Imagine controlling your new home’s lighting, thermostat, stereo, security system, telephone, computers, energy management, sprinklers, pool and spa equipment, and virtually anything else from a command-center touchpad. What about controlling all of that by cell phone, or even by email from a remote location?

All of this high-tech gadgetry requires wiring that can handle it. New home builders now include “smart” wiring, or “structured wiring systems,” with new homes in varying degrees of complexity, based on the home buyer’s needs and budget. From satellite TV, security systems, energy management, home entertainment, lighting, telephone, and computers, all of the systems in a house can be inter-connected and controlled by the homeowner.

At the heart of a “smart home” is a centralized metal box called the distribution hub. Sophisticated CAT 5 wires, co-axial cables, and, increasingly, fiber-optic cables, move information around your home at fast speeds and all outside data is routed here. Wiring for all lighting, security, and other systems terminates in the hub. The hub sends signals and information to control panels in key areas of your house and can be customized to your needs.

The future is here. Even if you don’t feel the need for a smart home today, the next buyer may. Given re-sale considerations, even homeowners who don’t own a computer should consider installing the minimum wiring (generally $500 to $1,000) to increase the value of their home for the future.

Top Image courtesy of Max (Tj).