Home entertainment and control must be easy to be useful, and perhaps no one knows this better than former Genzyme CEO Henri Termeer. When he hired Groom Construction of Salem, Mass. to build an addition to his Marblehead, Mass. home, he also contacted Connected Systems Group to make every piece of technology easy to operate — including more than 200 motorized window shades throughout the home. Having some experience with a more complicated and sometimes frustrating Crestron system, he knew that there had to be a better way.
“Everything I want from a home entertainment and control system has been perfected in the new ELANA® g! system,” said Termeer. “The touch screens, the interface, the speed, and even the iPhone app are so good that I just sat down and started using the new system without having to consult a manual or ask any questions. It was painless, and it took me 10 minutes to learn the whole system from top to bottom.
“As the former CEO of one of the world’s leading biotech companies, I know that every investment has to be evaluated in terms of the return it will generate,” he continued. “The ELAN g! system was absolutely the right investment for me when it came to upgrading my home and giving me simple control of everything from lighting to security.”
One of the reasons Termeer needed an easy-to-use system was the fact that the home addition includes a new indoor swimming pool built inside an all-glass conservatory with more than 100 windows — each with its own motorized shade. With such a massive shade array simple operation is a necessity. The custom integrators at Connected Systems Group programmed the shades in groups so letting in a little or a lot of sunlight is as easy as pushing a button. Using a combination of Lutron shades and an English brand so that they could completely cover every inch of glass, allowing the entire conservatory to go from night to day with a single button.
According to Philip See, President of Connected Systems Group, “One of Mr. Termeer’s Maine properties has a Crestron system that he’s had a lot of issues with over the years, which is why we decided the ELAN g! system was the best choice for his new home addition in Marblehead. Now that he’s had time with the g! system, he’s eager for us to go to Maine to replace his Crestron system with ELAN g!, as well as put a g! system in a condo in Boston.”
This Elan g! system integrates more than 200 motorized window shades, 16 motorized windows, 90 Pulseworx lighting loads, pool fans and Pentair pool and spa equipment, eight thermostats in the new addition, 10 surveillance cameras with DVR, a Hunter irrigation system and controls the property’s two entrance gates, each with a camera. When someone approaches the gates, the g! system automatically turns on the gate camera and displays the video feed on the touch screens in the kitchen and swimming pool room.
As for the home’s media, the system gives Termeer fast, simple control over 13 zones of audio, 11 TVs and a home theater that features a 110” motorized screen, a SIM2 projector on a motorized lift and a 7.2 surround sound system. The theater produces professional quality sound, partly thanks to the acoustical backing applied on the custom-built ceiling.
Termeer controls his g! system from four iPads with the g!Mobile app, a 10-inch ELAN touch screen in the kitchen and a 7-inch ELAN touch screen in the swimming pool room.
The ELAN g! Entertainment and Control System provides users with the most uniform and intuitive icon-based control from their favorite devices including TVs, touchscreens, touchpads, PCs, iPhones and iPads. The standardized interface works across platforms, so that the trendy g!Mobile app users love on the iPhone appears and works similarly on ELAN touchscreens, valets and handheld remotes as well as users’ televisions and mobile devices. And the system’s IP backbone makes it just as easy to control the system from across the room – or across the globe.
Individual “apps” for each subsystem allow the user to control security, climate, lighting, media, irrigation, pool/spa, messaging, video and photos with the flick of a finger. Access is fast and secure through any ELAN home interface or globally with mobile Internet enabled devices like the iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Netbooks and PC Tablets. Since the intuitive interface empowers users with personalized scheduling and detailed history views, high consumption subsystems like lighting and climate can be closely monitored and managed for a greener lifestyle – and substantial energy savings.
About Connected System Group:
Connected Systems Group, based in Swampscott Mass., is operated by Philip See and Blair Denman, who together have more than 40 years of combined experience in IT, networking, control, home automation and high end audio and video. They are actively involved in the process of designing systems to match each client’s needs. Connected Systems Group takes pride in being a custom solutions provider focused on relationships with its customers. Since 2002, the company has been offering homebuilders and homeowners the latest technologies at affordable prices and designs every home system to meet each client’s exact needs and desires. For more information visit
or call 617-548-9147.
About Groom Construction:
Groom Construction is a leader in commercial and luxury home construction, retail remodeling, and energy related services. Since 1979, the company’s growth and success has been based on the steadfast commitment to Groom’s two founding principles: building quality projects and building quality relationships.
Having assembled a top executive management team and affiliate relationships, Groom Construction is capable of ensuring unconditional project satisfaction and customer support. From cost analysis, value engineering, purchasing and estimating to supervision of field operations and subcontractors, each function i
s carried out reliably and efficiently. To learn more visit
or call 781-592-3135.
About ELAN Home Systems:
Since 1990 ELANA® Home Systems has been an industry leading manufacturer of innovative, award-winning Multi-Room audio/video systems. ELAN systems were the first to integrate audio, video, phones and third-party products to create a seamless, easy-to-use “whole house” solution. ELAN systems and products are distributed through a comprehensive channel of select Dealers and Distributors throughout the United States, Canada and more than 58 countries worldwide. To learn more visit
.
