Lifestyle automation pays for itself (well almost!) ...

Lifestyle automation is often compared with other home improvement projects such as doing up your kitchen or a new bathroom:  It is a worthwhile investment which will be repaid in the increased value of your property and will improve its marketability.  The analogy is probably valid. There is supporting evidence that features such as pre-wiring, broadband internet access and security increase both the value of a house and its marketability.

This is particularly even more so in the high end of the market, where (after location) characteristics such as security, convenience and high-end features such as offices, cinemas, gym and pools have become highly desirable.

But lifestyle automation can also save you hard currency in the on-going costs for your utility bills and staff personnel. For instance:

	You can reduce your electricity bills by programming lights so they are switch off when not in use or not required. Dimming, also saves electricity - in some cases up to 50%.
	A well-designed heating system can save up to 20-30% of you annual heating bill - while actually making your home more comfortable to live in. In a large house, a 20% saving may amount to over £1,000 ($1,600) in savings per year.
	Fewer routine tasks means that your staff can be more efficient and get more done. It can also simplify maintenance so you can contract those services with local cheaper suppliers while maintaining high levels of supervision. Again, this may result in quantifiable savings.
	In houses with high-end features such as pools, spas, gyms and cinemas, a concern of buyers is the expense and time required to maintain these. A highly automated control of say, the pool, can reduce expense by as much as 50% - or for a 60'x30' pool, this can be up to £5,000 a year.

Finally, the increased security afforded by integrating the various home systems can also have a positive impact on the overall return on your investment.

In Summary

Beyond increased value and marketability, installing well-thought out automation can produce quantifiable savings.  Depending on the scale and scope of the installation, it may be possible for it to pay for itself within three to six years.

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