Thinking about improving your home security, then look no further than Yale Digital, their new easy to use website, offering the very latest digital security solutions.

You will conveniently be able to buy your security products online via the Digital Store and have them delivered direct to your door.

Products available include:

• Yale’s revolutionary new SmartHome Alarm, which turns on a light in your home when an intruder activates a PIR outside, plus digital door locks, fire safes and wire-free alarms.

• Most of the Yale Digital products are available with professional installation, carried out by the national network of Yale Security Point installers.

• Yale Digital also includes ‘Build my alarm’, an easy-to-use feature that proposes both general security and high security packages depending on your home’s requirements.

• You can also arrange for a 130 point security check of your property via the website, to enable you to ascertain which products are best suited to you and your home.

• Specially trained Yale Security Point installers always carry out this reliable and affordable survey, for additional peace of mind.

Yale Digital offers you and your family security and peace of mind, with cutting edge technology, practical reliability, plus all the convenience and flexibility that only a digital solution can provide.

For more information or to view all of the Yale digital security products, please visit the website.
Yale’s Digital Helpline Tel: (01902) 364606.

A small meter reader that can be easily installed on existing electronic or mechanical meters, in order to monitor electricity consumption in private homes, has been developed by NorthQ, in association with Dong Energy.

The meter reading solution is based on the Z-Wave wireless standard, which is ideal for controlling automated products within the home.

The NorthQ Meter Reader is compatible for use with electronic or mechanical meters in the UK:

• The product consists of 3 parts: a meter reader, a battery-powered wireless transmitter and a USB receiver.

• Electricity usage data is transferred to a chosen PC every 15 minutes, where it can then be seen in the form of graphs, thus enabling customers to keep track of their electricity consumption (in kWh and EUR), and monitor their CO2 emissions, etc.

• It is also possible to receive real-time measurements, in order to investigate how much each individual appliance uses in active or standby mode.

• Furthermore, you can input a power budget, for the amount you want to spend in EUR per year.

• Then a widget on the screen continuously monitors and updates electricity consumption data, to indicate whether you are under or over budget. This also enables you to compare your electricity consumption in the current year with that in previous years.It is also possible to compare the consumption in your home with that in other types of dwelling, e.g. apartments, houses, villas, etc.

• The meter reading solution can also be used in conjunction with the Google PowerMeter, to get an overview of your total energy consumption, so that you can manage your home in a more energy efficient way.

Apart from the obvious personal financial benefits, this solution enables you to play a part in the global effort to improve our environment through the reduction of CO2 emissions.

Software compatibility: XP/VISTA/WINDOWS7/MAC.

For further information about the NorthQ Power Reader, please visit the website.

The NorthQ Power Reader will soon be available for purchase online at:  http://www.scan.co.uk/

Here is a straightforward guide to the benefits of having an intelligent home automation system – covering ‘what it is’ and ‘what it can achieve in your home’; how it can increase family security, save energy and afford more comfort.

The Comfort Intelligent Home System brings together an integrated intruder alarm with home automation that controls lighting, heating, curtains and blinds, appliances, audio and video, all cleverly functioning together.

It is controlled from keypads, touch-screens, remote controls, a mobile phone, by computer, or automatically via preset time programmes.

Comfort is uncomplicated to manage and provides security, convenience energy saving and peace of mind as a bonus!

Features of the Comfort Intelligent Home System include:

• Control any electrical device connected to the system.

• Switch on the garden lights.

• Create mood lighting with different lighting scenes.

• “Magic” a hidden TV from a fake bookcase.

• Heat up the bath water or hot tub.

• Hear reminder messages on a talking keypad.

• Open or draw the curtains or blinds.

• Check on home security remotely from anywhere in the world.

• Have your lighting and appliances respond automatically, to alarms or security events.

• Check all is well around your house via a computer screen.

• Talk to a visitor at the door, before you let them in, from a keypad, home phone, or by your mobile when you are out.

• Comfort is also ideal for assisted living applications, such as checking on the elderly or disabled.

View the system via a 5-minute Comfort video at:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHS6zTFFLiM

For further information about the exceptional Comfort Intelligent Home System, or to find a UK dealer, please visit the website.

