Every day seems to bring another new smart device to the market.  Several key technology areas are driving the innovation – the availability of inexpensive, powerful chips, cloud-based software platforms, multiple wireless technologies, and machine learning – are enabling the addition of intelligent features to a slew of home devices.

Earlier this year at the CES consumer technology show, we saw a host of new smart devices introduced.  Smart lights, speakers, thermostats, coffeemakers, washing machines, irrigation controllers, refrigerators, ranges, and even toilets are getting injections of smart technology.  The technology in your home is accelerating from interesting novelty to genuine usefulness. Automation will bring about a change in how we use and manage our homes.  The functionality of smart home devices and systems is only getting better every year, and as it matures, we will become more accustomed to it and grow to depend on it in our daily lives – much like the smartphone.

Since we're early in this new year, we want to highlight the trends that will be driving the new smart products you will see in 2019.  This is the year when smart home automation becomes mainstream.  If you haven't yet invested in a home automation system for your Groton residence, there is no better time. 

Read on to learn more about the smart home automation trends you’ll be seeing this year. 

Until recently, the possibilities for storing energy in your home were very limited or nonexistent. What do you do when an ice storm knocks out power in your Stonington home? If power is out for more than a few hours, you might resort to a propane-powered generator. But that isn't the most eco-friendly or efficient solution.

Recent advances in battery technology have now made it feasible and cost-effective to store energy in your home. Why might you want to do that? If there's a power outage in an icy Connecticut winter, you can have your own source of energy. Moreover, these new systems are more than just a battery – they are intelligent energy management systems. They can help reduce your energy costs by storing power from the electric grid when it is abundant and cheapest, as in overnight hours. Electric utilities are also instituting energy management programs that are called demand response. These are ways to reduce power demand during peak times, which could be during a particularly cold Connecticut snowstorm or the occasional New England summer heat wave. Demand response allows utilities to control consumption by getting opt-in access from consumers to reduce their demand through control of smart thermostats and other means. 

C&T Systems is ready for this new intelligent energy management future. We are proud to announce that we will be working with Sonnen, the leader in smart energy management systems. Why Sonnen?  Because it is also the first product of its kind that can also be linked to smart home automation systems. With smart home automation and energy management systems working together, you can efficiently manage your consumption and prepare for the unexpected.

Keep reading to learn about the benefits of Sonnen energy management systems for your Connecticut property in the Stonington area or beyond.

A lighting control systems are more than just a luxury item; it is a lifestyle enhancement. While the aesthetic aspect may be the initial impression it imparts, a lighting control system also brings the benefits of convenience, security and energy savings.

You may think that you need a large house or property for an investment in lighting control to pay off,  but you’ll be happy to know that you don’t need to be a Vanderbilt to afford it.

For the past 15 years we have exclusively used Lutron for lighting control systems.  For decades, Lutron has been the industry leader in lighting control, making residential and commercial systems that scale from apartments and condominiums to the largest homes and buildings. Lutron makes several lighting control systems that can cover one or two rooms all the way to a home comparable to the famous Newport mansions. So, which one might be right for you?

Keep reading to learn about two different Lutron lighting systems and what they can do in your home.

Diagnosing networking problems is often challenging.  Since almost everything we do with our devices requires network connectivity, it’s difficult to pin down a specific problem. If your computer is loading web pages slowly, it might be related to your hardware or software. If your smartphone or tablet apps are not responsive, it could be related to the device itself or the software it’s running. 

Occasionally problems are temporary. Perhaps a website you’re accessing is slow for a period of time, and the experience is the same on all of your devices. Sometimes while streaming a show on Netflix, the video quality slows and reminds you of old standard definition quality with bad reception. It could be that your internet connection just slowed down temporarily.  And there’s always the possibility that it’s not your network or any device. The truth is, internet connectivity can suffer in many parts of the Rhode Island countryside.