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Is RadioRA 3 Really Going to be a Game Changer? Another company, another big release…  Lutron just announced the launch of their new “inside to out” re-designed RadioRa system. But is it just “another release”, or is Lutron RadioRA 3 truly a game changer? How does it stand against RA2? Is it going to be worth making the upgrade? If you have interest or are considering installing the new RA3 system, this 100% unbiased article is for you! The decisions when upgrading can be hard from a price, practicality and compatibilite standpoint. So let’s dive into it so you can know the answer when asking yourself “Is the RA3 system for me?” First Glance: What will the wife think? Ok, let’s just cut to the point on this one… the new RA3 looks FREAKING AWESOME!  When the wife, spouse, or anyone for that matter sees the new RA3 on your wall, well it does not take a tech wizard to realize its high end, sleek design to add a more modern and new look to your switches and Lutron system in your home. Colors: An array of colors you can choose from is incredible… You can match it to almost any wall color to make your house flow together that much better. Lutron even has a stainless steel option that in our opinion makes the right house look very modern.. a look that not many have. The Dimmer Switch: When it comes to RA3… this is what caught our attention first. The new slider dimmer is just “simply beautiful”. The dimmer sliding bar can be even scheduled to turn off at times for people who like a pitch black sleep. Even though Lutron owns the patent to the dimmer switch, they ditched the old idea to create a perfect design where the dimmer is less of a button and now an actual slider touchpad. If this works as smoothly as it looks, we give it a 10/10.   Keypads: The Keypads have made a very different appearance compared to the RA2 system. The design is much more minimalistic and in our opinion looks much less out of place. The new Sannata  keypads are much simpler to use, especially for kids and people who get overwhelmed with too many buttons and controls. You can now even design the keypads to control more than just lights… integrate music, blinds, and fans all in the push of ONE button. Sannata is simply made easy!   Outdoor Switch: The outdoor plug is built to withstand the exposed outdoor environment. For things like patio lights, string lights, christmas lights, security lighting are all easy to be made fully automated using your RA3 system. It can even power things like pumps and jets for ponds and decorative fountains. Don’t worry about rain, snow, sun or insects wrecking your automated plugs.   Quality: Compared to the RA2 system it seems like there is also quite a change in the actual quality of the switches. Just by the noise you can tell the RA3 has a much more professional and expensive feel. The switch and keypads just feel overall more solid bringing the home together.  For the price of the RA2 switch we were surprised this feel was not brought into the game sooner. But we are sure glad they finally did. The switch actually feels like it should for the premium you are paying. Here you can actually hear the quality difference: Overall we are very impressed with the quality as it was a huge upgrade from the RA2 product line. Well done Lutron! 9.7/10. But enough on physical features… What can RA3 really do for you, and why is it an upgrade from RA3? Compatibility: Radio Ra3 can now connect and become compatible with other big brands in the industry. It can now connect to almost any system you may already have in place. Including things like Control4, Sonos, Google Home, Alexa and Crestron. This uses a system called LEAP API, which integrates faster and smarter saving you and your installer hours if not days of setup time. And the LEAP API ensures your clients will enjoy faster and more responsive setup time. And most importantly it works with RA2! This means not only can you connect with new home automation systems, but you do not have to upgrade your entire house if you already have RA2. The step up to RA3 from an RA2 system is not that big of a deal! Another 10/10 compared to the RA2 system. New Processor: A whole new processor… but what’s the benefit? It can have up to 200 devices all on ONE processor (soon will have dual processor systems available). This includes the RA2 you can also connect to it. Easily mount the nice looking clean processor to your wall, roof or shelf. Not only is the RA3 processor much faster but it is also easier to use in the cloud. This allows things like updates all from your mobile device. The processor is powered by PoE via CAT5e (or better) ethernet cable.  Installing the processor is also much easier and faster. Which makes the installation cheaper as there are many less hours involved in it. The new processor also allows for a much more customizable home, leaving only you to imagine what home automation you can implement. Honestly, when writing this article we planned to include a cons section… but we could hardly find anything bad! The only things are we hope to see Lutron RA3 move to more of a cloud based server and not software focused and we assume this will be priced around other competitive products since the overall rating is well….EPIC. But like anything… There are not enough RA3 systems installed to call the system “Perfect” or “Bulletproof” and it is up to Lutron to prove itself as more RA3 systems get installed!  Overall we score RA3 a 10/10, but is it a game changer? That’s for you to decide… although the