A new entirely wireless remote control light switch (RTS 2020W) is announced by Retrotouch, the manufacturer of innovative lighting solutions and home automation products.

The Wireless 2 Way Touch light is simply fitted to your wall with concealed fixing screws, without the need for any live wires, and you get an additional light switch anywhere you wish to put one. Priced at £84.99.

• Just the thing for placing a light switch in your conservatory, porch, loft, or wherever you need a switch, but formerly thought to be tricky -without expensive re-wiring.
• The wireless switch can also be a great benefit for disabled people, who may find existing switches in their home difficult to reach.

• The 2 Way Wireless Touch switch needs to be paired with a wired Touch & Remote switch, making it work in the same way as a remote control, with a range of up to 20m.

The Wired Touch & Remote switches (priced from £41 each), are also easy-to-install - a DIY job that uses existing wiring, to create a remote-control switch in any room of the house.

You can use up to four Wireless Touch switches or mini remotes, by pairing with only one master remote switch.

The new wireless switch is available in full glass and chrome trim versions. Match with stylish, co-ordinating Retrotouch plug sockets and accessories.

The Wireless Touch switch is offered in 1, 2 and 3 gang versions, enabling you to have up to 3 lights connected to it; it retails from £84.99 inc VAT and comes with a 1 year warranty.
Available direct from the Rerotouch website.

RTS 2020W Features:

Remote controlled light switch - a completely wireless solution.
Switch can be used through walls (RF).
Anywhere solution (Does not use any Live, input/output wires)
Glass surround with chrome trim
Microlite touch panel (Patented Technology).
Blue glow for easy night use.
Quick and easy installation
Modern design and easy clean.For further information about the Retrotouch wireless light switch, please visit the website.

One in two UK households (49%) has five or more remote controls, and in 25% of them,only one user knows how to operate the audio visual equipment properly.

One For All, worldwide market leaders in universal remotes, is looking to simplify all that, with the launch of
The Xsight Lite and Xsight Plus - affordable and easy-to-use alternatives to the jumble of remotes on the coffee table.

Controlling six or twelve different devices, the new Xsights bring advanced functions to the mass market for the first time, with a price tag of under £50.

Xsight can be set up simply, straight out the box; advanced commands and customisation can be programmed via your PC, once the basic operation is complete.

Instant set up on the remote itself takes just a few moments:

For more advanced features, connect the Xsight to One For All’s EZ-RC website via a PC; the set up wizard guides you through settings such as activities, favourites and profiles, as well as checking online for updates.

For example, you can watch a DVD by pressing just one button to turn on the TV, DVD player and amplifier; select the right inputs; switch the TV format to widescreen; and play…!

The easy set-up process means no manual is needed and Xsight supports virtually every audio-visual device available - over 2800 brands - thanks to One For All’s vast code library.

With more feature-rich products now available - such as Internet TV, 3D and EPG - this means that more buttons and control commands are needed per device.

This requires more programming flexibility (for example, which functions to use or not to use). One For All has taken note by moving to screen-based control solutions - because you can’t fit 100 keys onto one remote!

In addition, the speed of innovation and new hardware coming to market, means there’s an ongoing need to update remotes with the latest control codes. One For All’s database is the most comprehensive available and all Xsight remotes have fully upgradeable firmware.

The Xsight Lite and Xsight Plus are new low-cost additions to a successful range of universal remotes:

The Xsight Lite supports six different a/v devices, six activities and 12 favourites. It has a 1.44″ high res. colour LCD screen in a high gloss housing. SRP is £39.99.

The Xsight Plus is the big brother of the Xsight Lite. It supports 12 devices, 12 activities and 24 favourites. The 1.44″ high res colour screen sits in an aluminium and high gloss housing, and is backlit. SRP is £49.99.

The new Xsights will be available from Currys, PC World and online at Amazon.
For further information about the new One For All remotes, please visit the website

Xsight online wizard guides.

Intamac Systems Ltd, market leaders in connected home technology, has announced its Smart Energy service and partnership with Green Energy Options’ (GEO) to connect in-home display (IHD’s) to its web-based home monitoring platform.

The new Smart Energy service enables homeowners to visualize, monitor and interact with their energy consumption.

