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SMART =
Great Links to
Helpful Information
Planning and upgrading your home is one of the finer pursuits of life.
When the improvements safeguard your family and irreplaceable keepsakes,
it's time doubly well-spent.
When the changes dramatically enhance entertainment value, like a great home theater and music room, family and friends will applaud your SMART move!
The Internet has a ton of great resources to increase your expertise.
Here are some of our favorite sites below:
Home Security Tips
It Takes a Thief - Home-Security Tips
Discovery Channel
Eight well-done pages of information on topics like: Alarms, Locks, Windows & Doors, Garage, Yard, Valuables, and Vacation.
Expert Burglary Protection Tips
LifeTips.com
"Knowing the common motives and goals of burglars will help you devise a home security plan that keeps you and your family safe."
Fire, Smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detection options (PDF download)
GE Security
Discusses the advantages of monitored protection versus store-bought detectors and older 120v systems.
Bend's Most Prolific Burglar?
The Bulletin (Feb. 28, 2008)
"Once John Joseph Todd Falconer got into a house he would steal just about anything that wasn't nailed down."
Home Theater and Audio Tips
That Giant Sucking Sound May Be Your New TV
The Wall Street Journal
"What scares us is the prices for plasma sets are dropping so fast that people are saying, why get a 42-inch plasma set when you can get a 60-inch or 64-inch one," ..."They have no idea how much electricity these things consume."
Designing Your Home Theater
the DIY Network
"Convert a bare basement into a home theater that you and your family can enjoy for years. An unfinished basement is the perfect place to show you step-by-step instructions on how to design and build your own home theater from the raw studs to the silver screen."
Media Room Must Haves (and more)
HGTVpro.com
"An estimated 28 percent of all US households now have a home-theater system. But what's the difference between a simple, well-equipped family room with a home-theater system and a true media room or dedicated home theater that would make any audiophile or film buff truly happy?"
"DTV" is Coming (And Sooner Than You Think)
FCC
"On February 17, 2009, federal law requires that all full-power television broadcast stations stop broadcasting in analog format and broadcast only in digital format. Here's what these requirements will mean for you and your television viewing."
Home LIghting Tips
Home Lighting Design
American Lighting Association
"You want beautiful lighting arrangements. You also want effective illumination. What you don't want is a high electric bill. Fortunately, it is possible to have fashionable home lighting without exorbitant energy consumption."
The American Lighting Association site has numerous articles about home lighting design - a great resource.
Dimming Saves Energy
Lutron
This is a fun site from Lutron where you can interactively see savings from installing and using dimmers for your home's lighting control. This playful page allows you to view different rooms (use the Change Room button) while you change their appearance using an onscreen dimmer.
Manufacturers' Web Sites (alphabetical order)
ELAN Home Systems
automation, touch screens, media servers
G.E. Security Products
home and commercial security systems
Klipsch
audiophile loudspeaker systems
LG
televisions / audio / video
Lutron
lighting controls and dimmers
Marantz
audiophile amplifiers and home theater components
Panasonic
HD televisions and components
RBH
speakers and subwoofers
RTI
universal remotes
Samsung
HD televisions and components
Sharp
HD televisions and components
Velodyne
audio subwoofers
Partner Links & Memberships (alphabetical order)
Bend Chamber of Commerce
Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA)
Central Oregon Builders Association
Economic Development for Central Oregon
Kids Center (Atlas Smart Homes donation)
Opportunity Knocks
training, education and problem solving
WadaWorks Marketing Communications
our web site design and online marketing consultant
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