Tag Archives: IOT

Blog: The Nightly Shutdown

Posted on by

During the holiday season many of us decorate with strands of lights on a tree, around the house and even on the exterior. These decorations can help us bring excitement and joy to those around us, but even the most energy efficient lights still require energy we wouldn’t normally use during the rest of the year. As such, it’s not uncommon to see higher energy costs during the holiday months of November and December.
The price conscious employ a routine to minimize these extra costs when not needed: waiting to turn these lights on until dusk, and manually turning them off again before they retire for the evening. This routine often requires straining to reach a plug hidden behind a Christmas tree, or walking outside in the cold December air and unplugging lights from an exterior outlet. It’s a sacrifice dedicated to saving a few household dollars and comes with the additional reward of feeling like one is helping reduce one’s carbon footprint in some small way.

Continue reading→

Blog: Thankful for technology

Posted on by

As we enter the holiday season we cannot help but turn our minds towards home and family.  In 2020 travel to your quaint hometown for the holidays might be different.  Perhaps you plan to live stream your dinner with multiple families.  Maybe you’ll share favorite recipes or send treats through the mail.  If you do plan to leave home, be sure to remember the following things:

  1. Lock your doors
  2. Close your garage
  3. Arm your IQ Panel in “Away” mode
  4. Turn off all your appliances
  5. Set up your lights to automatically turn on throughout the day and evening to give your home that “lived in” feel
  6. Ensure your indoor, outdoor, and video doorbell cameras are working
  7. Make sure your flood sensors, smoke detectors, and Caron Monoxide detectors are working.  (You may want to test your system!)
  8. Ensure your mobile app can connect remotely so you can view and control anything you “forgot”

Isn’t it wonderful to know you can manage any and all of these items remotely?  We are truly grateful for the amazing technology that makes it all possible.  Stay safe this holiday season, and don’t worry about your home while you are gone, we’ll take care of it for you!

Blog: 2020 Is The Year Of The Upgrade

Posted on by

2020 has been the year of the upgrade.  Many of us sent home during the early months of the pandemic spent our first month fixing things.   Home repairs ranged from gutter cleaning to window washing, picking up clutter and setting up home offices.  During this process we realized that our internet needed an upgrade, the router powering our home wireless network hadn’t been replaced for many years, our laptops were outdated and it seemed like everywhere we looked there was technology that needed to be improved.  For those facing the impending 3G sunset we looked at our old security panels and thought “I’ve got to be eligible for an upgrade, right?  Its about time for a touchscreen…. and maybe we should add a smart door lock...  and one of those video doorbells… it would be nice to have a camera on the driveway… and we never put smoke detectors in the kid’s rooms…. And..  and.. The list keeps going.  As you look at your home and consider all the things it COULD do, talk to your security and smarthome provider to find out what’s possible.  Maybe, just maybe, your new upgraded security and home automation system could be the thing that finally makes 2020 great...

Blog: Protecting your apartment from Fire

Posted on by

You never expect a fire to occur in your home, but when you do the first thought is “is everyone safe?”

The shrill siren of the smoke alarm can be absolutely terrifying, especially if it happens unexpectedly. Sure it’s annoying when you burn the toast or singe the turkey, but you anticipate that triggering as smoke fills the room.  Its completely different when it occurs in the middle of the might.  After the initial wave of terror and shock, several questions might smack you in the brain:

Continue reading→

Blog: So, you got a new Apple Watch?

Posted on by

The new Apple Watch Series 6 is amazing, and if you’re like me, you are checking your Blood o2 levels, heart rate, and performing Electro Cardiograms hourly.  But what can you do with the Alarm.com app?

The Alarm.com app for App Watch is elegant and easy to use.  The first screen has easy to touch menu system that shows off all the different aspects of your smart home that you currently have installed. For me scenes is at the top of the list, giving me access to the scenes I’ve created on my phone including home, away, sleep, opening and closing my garage, and my personal favorite: Movie Time.  With a single touch an entire series of actions cascades across my home: doors lock, lights turn off, and the security system arms.

Probably the coolest function of the Alarm.com app on Apple Watch app is the ability to view cameras on your wrist.  Get a live stream anywhere.  See the puppy, check on the kids, peep the driveway, or check for deer in the back yard.  Its easy, fast, and fun.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to check on the cat…

News: Johnson Controls Acquires Remaining Stake in Qolsys

Posted on by


Qolsys continues to show consistent growth of services and dealers, which led to $150 million in revenues during fiscal year 2019, according to the company.

 

CORK, Ireland — Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) has acquired the remaining stake in Qolsys, a leading residential and commercial security and smart-home manufacturer, after owning a majority since 2014.

Financial details were not disclosed.

Continue reading→

Press Release: Johnson Controls Acquires Qolsys, inc. To Capitalize On Emerging Technologies And Customers Looking For World-Class Building Solutions

Posted on by

Creating a global force in the converging intrusion and smart building markets

Cork, Ireland– (August 4, 2020) – Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) announced today it has acquired the remaining stake of Qolsys Inc., a leading residential and commercial security and smart-home manufacturer, after owning a majority since 2014. Qolsys enhances Johnson Controls global innovation platform delivering next generation security and smart building solutions. The Qolsys founders and leadership team will remain in Silicon Valley (San Jose, CA) assuming key roles in Johnson Controls global intrusion business.

Johnson Controls continues its mission to deliver smarter, safer, intelligent and more connected buildings by deploying emerging technologies such as embedded IP, artificial intelligence and machine learning through best-in-class solutions and partnerships. Johnson Controls is leading a fundamental transformation of how spaces and places are perceived and enjoyed by balancing and responding to the flow of information, services and people that occupy buildings. By applying data from both inside and outside buildings, Johnson Controls OpenBlue digital platforms empowers customers to manage operations while delivering safety and security in dynamic and agile environments.

Continue reading→

Blog: Smart apartments make life easy for tenants and property managers

Posted on by

The term “smarthome” has become main stream, with devices all over the internet claiming to make life safer, smarter, and more convenient.  As adoption increases even the smallest apartments are looking for ways to be smart, safe, and energy efficient, and there’s no better solution than the Qolsys IQ Panel.  The IQ Panel is a 7 inch easy to use touchscreen looks great on the wall and provide easy access to control all the connected devices within an apartment. These include lights, locks, thermostat, security sensors, life safety sensors, cameras and more.

Continue reading→