Blog post -

Three examples of smart living spaces of today

Imagine a home you can control with the touch of a button or your voice. Smart technology is revolutionising living spaces, combining automated living with comfort and convenience.

Visitors to the 2015 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas were given the opportunity to experience smart living technology during a tour of Caesars Entertainment's The LINQ hotel and casino.

Lights, air conditioning and curtains are just some of the features in hotel rooms that guests staying at The LINQ will be able to control using the phone application, WeChat. The app was developed by Ayla Networks, a Silicon Valley-based company.

"Ayla-powered devices can basically be controlled by any app via any home hub that runs on Zigbee, Z-wave or Wi-Fi," says Ayla's PR representative, Sharon Chan.

Caesars Entertainment welcomes the partnership. "Collaborating with leading companies like Ayla and WeChat helps make our customers feel even more at home when they can interact in our resorts using technology and apps like WeChat," the company said in a statement.

Similarly in Beijing, Panasonic is working with Starwood Hotels and Resort Group on a project at the Westin Hotel Beijing Financial District where 47 'Green Room' guest rooms were fitted with Eco-POWER METERs and tablets to control lighting and appliances within the room. Electricity consumption is made viewable in real-time through tablets for the guest and a back-end system for the management thereby promoting energy saving for the user as well as cost savings for the hotel.

Interactive hotel rooms like those at The LINQ and Westin Hotel are perhaps just the beginning of what smart living will look and feel like. Industry insiders predict that by 2020 our homes will be even smarter with remote monitoring technologies which can help alleviate security concerns, as well as next-generation smoke detectors that can also measure air quality.

Feeling more at home with smart and sustainable living technology

Smart technology, coupled with sustainable building features, is an indicator of what 'the home of the future' will look like. Companies like PanaHome (a subsidiary of Panasonic) has been effecting change by marrying smart living technology with sustainable building methods, and the results can be seen in the form of projects like the CASART TERRA smart house - a home with near zero-CO2 emissions.

The shell of the house is fully insulated and includes low-e double-glazed windows to minimise heat transference. Inside, PanaHome's unique ECONAVI™ ventilation system reduces the need for air conditioning by drawing air that is naturally cooler in summer and warmer in winter from under the floorboards into the home. Sensors gauge outside temperatures and the system automatically utilises natural and mechanical ventilation systems to help maintain optimal indoor temperatures.

Another key feature is the proprietary Panasonic Home Energy Management System (HEMS) used within the property, which combines a photovoltaic power generation system and an energy storage battery, making energy visualisation and management effortless for home owners.

The near-future of smart home technology

A case study by the European Commission states that the global growth of residential construction is expected to be 5.6 per cent between 2010 and 2015, and 4.4 per cent between 2015 and 2020, with smart construction being a new and growing trend in the industry.

As more government legislations and incentives are rolled out in support of smart and sustainable housing, we can expect to see more innovative, eco-friendly building projects that incorporate energy efficiency and intelligent use of technology into the living spaces of tomorrow.

Green building councils and associations, for example the Building Construction Authority Singapore and Green Building Council Indonesia, are actively promoting development of green buildings via assessment tools such as Green Mark rating system and GREENSHIP rating tools respectively. Developers and construction companies are also likely to adopt more green building practices.

From hotel rooms to the CASART TERRA smart house to your very own home, smart technology is paving the way for a future of sustainable living. Where will you live tomorrow?

Related links

Topics

  • Building, property

Categories

  • homes & living
  • indonesia
  • malaysia
  • technology

Related content

  • Evolution of Green Building Technologies in Asia [Infographic]

    In recent years, Asia has seen much advancement in eco-friendly and sustainable building technologies, from establishing government regulations to support green building, to the development of entire smart cities. Here's a top down look at how green building technologies have developed in Asia over the last decade.

  • Indonesian Eco Resorts: Showing the way forward

    A recent Trip Advisor survey cited by the International Ecotourism Club found that 79 percent of travellers feel it's important that "accommodation providers have eco-friendly practices." Explore how Indonesia is showing the way forward with a few noteworthy eco-friendly resorts.

  • Driving Malaysia's Green Building Industry

    Thanks largely to government incentives and the adoption of a green rating system, Malaysia is now at the forefront of the green movement in Southeast Asia.

  • A Green Awakening in Indonesia

    Indonesia's capital has mandated that buildings must be more energy efficient, while market demand for green projects throughout the country is picking up.

  • Get environmentally friendly with low-e glass and shading devices

    Thanks in part to government-led green initiatives, Malaysia is emerging as a leader in sustainable housing development. Low-emission (also known as low-e glass) and other shading technologies are amongst the country’s solutions to the problem of wasteful conventional energy.

  • Bamboo in Construction: Today's Renewable Building Resource

    Bamboo is highly regarded as a reliable, renewable and versatile building material in many tropical regions. The plant is one of the world's oldest natural building materials and serves as an important resource for sustainable building in today's eco-conscious world. Panasonic explores ways on bamboo usage as a renewable building resource.

  • Three Malaysian Green-building Joint Ventures to Watch

    Developers in Malaysia are exhibiting further commitment to environmental preservation with more green-building developments. These joint ventures highlight continued efforts towards environmental sustainability in the country.

