Luxury Sustainable Home in Costa Rica

Spectacular views outside and incredible comfort and convenience inside.

Sustainable Building Speciailists located in Tamarindo, Costa Rica, recruited DistinctAV to provide the industry’s best home technologies in this special home to achieve incredible convenience at the lowest energy consumption possible. The technology used in this home will be deployed in a larger sustainable community where the collective renewable energy systems will provide even greater reliability, capacity, and availability.

While SBS is constructing the home using the best renewable techniques possible, there are no compromises to performance and luxury. Three suites with equal views, maids quarters, and a planned guest home are all secured by a privacy wall and advanced security system. The pool, water, and waste systems are also automated to provide years of reliable service.

Even the best constructed sustainable home will use more energy if it is operated poorly. Leaving lights and televisions On in unoccupied areas consumes energy with no benefit to the occupants. A door or window left open completely negates the benefits of insulation. Ceiling fans do nothing more than push air around if no one is in the room to enjoy the circulation.

Smart home systems by DistinctAV are far more than simple remotes and status displays. The automation controllers combine information from all the home systems to actively monitor the needs of the occupants, and like a dedicated servant, optimize the environment for the occupants at all times.

Reactive: The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Synergy is achieved by integrating all the systems. The de-centralized architecture allows each sub-system to operate reliably. Some controls provide higher-level functions including hand-held or in-wall remotes. The most advanced controller is the automation controller. The automation controller provides high-level decision-making, external communications, and coordination of all the sub-systems.

Cooperative: By gathering data from all the subsystems, the automation controller gains a clear picture of the occupants needs as they go about their daily activities.
Security sensors detect occupancy but so does changing the TV channel. Dormant areas of the home are automatically set to reduced energy modes. Lights are turned down, then off. TVs are turned off. Temperature setpoints are adjusted. The result is tangible energy savings through active demand management.

Proactive: No need to burden the occupant with notifications of energy use. While advanced consumption profiles are available, there is no action necessary on your part other than to select the “mode” of the home. Normal, Entertain, Away, and Dormant are example profiles. Each includes lifestyle-based logic to optimize your experience in the home. Trends are also detected. Instead of lights lagging behind you as you move, they illuminate in front of you as the system anticipates your actions.

Renewable Energy production and storage is considered in the logic. The system modifies the consumption rate based on available energy. When tied into a Smart Grid utility or community power system, it will tweak the home performance to match the needs of the community.

Convenient & Approachable: Minimal yet intuitive interfaces provide easy control over the entertainment systems, lights, temperature control, fans, security systems, and energy management. iPad, iPhone, and other mobile devices extend the controls beyond the property.

Entertaining: What is a home used for once the basic shelter needs are met? Entertainment! A whole-house sound system, High-definition video matrix, and surround sound media system provides many options for your family and visiting friends.

Secure: High-definition cameras and an advanced security system provide reliable coverage of the property while home and away. Advanced event detection and notification rules keep you and support companies informed.

Expandable: Technology changes quickly. The wiring infrastructure will support any current technology and known future systems. The standards-based, modular component design allows individual systems to be upgraded over time without compromising the entire system.

Reliable: A combination of commercial-grade automation controllers and performance based engineering produces what we call “100% apparent uptime”. System problems are automatically detected and self-healed. Remote access for instant support and troubleshooting should a problem not automatically resolve. Local spare parts and support for quick resolution to any equipment failures.

Update 2010-07-12: 1/2 or 1/4 share offered. Own all or just a share of this amazing home. Contact Sustainable Building Specialists at 1-800-760-5223 (US) or [011 506] 8319-9920 in Costa Rica.