Green Electronics for Energy Efficient Homes

Green electronics are a part of several of RSI's electronic systems and solutions to aid in an energy efficient home design. Green electronics can reduce your home's carbon footprint and water, gas and electricity consumption and also enhance a project's LEED rating (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) or assist in meeting USGBC/ASID REGREEN guidelines. RSI has long been a pioneer in the design and implementation of green electronic systems and over the past 22 years the Architects, Builders, Interior Designers and Homeowners we have worked with have turned to us for unique solutions to protect furnishings and finishes and to make homes and offices more energy efficient. Through this process we have assembled an array of green electronic solutions that support these requests. Best of all, thanks to new wireless technologies, many of these energy saving electronic solutions can be retrofit into existing homes or offices with little or no damage to the existing structure.

Here is a quick overview of some of the ways RSI can use green electronic solutions and technology to help you help the environment...

• RSI can provide "intelligent" thermostats that vary desired temperature based on day/time or how you are using the space. If you have multiple climate control zones we can make it so you can "program" all the thermostats from one convenient location. Together these intelligent thermostats result in a more comfortable home with more convenient control using fewer resources.
• RSI can help you source and manage your geothermal or solar installation. We can incorporate appropriate control and feedback to make your geothermal and/or solar systems more effective.
• RSI can install provisions within the control system so you can easily make home/office-wide changes to reduce energy consumption (e.g. moderate climate settings, open/close window coverings, turn off non-essential equipment, reduce lighting levels and turn off some lights).
• RSI offers Energy Management Systems that provide real-time reporting of energy consumption so you can see and adjust your energy usage. You will be able to identify high consumption devices and make informed decisions about operating them during peak demand hours. Studies have shown that this type of feedback can reduce energy use by as much as 15% in a typical home.
• RSI can provide lighting control systems that can be very helpful in extending lamp life and reducing electrical consumption. Dimming the average light bulb by 10% (an imperceptible difference in brightness) will more than double its life and save energy. With a lighting control system from RSI, you could make 90% the default level for full brightness for all of your lights and be able to turn off every light in your home with the push of a single button.
• RSI can install water and natural gas/propane leak sensors and valves that automatically detect leaks and shut off the supply, reducing both risk and waste. These "intelligent" environmental monitoring systems sense the leak and automatically shut off the supply while calling or emailing for help. Relatively inexpensive systems like these from RSI have saved thousands of gallons of water and prevented the need to dispose of and re-manufacture furnishings, flooring, and carpets.
• RSI can provide an "intelligent" automation system that senses wind speed and lowers the water pressure to fountains and water features to minimize wind related water loss; or that can measure rainfall and evaluate evaporation, transpiration and humidity levels to decide whether or not to activate your landscape sprinklers.
• RSI can install systems via which shades and draperies can be opened or closed automatically depending upon the time of day, season, and current weather and lighting conditions. Your window treatments can be used to deflect or harvest solar gain to optimize your home’s climate system and will act to protect your furnishings and floor treatments from UV damage; saving you money and minimizing the need for disposal, replacement and remanufacturing.
• RSI's systems for entertaining family, friends, and neighbors typically reduces time spent driving and the associated CO2 emissions. RSI offers a large selection of easy to use entertainment options and systems; from having music around your home or office building to an incredible media room or home theater experience.
• Wouldn't it be convenient to press a single button when you depart your home or office that would place every zone in the climate system into an energy saving state, turn off all of the lights, shut off all of the A/V equipment and arm the security system? These are all things that often get overlooked when leaving in a hurry and which would all have a negative effect on energy consumption and the environment. By making these functions easy to control, RSI makes them more likely to be used.

RSI can provide key technologies used for LEED certification and in achieving REGREEN guidelines and we have also developed many unique green electronic solutions of our own. While older technologies may have been the cause of many of our environmental woes, the thoughtful implementation of new technologies can allow us to mitigate their effects and begin healing our planet.

LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

REGREEN is a joint effort between the American Society of Interior Designers’ Foundation and the U.S. Green Building Council. They have partnered on the development of best practice guidelines and targeted educational resources for sustainable residential improvement projects.

Please call 303-277-9983 for more information about how RESIDENTIAL SYSTEMS, INC. can help you or your business go Green with energy efficient electronic solutions.

RSI offers project financing and loan assistance.