  • Interview with an Eco-Housing Expert: Jason Pomeroy (Part 1 of 2)

    Panasonic speaks to award-winning eco-architect, master planner and academic Prof. Jason Pomeroy, principal and founder of Singapore-based architectural firm Pomeroy Studio. In part one of a two-part interview, he talks about the key issues, drivers and trends of green buildings in Southeast Asia.

  • 4 Simple Steps to go Eco-friendly in Your Home

    Eco-friendly home modifications are good for the environment, but that's not the only reason they're worth investing in. Here's a look at how having eco-friendly features in your home can make your life more comfortable and save you money.

  • Asia's Green Ambitions Should Start from Urban Environments

    It is estimated that urban environments account for a large percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions. As such, governments are beginning to realise that efforts to reduce a country's carbon footprint should start in its rapidly growing cities.

  • Smart living: Smart lighting for your home and office

    Advancements in technology have enabled the development of lighting as an automated function within a room or home to adjust to prevailing conditions, hence improving energy efficiency. Here's a look at how smart lighting could benefit living spaces.

  • Malaysia's 3 Green Property Hotspots to Watch

    Bustling Kuala Lumpur is often touted as Malaysia's hottest property investment area, but developers are looking further within the country to find other investment opportunities. Here are three of Malaysia's property hotspots outside of KL. [Image Source: Flickr]

  • Why Green Building?

    According to the results of the Green Building Market Report Southeast Asia 2014, green building practices are being adopted by increasing numbers of architects and developers throughout SEA. With 46 per cent of architects having already sought green building certification by 2014, and with 79 per cent stated their intention to do so in the future. What is driving the trend towards green building?

  • Where is Green Building Headed in SEA?

    As the world's population increases, more and more people in urbanised areas. Sustainable building is now entering the mainstream as a way to conserve natural resources, save costs in the long run and support population increase in major countries around the world. We take a look at where green building is headed in Southeast Asia.

  • Sustainable residential design: Is it worth the money?

    One of the main reasons why home builders don't embrace sustainable design is because of the extra costs involved. However, while the initial cost of a sustainable home may be higher, if you look at this as an investment in future savings, the picture changes. In the long run, a sustainable home is a more economical home.

  • Flood-proofing lessons for every home

    The devastating floods in Malaysia in 2014 highlighted the importance of taking measures to ensure that home are flood-safe. Here, we examine some effective ways to flood-proof existing homes as well as other methods for flood-proofing future developments.

  • Green Building and Sustainability Explained

    'Green building' and 'sustainability' are terms we hear frequently. Are the two terms synonymous or are there differences between them? How can an existing building be made more sustainable? What are developers doing to make their projects greener and more sustainable?

  • How a Geothermal-powered Home Reduces Environmental Impact and Saves Money

    Geothermal energy promises to reduce dependence on coal and other carbon-emitting sources of energy. While geothermal energy is important, it is not our only alternative. Large-scale geothermal plants can provide electricity to millions when combined with solar power in individual homes, drastically reducing energy costs with minimal environmental impact.

  • Binishell Building and Other Green Construction Methods

    Even as green building technologies emerge and evolve today, there are still some innovative designs that have been around for a long time, but adopted on a smaller scale. The Binishell is one such example.

  • Is Your Electrical Wiring Safe?

    In a society where technology is ubiquitous, we often think little of electrical outlets or how we access electricity to power modern conveniences. However, to technicians and home builders, safe and high quality wiring devices remain top concerns.

  • Improving the Air Quality in Your Home When Haze Strikes

    Haze caused by fires knows no boundaries. It’s often carried from distant burn-offs into the hearts of cities across Asia. While it will take a united effort to tackle pollution and deforestation, there are still things you can do to improve the air quality in your home.

  • Pretty, Green: How the Changing Aesthetics of Sustainable Living are Winning over Consumers

    ​As the technology for generating and managing renewable energy sources becomes more sophisticated, a rising number of governments, companies and private consumers are waking up to the possibilities of sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. But one of the main criticisms that persist is their lack of aesthetic appeal. How is this evolving and winning over customers in society today?

  • How to Put a Unique Accent on Indoor Ambience

    If you'd like to change the atmosphere in your house without changing the entire interior, then Panasonic's "Symphony Lighting" design method may be the answer you're looking for.

  • Building Foundations for Smarter Cities From the Ground Up

    With megacities in Asia developing at a breakneck pace, smarter sustainable developments are becoming readily necessary. Read how Panasonic is building the foundation and defining what smart cities should be through key developments in Japan.

  • Is the age of the 3D printed building upon us?

    There has been a lot of buzz about 3D-printed buildings, but is there any validity to the hype? Here’s what we think.
    3D printing is at a tipping point, poised to go mainstream in ways that promise to upheave even the most stubbornly traditional of industries. Even the construction sector, typically among the last to innovate, is beginning to explore ways to incorporate 3D printing technologies

Enter your email address to follow Panasonic Asia Pacific

When you choose to create a user account and follow a newsroom your personal data will be used by us and the owner of the newsroom, for you to receive news and updates according to your subscription settings.

To learn more about this, please read our Privacy Policy, which applies to our use of your personal data, and our Privacy Policy for Contacts, which applies to the use of your personal data by the owner of the newsroom you follow.

Please note that our Terms of Use apply to all use of our services.

You can withdraw your consent at any time by unsubscribing or deleting your account.
Check your inbox

Email sent to __email__. Click the link there to follow Panasonic Asia Pacific.

Okay