7 key benefits of using KNX to make your home more intelligent
A smart home is no longer an alien concept, but some smart home systems do have their quirks, which can cause frustration and a lot of unnecessary spend. This is why it’s important to understand the main differences and so you can choose what is right for you and your home.
KNX is a system that allows a smart home to be more than just smart…it can be truly intelligent. Here are the main benefits of a KNX smart home.
1. Proprietary limitations of other smart home systems
Most smart home installs are built using a proprietary system, that is comprised of a single brand of products, behind the scenes and on your wall. On the surface, this might seem like a good idea – a way to keep things ‘simple’ with one cohesive aesthetic, however, not only does it limit your options, but it can also impact the features, functionality and cost. A straightforward way to understand the practicality of this is to imagine only ever being able to wear one brand of clothing – it’s incredibly limiting and not always appropriate for every occasion.
2. Speaking the universal language of smart home
One key advantage of KNX is that it is an open, worldwide standard, which means that no singular brand of switches, sockets, or system components dominates. KNX isn’t defined as any one type of system, it is in fact a communication protocol or language that allows all the components in your smart home to talk to each other and work together. There are 500+ manufacturers worldwide that make KNX-compatible products, which means you have plenty of choices when it comes to design options for sockets and switches and some flexibility on price too.
3. KNX is robust
Having a KNX smart home system means that if one component fails, the rest of your system still functions and doesn’t grind annoyingly to a halt. You can continue to go about life, safe in the knowledge that your smart home isn’t going to hold you hostage due to one small blip. KNX devices are individually intelligent, which means your home stays ‘online,’ whilst also making it an easy fix for your KNX integrator to simply swap out the faulty item with a reprogrammed replacement.
4. Variety is the spice of smart home life
At the risk of sounding repetitive, the real beauty of KNX is the vast quantity of choice when it comes to front and back-end products. From durable plastic to beautifully bespoke metal, you have an almost unlimited menu of choices when it comes to choosing switches and sockets.
5. Infinitely customisable
Whether you like to renovate every few years or make longer-term adaptations to your home, a KNX smart home can handle change. If you live in or dream of a period property, then you are in luck as it is possible to retrofit KNX into a property. If you’re considering a smart home, make sure you discuss the potential for future additions or changes to the system with your smart home installer. Forward planning on the initial install means future addons or customisations are easy, making your smart home even smarter.
6. KNX is keen on being green
If you’re an energy-conscious homeowner (let’s face it, who isn’t these days) a KNX smart home isn’t just clever. Because KNX devices can all communicate with each other, it’s possible for installers to create an intelligent green smart home that is an investment in the future. KNX sensors can perform operations based on many variables such as outside temperature, time of day (or night), the position of the sun, and presence and motion detection. With everything connected and communicating intelligently, you can automatically water the grass in the summer after sunset, turn on outside lights to welcome you home after dark, or lower the blinds as the sun changes position throughout the day to reduce glare and overheating. These automated actions can conserve resources and reduce unnecessary overspending on utility bills over time – all without lifting a finger!
7. As safe as smart houses
Our homes are our sanctuary, and a smart home can help you to feel even more in control of your safe space. A KNX smart home gives you the ability to remotely check and lock doors and windows, get instant notifications of any security alerts, and even mimic occupancy whilst spending time away from home. From a little extra peace of mind to state-of-the-art biometric access control, a KNX home can look after itself, and those who live in it. And finally, if you run your life from your phone, you can control your KNX smart home from it too!
KNX offers intelligent control of a home’s lighting, heating, shading, multimedia AV, security, and energy management. So, do you want a smart home or an intelligent one?
Click here for more on why we prefer KNX or contact us for more information.