Is Automating Your Home Really THAT Necessary in 2022? (SPOILER: YES, but there’s a catch…) Did you know the smart home market is currently sitting at $99.4 billion, with a growing rate of 12% a year??    Wow, that’s 34.3% of North America that has upgraded or built their homes to be automated in the last 10 years.. for newer technology, that’s sure becoming popular! But with all the excitement around the power of smart homes and how popular they are, is it worth making the switch? Because let’s be honest, It’s very very expensive and can be too complicated to install for the average joe…without the help of a professional. So let’s dive into it and see if making the switch to a Smart Home in 2022 is a good or bad decision for you…   How Does Home Automation Work?   Ok, I know we pretty much all know the basics of home automation, turn off lights from your phone, timers, voice command, heating and air conditioning, Yada-Yada… that’s the fun parts which we will get to. But first, how the heck does all of this “fun stuff” work? The truth is, we would be here all day if we went through it all, so let’s cover the basics for a brief understanding.    Home automation uses a network of hardware and user interface to control parts of your home that are connected to WI-FI. Controllers (Phones, Tablets, Remotes) send signals via WI-FI to actuators. Actuators are essentially motors, light switches and valves that activate the house to do things depending on the command given. Commands can also be sent to actuators via sensors. A sensor can do things like sense time, temperature, light and movement. Appliances and computers in your house connect to controllers via IoT which stands for “Internet of Things”. The appliance sends out an IoT signal which the device can connect to, then control it via IoT.   What things can be automated in my home?   Well, with rising technology so many different things can be automated in your home on so many different levels. The craziest example is Bill Gates’ house which is famous for its incredible automation features. Carrying a personalized chip on the person as they walk through the house, it can detect it, turning off lights ahead of the person walking and slowly dimming them behind them as they walk… and everyone else’s chip has different preferences! The smart home picks this up and makes the lighting a perfect in-between preference for both chips in the room. The chips will even let music and what you’re watching on TV follow you around while you walk around the house. Ok, but that’s just above and beyond! It’s cool but also a tad overkill… assuming you are not a billionaire.    But here are some cool automation features for non-billionaires… Lights and light switches: Can be automated with timers, dimers, natural light optimization, sensors, light patterns and controllers (and personalized chips for billionaires). Blinds: can be controlled from your phone anywhere in the world, they can have Sensors for heat and light and can even learn your patterns! Doors and Windows: Can have sensors to let you know when left open. Doors can have automated locks that you can open or close from anywhere in the world. Door-Bells: Are advanced enough now to talk to them and see who is there from anywhere in the world using IoT technology. Thermostats: Can be controlled by a tablet or phone and learn habits for certain times of the year. They can optimize your heating and cooling, saving tons of cash in the long run. Garbage cans: What? They can be so smart to even detect what package is thrown away and generate online orders!! Fridges: Can create dinner recipes depending on what is stored inside it. Washing machines: Will send you a text when your load is done! Voice control: Can be set up using a device like “Amazon Alexa”, “Google Nest” or “Siri”   For more things to automate in your house click HERE.   Benefits of Automating Your Home   So you know of some pretty cool ways to automate your home… but what’s the point… what is all the hype about? The truth is, nobody NEEDS to automate their home, it is one of those things that is incredibly helpful to have but not an everyday life necessity (for now at least). Can be set up using a device like “Amazon Alexa”, “Google Nest” or “Siri”   The biggest benefit is, simply put, Convenience. It makes things so much easier with things like being able to check all the locks and lights from your phone before going to sleep all from your bed. Or answering your door from your backyard patio. It truly allows you to live a little bit more Worry-Free, especially for scenarios like double-checking if your blinds are down and doors locked while getting on an airplane! I personally no longer have to second guess things about my home when away from it and it makes away from home ventures less stressful. Having a feeling of Control is in human DNA. It helps us take our mind off other things at home and help us focus on work or other important things in our lives. With a smart thermostat and lights, notice way fewer power costs. Lights automatically turn off when they see no movement and smart thermostats that optimize the temperature in your house save a lot of money in the long run. Always getting better, this sounds dumb, but once you are a part of the “smart home” ecosystem things are always being added and it’s easy to add to your house once you get the core. Smart Homes are still relatively new and just going to keep getting better. That’s the beauty of technology!   What should and should not be automated in my home?   The truth is, it’s your preference! It depends

