Home Toys Article - August 2005

A home automation weather station will monitor and record microclimate variables such as wind velocity, wind direction, air temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, barometric pressure and rainfall. These real-time measurements are used by the homeowner, and a home control system to automatically implement functional control of user defined devices

When a homeowner installs home automation system in their new or existing home they do so to gain maximum control over their immediate environment. The additional installation of a weather station expands the scope of a home control system to include both the interior living spaces and the exterior of the home. The weather station enables this by providing real-time measurement of the microclimate unique to that home.

It’s All About The Microclimate^TM!

Managing a home in response to micro-climate changes is the same process used in Agriculture for high value crop management. For example, vineyards are very concerned with micro-climate effects because the climate on the top of a hill, in a ravine, or on the North/South/East/West facing slopes can be dramatically different, and it will produce a different product. In addition, the near presence of mountains, or an ocean, or a lake can have significant effects on a micro-climate, which is the specific climatic zone where you and your home are. Just as with crops, hourly changes in the micro-climate will effect a homeowner’s health, quality of life, security, and potential for liability.

For a primary residence

1. Personal information because “everyone” is interested in the weather where they are, and they are also interested in knowing the weather at home when they are away.

For example: This home in Colorado posts the weather on their personal website….and they control their storm shutters in response to high wind. http://home.comcast.net/~elingsmm/weather/wx.htm

2. Use wind speed measurements to:

close storm shutters in high winds
shut down sprinklers and fountains – when coupled with the wind direction sensor it gives a very fine level of control for a fountain

For example: shut them off when wind is from the North at 25 mph….or just cut it down by half when the wind is from the South at 30 mph…..or….

3. Use air temperature to:

lock out sprinklers and fountains when it is freezing to avoid coating things with a sheath of ice
turn on driveway and walkway heaters when it is freezing to eliminate ice and a “slip & fall” liability
optimize the use of heaters on spas and pools for ambient air temperature for energy savings

4. Use solar radiation to:

close window coverings and eliminate UV that damages expensive carpets and furniture

For example: program the system to open and close drapes in rooms based on the exposure level and the time of day
provide an alert when UV exposure levels are high for outdoor activity

5. Use the rain sensor to:

lock out landscape irrigation systems when it is raining

6. Use the ETo value (evapotranspiration) to manage a “smart” irrigation system on a large estate. In some cases water savings of up to 50% have been obtained using an ETo based irrigation control system. This translates into both significant savings and it is environmentally responsible where water shortages exist.

7. Children in school use the data collected by their home weather station for school projects.

8. The software will post the information as a graphical display on a personal website so that friends and family in other areas can see “your” weather also.

9. Homes with air strips or boat docks can even broadcast current conditions in voice on demand for aviators or mariners.

For a secondary residence

1. Monitor the weather at a secondary residence over the internet, using either an IP based interface (data only), or with a personal webpage graphical display.

2. Implement control functions for an residence in an area that has unusual weather

close storm shutters automatically on a beach home during a hurricane event
heat driveways and walkways to avoid liability in areas that freeze
open and close drapes in response to solar radiation making the home appear occupied for security system enhancement

Does it Look Good?

Esthetics are very important on an home, both for the homeowner and to comply with the rules and regulations of neighborhood associations. Mention the term “weather station” to many people and it can conjure up images of a plumber’s nightmare jumble of incongruous widgets, pipes and hanging wires…..none of which looks good on a home. However, a properly installed modern weather station, specifically configured for use in home automation, can be as unobtrusive as a roof mounted vent or satellite TV dish.

Can I see the information or does it just provide input to a control system?

Most home control system displays of weather data are implemented on the touch panels. The WeatherHawk system is currently implemented by Crestron and AMX, with integration projects also underway or planned by CorAccess, Control4 and Vantage. A typical touch screen display looks like this:

Touch panel display image courtesy of Crestron Electronics.

In addition, a wireless WeatherHawk system enables a home owner to have a separate data display on their PC, which can be additionally ported to a personal website for viewing from anywhere in the world over the Internet. Here are some additional links to displays of weather information that various people and businesses have created using the standard software.

