With the exception of the attic, the Build It House is a fully-wired, modern smart home.This means we have complete centralised control over our living environment – with the opportunity to set different lighting moods, manage the heating system, control shading and more from intuitive control panels or a smart device. There’s even an ‘all off/on’ function on the switch next to the front door, giving us pre-programmed security and welcome home scenes.
We specified the Niko system from Moss Technical, which is reliable and popular with visitors. A major benefit is that it offers free updates to add and enhance functionality – without needing to bring in an engineer. So, it actually gets better with age. “That’s the beauty of smart home,” explains Andy Moss from Moss Technical. “If there’s an update, you get a notification on the app. Accept it and, instantly, you’ve got that capability.”
One thing that is different in 2024 is that you no longer need Niko’s Digital Black control screen in every heating zone. “You’d still go with Digital Black for open-plan areas, but not in secondary bedrooms, bathrooms etc,” says Andy. “That’s because every switch now has built-in temperature and humidity sensors, so you don’t need a separate thermostat or control in every room.” There’s also more choice over the look of the switches, including toggle and rocker versions, as well as the option for robust Zigbee wireless switches – so it would be easy for a future owner to add smart functionality to the attic, too.