Healthy Home in the Desert

8/23/24

When we moved into our sustainable home, we knew we were stepping into something special—a place designed not just for energy efficiency but also for seamless smart living. One of the most exciting features of our home is the Loxone smart home automation system. It coordinates everything from heating and cooling to lighting and air quality, transforming the way we live and making everyday tasks easier and more efficient.

One of the standout features of the Loxone system is how it manages our home’s climate control. The system works in harmony with our ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) and heat pump, creating five distinct climate zones throughout the house. This allows us to set the temperature just as we like it in different areas—whether that’s keeping the bedrooms a little cooler at night or making sure the living areas stay comfortable during the day. The system gently adjusts to maintain consistent temperatures and fresh air, without the abrupt on-and-off cycles of traditional HVAC systems. It’s incredibly responsive to the time of day, the season, and our preferences, giving us the freedom to customize without having to constantly think about it. Once it’s set, it’s truly a “set it and forget it” system. No more fiddling with thermostats—just comfort, all the time.

The air quality and temperature in our home are consistently amazing. The Loxone system helps us breathe easy, literally and figuratively, by maintaining the ideal indoor environment (air quality, temperature, and humidity) with minimal effort on our part. It even provides endless options for adjusting the climate based on our daily routines, so we always feel comfortable whether we’re working, relaxing, or sleeping.

Another game-changer has been the Loxone system’s control over our home’s lighting. It took us a few weeks to figure out exactly how we wanted the lights to function, but once we set up our preferences, it’s been smooth sailing. You never have to touch a light switch again! The system uses motion sensors to detect when you’re in a room, automatically turning the lights on and off for you. For someone who loves efficiency, this has been a dream. And it’s not just about convenience—it’s also about ambiance. For example, we’ve created a “Netflix mode” that dims the lights perfectly for movie nights. At bedtime, we activate a “night mode” that lights our way with subtle blue lighting if we need to get up in the middle of the night. It’s gentle enough not to disturb anyone else and provides just enough illumination to navigate the house comfortably. We can change settings anytime with the wall control or by using the phone app.

The Loxone system even offers options for adjusting lighting to match the natural rise and fall of the sun, though we haven’t fully explored those features yet. What we have enjoyed are the ceiling-mounted LED lights from Loxone. They can be programmed to any color or color temperature, which has been a lot of fun for different activities and holidays. The ability to change the temperature of the light has practical benefits, too—whether you’re cooking in bright, clear light, working on the computer, or doing something like putting on makeup, the right lighting makes a difference.

One unexpected bonus of the ceiling lights has been the elimination of the need for pendants or chandeliers. Cleaning has become so much easier without those hard-to-reach fixtures, and the sleek, modern design fits perfectly with the minimalist aesthetic of our home. Plus, the LED lights use a fraction of the energy of older bulbs and generate very little heat, contributing to the overall energy efficiency of our home.

Beyond lighting and climate control, the Loxone system also balances ventilation. It uses CO2 sensors and bathroom ceiling vents to optimize airflow and ensure that the air in our home stays fresh and clean. It’s the kind of automation you don’t even realize is happening until you stop and think about how comfortable and fresh the air feels day after day.

In the end, living in a smart home has been a transformative experience. The automation provided by the Loxone system has made our lives easier, more comfortable, and more energy efficient. It’s allowed us to focus on what really matters—enjoying our home—while the system quietly takes care of the rest.