Intamac’s Smart Energy solution is delivered via its unique web-based, managed service platform, which already provides utilities, telco’s and service providers with a range of added value services.

The company has incorporated GEO’s latest in-home display device - the Ensemble - into its connected home platform, replicating the display information online, so that consumers can access and monitor the energy consumption and control appliances in their homes at any time, and from anywhere in the world!

Content is delivered over fixed and mobile broadband, allowing end users to visualize the energy consumption in their homes.

By delivering this information via Internet and mobile, consumers can actively monitor and manage their energy consumption, realize cost reductions, and improve their home’s energy efficiency.

Kevin Meagher, CEO Intamac Systems Ltd. comments “Through this partnership with GEO, we are taking a big stride towards homeowners having a simple and cost effective way of interacting with their energy usage, identifying and making savings, and taking responsibility for the energy consumption in their homes”.

The Ensemble is GEO’s next generation in-home display(featured here) lets users see how much electricity they’re using overall and to track up to six appliances. Connecting to the Intamac platform via an Internet bridge makes the Ensemble a truly smart device - users can control the appliances via a web portal or using an iPhone app, whilst a ‘one-touch’ lifestyle button can switch all six appliances off at once.

For more information about Intamac’s smart energy service, please visit the website.

For more information on GEO’s latest in-home display device - the Ensemble visit the website.

Whether you just want a fresh new look or are planning to sell, it’s worth remembering that the most simple and effective way to transform your home’s appearance isn’t through paint, fabric or furniture, it’s through the control of light.

That’s the view of dozens of experts gathered together in ‘The Book of Light’, from pioneering light control company Lutron.

Lutron invited experts from the fields of design, architecture and entertainment, to submit their insights as to how to use the simple, yet under-exploited, medium of lighting and light control.

The resulting book – soon to be made available as a limited edition hardback, (or to view free now online)– features contributions from luminaries such as renowned Architect Alex Michaelis and Lee Prince, Lighting Designer of the Year in 2009.

There are some great tips from both them and Lutron. Here’s the top ten:

• 1. By getting into the mindset of designing with light - as you do with paint and fabric, as well as colour and texture, you can dramatically change the atmosphere in a room or home. It just takes imagination and the use of appropriate technology - whether it’s a lighting system, individual dimmers or, simply, the type of light/lamp you choose.

• 2. Remember, lighting should draw attention to what you are lighting, not to the lighting itself – this is probably one of people’s most common mistakes.

• 3. Don’t be fooled into thinking that ‘dark = moody’ – get it wrong and it can simply look depressing.

• 4. There’s no need to just rely on one central light fitting in the home – instead highlight and spotlight favourite features in a room by using a mix of lighting fixtures.

• 5. Don’t intrude too much on traditional lighting in period properties or more formal rooms – a few occasional lamps can work very well.

• 6. Dimmers make all the difference to the ambience in a room. Instead of basic ‘on/off’ lighting, using a dimmer means the level of lighting can easily be matched to mood and activity.

• 7. With Lutron, you can dim all the lights in your home with the touch of a button – and by using its remote control dimmers, you can instantly alter the levels of light without moving from your sofa.

• 8. Table lamps can add subtle accents to a room’s lighting, as well as providing a comfortable and convenient level of light next to a favourite chair or bedside.

• 9. Dimming extends a light bulb’s life, making some bulbs last up to 10x longer than when used at full power.

• 10. Lighting can account for up to 20% of a household’s yearly electricity bill, so the effective control of it through dimmers and lighting systems can not only lighten the mood, but save cash.

For more general lighting advice and to see Lutron products, please visit the website. To view the

Lutron Book of Light online click here.

Tel: (020) 7702 0657.

The time when we used to have to cross the room to change TV channels, or put on the surround-sound system is luckily long gone.

Infrared (the signal that is emitted by your remote control) is the solution for operating your TV and A/V devices from the comfort of your armchair. And it works pretty effectively!

There are, however, two limitations:
1. The signal only has a range of 8 metres and
2. It needs to be able to ‘see’ the device if it is to work.

Responding to this situation, Marmitek, who has been developing infrared extenders for over 15 years, has introduced two new products, which are set to turn the world of operational ease on its head:

How to Operate A/V devices that are situated in a closed cabinet.