How Evapotranspiration (ETo) based Home Irrigation Systems Save Money and Promote Healthy Landscaping

For residents like Stanley Jacobs, the outside of their home is just as important as the inside. With a sloping, lush lawn and colorful flower and shrub beds, Jacobs’ yard is the envy of the Ipswich Country Club in Ipswich, Massachusetts. But maintaining this attractive landscape was costing Jacobs more and more money on his water bill with water rates going up by more than 50%.

Jacobs turned to the Weather Reach Water Management System (http://www.irrisoft.net) for help and saved nearly 50% off his water bill and nearly a million gallons of water over 4 months.

“The lawn has never looked better.” Jacobs says, “In fact, I clearly have the greenest, most lush lawn in the country club at this point.”

Jacobs discovered he was over watering his plants and lawn because, like many of us, the sprinklers were set to water then forgotten, left to water when programmed no matter what. Some plants even had to be replaced.

The Weather Reach Water Management System changed that for Jacobs automatically adjusting sprinkler schedules to ensure his landscape received the right amount of water.

The Weather Reach Water Management System uses current weather conditions, from weather stations like WeatherHawk, to determine when a landscape needs to be watered. The result is a water savings of 20% - 50% and a healthier, more beautiful landscape not to mention the time saved with automation provided by Weather Reach.

“The system takes care of itself and appears to be maintenance free.” said Jacobs, “The system never runs in the rain as it did in the past.”

System owners like the fact they can also see current weather conditions right from the Weather Reach Receiver. Current weather conditions are sent wirelessly to the Weather Reach Receiver each hour with the current temperature, wind, rain, and other information.

The Weather Reach Water Management System adapts to any existing sprinkler controller, making it adaptable to any existing or new system. The Weather Reach Water Management System is the automation solution for any landscape.

“I heartily recommend this system to anyone who wants both a green lawn and spectacular savings.” said Jacobs, “This system clearly beats all the rest.”

http://www.playacofi.com/weather/ - a private residence on an island near Puerto Rico….they are the only micro-climate weather station in the area and the USCG refers to their site during hurricane season

http://www.haireairport.metsite.com/ - this is a fly-in home with its own grass airstrip and the owner uses it for his air operations….wind speed/direction at takeoff/landing

http://www.weatherhawk.com/upload/wxflash/ - this site integrates a Netcam with the weather information. A home owner can do this for a second home site for both information and security enhancement

What are some major concerns?

There shouldn’t be any concerns once the system is installed. Why would a homeowner install equipment that adds to property concerns rather than enhances a property? A good weather station will offer many years of trouble free use. Maintenance usually consists of changing a battery every 4-5 years, keeping wind blown debris out of the rain sensor, and replacing the relative humidity sensor every 1-2 years. The only significant hazard is from lightning because a weather station is typically located at the highest point on a home. However, the personal and home system hazards from lightning are eliminated with a wireless weather station, or one that is connected to a home control system through an optical fiber based data modem. Both approaches are reliable and easy to install, with no maintenance required.

So, what does it cost?

A basic weather information system can be purchased from $350 to $900. Stations in this price range are for personal information only. They are made of consumer grade components and sensors, and most will only survive for 1-2 years, with varying degrees of reliability. Basic weather stations also lack the ability to interface cleanly with a control system in a home. This increases the cost of integration due to custom programming required from a system integrator.

WeatherHawk is a reliable industrial grade product, designed for home automation applications. A full system costs about $1,800 to $2,300 depending on how it is installed, and it is the only system that should be considered for a home where weather related control features will be implemented. WeatherHawk is committed to home control applications and the company continues to invest in product improvement as home automation technologies develop. WeatherHawk just released a new product called the WeatherHawk IP Server Module. This device directly connects a WeatherHawk weather station to an IP based home control network, eliminating the need for an embedded software driver.

What should a homeowner consider when buying a home automation weather station?

1. A reputable company that manufactures and configures weather stations specifically for home automation use.

2. A product that can easily interface with a variety of control systems without the need to create an expensive system specific software driver

3. A system that can be electrically isolated from electro-static discharge (ESD) and lightning

4. An aesthetically pleasing, unobtrusive design that does not detract from the home, and is easily installed and maintained

5. Industrial quality equipment for high reliability

Contacts:

WeatherHawk
815 West 1800 North
Logan, UT 84321
Toll Free USA: 866-670-5982, International 435-750-1802
http://www.weatherhawk.com
sales@weatherhawk.com

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