Spectra+ eTouch four-function showerhead with wall-mounted The Rachio controller, which the one-button remote.

56 GREEN BUILDER March/April 2018 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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