8 Reasons Smart Blinds Might Just be the Future in ALL Houses Serena Shades by Lutron are the world’s leading manufacturer for smart blinds, and we can see why! At quality, luxurious yet reasonably prices, you’ll be impressed.   It’s no secret that technology is advancing every day, and Lutron is not afraid to move with it. In 1993 when these shades were invented, to the present, you will be impressed on how just plain old blinds could be changed into a technology advancement so smart, it will change the industry for good. Here are 8 ways Lutron shades will blow you away:     1). Natural Light optimization Natural Light is very important in a person’s everyday life. Study’s show It aids with being healthier, calmer, more productive and overall more happy. At the same time, natural light helps your home by saving power with less use of artificial light, and depending on your situation can save money on air conditioning and heating.   Serena Smart shade does just that, but fully automated… this means you will not even have to think about it!   Crazy right? Using smart systems Serena blinds will always put the right amount of natural light in your home. The shades automatically adjust as the sun rotates around your house, preventing sharp glare and heat from direct sunlight.       2). Hard to reach windows High windows and even skylights can be a REAL pain when it comes to any blinds. Forget the rods and long dangling pulleys that just don’t look aesthetically pleasing at all. Plus if you have beautiful high windows or skylights you know the pain of either not having blinds all together or blinds that are just simply annoying. When it comes to automated blinds It is as simple as grabbing your Lutron remote, looking up, and watching your blinds slowly cover your window. How easy is that! You can even use commands like “Hey google, lower the blind ½ way down the window”, you don’t even have to get up!     3). Temperature Sensing Temperature sensing, really? But you know your blind can help cool your house down a tremendous amount, right?. Only thing is people are very busy and sometimes we may forget to check everything because that is just unrealistic. The last thing you want is to go into your bedroom and realize it is way too hot to go to sleep because the sun has been beating down into it all day long. With the temperature sensing The lutron system has the blinds sense the temperature in the room and adjust accordingly, even when you’re not there. This way you will always have the rooms in your house at perfect temperatures.     4). Industry leading battery operation system Normally, I would say stick away from non rechargeable batteries, but this is just not the case. It is such a clean and professional look with no wires going anywhere from your windows. Although Lutron does make a plug in compatible version the batteries are just so easy to use and install, and wow does it ever look appealing! The batteries last an astonishing 3-5 years!Yeah, you heard that right. That way you do not have to worry about changing them all the time.     5). Powered anywhere in the world Privacy is a big part of owning a house. Imagine you leaving for an early morning plane in a rush. Out the door you feel like you forgot something, and you did! Your blinds are still up! Now Lutron has your back. With their app you are able to quickly and easily adjust your blinds and your blind schedule from anywhere in the world. This is very, very useful for traveling, vacation rentals, cabins and away from home encounters.     6). Reduce direct amount of direct sunlight with woodshades Sunlight can do a surprising amount of damage to floors, paint, furniture, and paintings. With the Serena wood shades the smart feature angles the wood in such a way that propels the sunlights direct beams away from the important levels in your home and towards the roof instead. This can make a huge difference in the quality the inside of your home will stay in. It also helps yourself inside the home, never getting a direct eyeful of the sun. It is a lot less straining and healthier on your eyes.     7). Customize schedules And of course Lutron is all about automation. You are able to 100% schedule your blinds timing freely if you would like, or choose one of their many presets. This means you can have the blinds go down for dinner time, close half way for 7:00 when it’s time to watch TV and even time it with your alarm to wake up to natural light instead of the loud buzzing of your alarm clock. This customization makes it very broad with the 1000’s of settings you can automate.     8). Ease of use Lutron is all about being user friendly. From the setup right to the use of the product Lutron did just that. Using your blinds can be as easy as talking out loud to your “Alexa” or hitting a button on your mobile device. With the lutron automated blind system you will be pleasantly surprised on how smooth and professional the app works and feels. Don’t have your phone on you? The lutron blinds come with a remote to control them from. It is as simple as hitting a button! Get Your FREE Automation Planner Start your no obligation quote. Book a time or call now! CALL US BOOK NOW