It may seem like something out of Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous or MTV Cribs, but smart home automation is steadily becoming an affordable luxury for the average homeowner.

The OneTouch House specializes in home automation, allowing homeowners to natively or remotely control their home theatres, lighting, temperature and security cameras at the push of a button. The Saanich company can sync a broad range of technological devices to work in harmony, creating the perfect sense of atmosphere for any home.

B次元官网网址淲hat we try to do is make a home thatB次元官网网址檚 ubiquitous B次元官网网址� everythingB次元官网网址檚 together in one place and easy to use,B次元官网网址� said co-owner Martin Engelbrecht. B次元官网网址淎ll these systems are related to one another through our system.

B次元官网网址淲ith the advent of the smartphone, thatB次元官网网址檚 when it really took off. ItB次元官网网址檚 not just the house on the hill, itB次元官网网址檚 available for everybody. ItB次元官网网址檚 not inexpensive, but itB次元官网网址檚 not prohibitively expensive.

The OneTouch House started in 1999 as a regional installer for Shaw Direct, but soon turned to emerging technological trends and began working with sound and lighting systems.

For the last decade or so, Engelbrecht and fellow co-owner Kevin Lintern have been giving homeowners greater control of their homes for whatever best suits their lifestyles.

B次元官网网址淭here are many lighting systems out there and HVAC systems and music systems, and true home automation ties all those systems together so they can talk to one another,B次元官网网址� said Englebrecht.

B次元官网网址淲hen I press my automated door lock to lock my doors, because itB次元官网网址檚 on the central system, it can tell my lights to shut off, my music to shut off, my temperature to turn down, my blinds to lower. All those actions can happen from a single action.B次元官网网址�

Using a single app on a smartphone or tablet, homeowners can monitor their security cameras, cool down their house when theyB次元官网网址檙e away or turn their lights on or off B次元官网网址� the options are almost endless and itB次元官网网址檚 all at their fingertips.

The OneTouch House is adept at the installation and customization of a variety of systems B次元官网网址� including home theatres and security cameras B次元官网网址� for your average home to a mega mansion. Engelbrecht said their team is experienced in setting up robust home networks to communicate with a homeownersB次元官网网址� devices, and the integration of oneB次元官网网址檚 technological systems allows for better organization with fewer remote controls and gadgets to worry about.

However, recognizing that not every homeowner may want all the bells and whistles, Engelbrecht said they can be selective in what features they want for their home.

B次元官网网址淪ome people want media and entertainment, some people are only interested in lighting, some people want energy management, some people want it all B次元官网网址� it really does vary,B次元官网网址� he said, noting homeowners can also build their home automation system piece by piece.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 homeowner-driven and itB次元官网网址檚 there to match their lifestyle.B次元官网网址�

While there isnB次元官网网址檛 much that hasnB次元官网网址檛 been accomplished in home automation, Engelbrecht said theyB次元官网网址檙e always looking at emerging technologies that can fall under their automation systemsB次元官网网址� umbrella.

B次元官网网址淭hereB次元官网网址檚 just so many applications of what you can do with the technology,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 what keeps the job interesting.B次元官网网址�

editor@goldstreamgazette.com

Q: Is home automation primarily a comfortable luxury?

Home automation isnB次元官网网址檛 just for comfort, it can help you save money, make your home more environmentally friendly and help you stay safe.

Some systems allow you to receive a text message the instant your home alarm goes off.

They can also link the nearest surveillance camera to your smartphone so you can view the situation from your phone and react accordingly.

Automation can also let you know if you accidentally forgot to close the window in your room, allowing you to keep tabs while you are at home, at a party or on vacation hundreds of kilometres away.

In addition to the safety aspect, energy efficiency can be improved by ensuring lights are off, garage doors are closed and doors are locked. Certain systems can even turn on your music slowly, raising the volume to gradually wake you up in the morning over 15 minutes.Another energy saving feature can help turn on the heat in the house an hour before you wake up, so the temperature is comfortable for when you start your day and you arenB次元官网网址檛 wasting energy during the night.

GREATER VICTORIA MARKET UPDATE 禄 Month as of Dec. 29/15  COURTESY VICTORIA REAL ESTATE BOARD

禄 436 / 389 -- NET UNCONDITIONAL SALES / TOTAL, DECEMBER 2014

禄 429  /419 -- NEW LISTINGS / TOTAL, DECEMBER 2014

禄 2,552 / 3,210 -- ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL LISTINGS / TOTAL, DECEMBER 2014