Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, March 19, 1995                   TAG: 9503210123
SECTION: TODAY'S HOME                    PAGE: TH-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: KATHERINE KNOPF
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

HERE'S THE LATEST IN HOME AUTOMATION

MANY builders say their customers want a new home wired for some type of media system, intercom or security system. Across the country, many of them have begun pre-wiring for home automation to accommodate their buyers' needs for these and other advanced systems.

In the Roanoke Valley, builders are using some new products to provide their customers with convenience and an enjoyable lifestyle.

Jo Miller of E.J. Miller Construction has installed ELAN in several homes. This is an exciting new system designed to link audio, video, phones and an intercom in one network. ELAN coordinates your TV, VCR, phone and stereo so that they can be used for high-tech as well as traditional applications.

With this unique system, you can pick up the phone to find out who's at the front door, flip on the TV to see their picture, monitor the nursery over the intercom, call the family to dinner, or page someone to the phone. No more shouting through the house.

Want to control your house temperature without always running to the front hall? Wayne Campbell of Campbell Construction & Development recommends and installs computer-programmed thermostats in some of his homes. Honeywell makes a unit for approximately $100 which can be preset for weekday and weekend use. An override system can be utilized for holidays or if your normal schedule changes.

Once you set the program, the computer cuts the heat down when you leave for work and warms the house back to a comfortable temperature before you return home. That's one less chore on a busy day.

What other advantages does home automation have to offer? Many experts agree that computer-controlled media rooms are the wave of the future. With the push of one button, the drapes will close, the lights will dim, and a projection screen and projector will descend to convert the family room into a home movie theatre. Additional controls will adjust the lights and stop the movie for a popcorn break.

In the future, elevators will become more common in upscale housing. Designed to meet the needs of our aging population, The Inclinator Company of America is promoting a product called "Elevette." Used in both new and existing housing, this elevator has a simple design and requires only as much space as an average closet. It is custom-built to meet the specifications of each home or homeowner. These units will accommodate most wheelchairs as well as an attendant.

Another new electrical system is Levitron's Decora Home Controls. These controls are easily added to your home's current electrical wiring to provide dimmers, occupancy sensors and additional sockets, without ugly wires or the cost of tearing out ceilings and walls. These switches can be preset to program lights and appliances for safety and energy efficiency. They are available in colors to match your home's decor.