Locating A/V devices under a cabinet, in an open cabinet, or one with glass doors, or always having the doors open.

These are just a few examples, of how people try to get around the limitations of the infrared signal.

Invisible Control4

• Marmitek’s new Invisible Control4 is an elegant, small box that you locate under, or to the side of your A/V furniture, in sight of your remote control.

• You simply stick the IR LEDs supplied onto the IR window of your A/V devices, (maximum of four); then direct your remote control towards the Invisible Control4 to operate your A/V devices.

Operate A/V devices that are situated in another room……

Is your satellite receiver in the electric meter cupboard, or even on the other side of the house?

Why not operate it while you are watching TV with the GigaControl450?

The new GigaControl450 comprises an IR receiver and an IR transmitter.

• Place the IR receiver in the room where you use the remote control.

• Place the IR transmitter in sight of the equipment that you wish to operate.

• Point the remote control at the IR receiver in order to operate equipment through your walls (wirelessly) via the IR transmitter.

• Now with Marmitek infrared extenders, you can really use your remote control to operate your devices at a distance.

Plug and Play and a world of operational simplicity are about to open up for you and no more ugly A/V devices on view.

Both products have a recommended retail price of £39.95 Inc.VAT.

For more information on the new Marmitek infrared extenders and stockists, please visit the website.

Retrotouch, the lighting solution company, is launching a new range of glass-plate remote-control light switches - in gold, black and white - that bring sophisticated but affordable home automation to any type of property.

The stunning new Retrotouch RTS 2040 Touch and Remote light switches can be touch or remote controlled, and come with a handy remote control unit that works through walls for seamless lighting control.

They are a retrofit, therefore use existing wiring and are less expensive, quick and easy to install; unlike many other home automation products developed for installation primarily in new-builds.

The new full-glass Retrotouch RTS2040 Touch and Remote light switches, come in 1 gang and 3 gang options so enabling you to control from 1 to three independent lights from one unit.

The light switches can, if needed, be controlled by an optional master remote control. This gives the user the power to turn on/off any light switch in the home, or set scenes - patterns of light - in different rooms, without the need for expensive controllers or senders.

All models in the Touch and Remote full glass range measure 86mm x 86mm, have a stylish glass surround with chrome trim, and come with a 1 year warranty.

Retrotouch products give the user the power to control their lighting the way they want, using the advanced features or simple controls.

The new range comprises:

• RTS 2040 full glass touch panel with remote, 1 gang version in Black glass, White glass or Gold glass - £51.08 including VAT.

• RTS 2040 full glass touch panel with remote, 2 gang version in Black glass, white glass or Gold glass - £56.19 including VAT.

• RTS 2040 glass surround, 3 gang version in Black glass, White glass or Gold glass - £61.29 including VAT.

• RTS2030 - Full glass Touch Dimmers - 1 gang version in Black or White glass - £51.08 including VAT

• Available from November 2010.

For further information about Retrotouch remote control light switches, please visit the website.

You can now save energy in your home this Christmas and beyond with Energenie devices and sockets.

Electrical items  can still utilise up to 70% of the power required if they are left fully on stanby.

Products include:

Rundown-timer plug - The 30 minute Rundown Timer comes in plug adapter format and is suitable for irons, hair straighteners and any domestic appliance rated up to 13amps.-

Switches off the mains power to your appliance after a preset period of 30 minutes, providing a safety feature should the appliance be accidentally left on. Priced at: £7.99 RRP.
Available online at the energenie website.

Automatic Standby Shutdown for Home Entertainment Systems - this 5-gang socket, reduces the amount of energy used by your system; saves money and reduces the risk of fires.

It has one socket reserved for appliances that need to remain constantly on, this device will learn the standby power level of your home entertainment system and switch it off automatically.

Re-enabled via the standby button on your remote control, without you having to get up. Priced at: £16.99 RRP. Available from Homebase and other major retailers.

Radio Controlled Extension Lead - ideal for hard to reach plugs, or for people who have restricted mobility as it can be used with any domestic appliance.

Each socket can be individually controlled or switched en-block. This accessory is perfect for Christmas tree fairy lights. Priced at: £21.99 – RRP. Available from Homebase and other major retailers.

For more information on the Energenie devices and sockets, please visit the website.