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MATELEC 2010 Stages e-Doceo to Demonstrate the Virtues of the Automated Home (28/6/2010)

MATELEC 2010, the International Exhibition of Electrical and Electronic Equipment, will once again stage the thematic area known as e-Doceo. The aim of this informative section is to demonstrate the virtues of the automated home when it comes to saving energy and consuming energy more efficiently. In this respect, the Spanish Domotics Association, CEDOM, presented its CODE OF PRACTICE as part of the SMARTHOUSE Project last 4th February.

This Guide, which enjoys the support of the Spanish Association for Standardisation and Certification, AENOR, as well as the National Federation of Electrical and Telecommunications Installation Businessmen of Spain, FENIE, and which encompasses all of the systems and equipment designed to facilitate integration within the home, will become a key point of reference for the entire market.

Madrid, 10th February 2010.- SmartHouse is a Europe-wide project designed by the European Committee for Electro-Technical Standardisation, CENELEC, based on the collaboration of experts, companies, associations, etc., from 28 countries throughout Europe. In short, it consists of a handbook containing more than 250 technical standards throughout the world, as well as other specifications that facilitate the work of professionals when undertaking domotics projects, enhancing inter-operational aspects regarding applications and services. This project will play a starring role within the e-Doceo Area at the International Exhibition of Electrical and Electronic Equipment, MATELEC, which is due to take place at Feria de Madrid between 26th and 29th October 2010.

The SmartHouse Code has been translated into Spanish, so it is now available to all installers, integrators, decorators, interior designers, architects, etc., providing a key point of reference when it comes to designing, installing and maintaining an intelligent home. This initiative will help to integrate all the different segments of the market, to the benefit of the end consumer. The fact is that all previous attempts at convincing consumers of the benefits of automating their home have been somewhat confused and confusing. On the one hand, the early versions of this technology were costly and difficult to understand; on the other, the installers sold the product to the consumer, but did not take any responsibility for maintaining it.

From now on, an intelligent home shall be considered to be a "living organism", in the sense that it is a facility that can be adapted to new needs and is capable of interacting with every part of the home in order maximise energy saving and energy efficiency, not to mention accessibility, safety and security, convenience, etc.

Human beings progress through different stages in their lives as they grow older, starting with childless couples, who then decide to have children. The children themselves grow up and leave home one day, leaving the family once again with fewer members. Based on this perspective, the intelligent home is able to adapt to every need at each stage.

. Favouring the Access of Domestic Users

Among the objectives of the SmartHouse Project, we might mention its aim of identifying all the technologies and techniques that are applied to the home, as well as the agents who are involved in developing these installations. The purpose is to promote the awareness and development of domestic systems, based on the benefits that they are able to offer the end-user: safety, security and control, communications, entertainment, convenience, health assistance, sustainability, environmental integration, energy efficiency and accessibility. Moreover, all this is based on interaction within the home, whether it be inside or outside.

By installing a domotics system within the home, the consumer can efficiently manage aspects such as lighting, air-conditioning and hot water supply by taking advantage of special low-rate time-bands. The intelligent home also goes a step further by keeping users constantly informed of any possible gas or water leaks, as well as monitoring security alarms and interacting with different electrical appliances throughout the building. For example, our refrigerator can place an on-line order for food that is running out, or the home can provide tele-assistance for elderly members of the household. We can even programme doors to be opened for authorised persons who are recognised by our domotics system.

. In Line with Energy Efficiency Policies

The SmartHouse Project, which will play a starring role within the e-Doceo Area at MATELEC 2010 through the auspices of FENIE and CEDOM, places special emphasis on the development of standards aimed at catering for the elderly and the disabled. Furthermore, the Project promotes a universal design and the development of ergonomic systems that feature an increasingly intuitive man-machine interface. This undoubtedly constitutes an added advantage when it comes to installing domotics systems in our homes.

With a view to the future, the domestic industry has opted for SmartMetering. This is an approach that standardises intelligent electricity meters, interconnecting them with domotics systems in the home and allowing consumers to manage their energy consumption by negotiating improved monitoring of their electricity use with electricity companies.

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