A stunning transformation has taken place in a 1924 Edwardian-style home in Brent, now standing as one of the smartest and most energy-efficient homes in the area. With a partnership between JSJ and Miron Energy, this 7-bedroom property not only preserves its historical charm but is enhanced by cutting-edge technology, intelligent design, and sustainable energy solutions. Controlled by the Loxone system, this home is the epitome of smart living, blending convenience, comfort, and energy efficiency seamlessly.
Energy Efficiency and Climate Control
One of the key elements of this transformation is the exceptional thermal insulation. With a minimum of 100mm insulation enveloping the entire structure, the home significantly reduces heat dissipation, creating an energy-efficient shell that minimises energy waste. This level of insulation ensures that the home’s heating and cooling systems work far more efficiently, reducing energy consumption while maintaining comfortable indoor temperatures throughout the year.
At the core of the climate control system is a 12KW Samsung reversible heat pump, a powerful and elegant solution that not only blends into the home’s anthracite-coloured exterior but also powers zoned underfloor heating throughout the entire property. This system is intelligently managed by Loxone, ensuring that each zone of the house is heated only when necessary, optimising both comfort and energy use.
In cooling mode, the heat pump feeds into a Zehnder Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) system. The MVHR, controlled by Loxone via the KNX protocol, offers centralised cooling that maximises efficiency. Instead of individual fan coil units (FCUs) for each zone, the centralised system reduces complexity and cost. While the system could be zoned with controllable dampers, in this case, it was deemed unnecessary due to the effectiveness of the central cooling solution. What makes this setup even smarter is its ability to transfer heat from the heat pump to the heat recovery system, giving it a dual source of energy and optimising both heating and cooling.
Solar Power and Battery Storage
On the property’s outhouse, which serves as the JSJ Satellite office, a 6KW solar panel system is paired with a 15KW GiveEnergy battery storage system. This setup effectively doubles the energy storage capacity, allowing the property to store excess solar energy generated during the day. In winter, when solar energy is less abundant, the system intelligently switches to the grid, charging the batteries during off-peak hours through the Octopus Agile tariff. This process is optimised by Loxone’s spot price optimiser, which forecasts energy prices 24 hours in advance. The home can automatically adjust its energy usage to minimise reliance on expensive grid electricity, ensuring that the most affordable energy sources are used at all times.
Smart Backup and Heating Redundancy
In cases where the heat pump cannot maintain the desired temperature, Loxone automatically activates secondary heating sources. This could be either the immersion heater or a gas boiler, providing a reliable backup energy store for the home. This intelligent switchover ensures that comfort is maintained at all times while optimising energy consumption based on real-time performance data and energy prices.
Intelligent Blinds and Passive Climate Control
To further enhance energy efficiency, the property features automated blinds that are intelligently controlled to optimise passive heating and cooling. By utilising natural sunlight to warm the home in winter and shading it in summer, the system minimises the need to activate the heat pump unnecessarily. This adds an additional layer of energy-saving functionality to the home, reducing the load on the mechanical systems.
Security and Smart Automation
In addition to climate control and energy management, the home features a comprehensive external perimeter security system. Equipped with AI-powered human detection sensors and Dahua CCTV cameras, the property can automatically respond to intruders with a range of deterrents, including audio announcements, irrigation, lighting, and automated blinds. The system is capable of distinguishing between welcomed guests and potential threats, enhancing both safety and convenience.
Immersive Audio and AV Solutions
Every room in the house is equipped with sensors to detect presence and absence, allowing the home to automatically adjust lighting, heating, and audio to match the occupants’ needs. Bathrooms are fitted with automatic audio systems, while invisible speakers in the lower living area create an immersive atmosphere when watching TV or listening to music. The cinema room, a highlight of the home, features an M&K 5.2.2 Dolby Atmos surround sound system, delivering a true theatre experience.
Voice control is fully integrated into the system, offering compatibility with Amazon Alexa, Apple Siri, and Google Assistant. With a simple voice command, the entire home can switch into “movie mode,” automatically adjusting lighting, curtains, and AV systems for the perfect cinematic experience.
Accurate Room Thermostats and Weather Compensation
To maintain the clean, minimalist design of the home, thermostats have been discreetly embedded into the light switches in each room. These smart thermostats take accurate temperature readings for each specific area, ensuring precise control over heating and cooling. The system integrates with a weather service or on-site weather station, enabling the home to anticipate outdoor temperature changes. This allows the heating and cooling systems to be automatically adjusted in advance, ensuring that each room remains comfortable while also maximising energy efficiency. By preparing for changes in weather, the home intelligently manages its climate systems, further reducing energy waste while keeping occupants comfortable at all times.
Discreet Design and User Experience
To maintain a clean, uncluttered aesthetic, thermostats are seamlessly embedded within the light switches, eliminating the need for bulky, wall-mounted controls. This sleek, integrated design not only appeals to interior designers but also ensures that the technology remains unobtrusive while offering maximum functionality. By reducing wall clutter, the streamlined system enhances the home’s contemporary look.
Outside, the experience extends to the garden, where Sonance patio speakers deliver high-quality, directional sound. Whether hosting a lively garden party or enjoying a peaceful evening, the outdoor audio system ensures an immersive, yet discreet, sound experience that enhances the ambiance without disturbing the neighbours
One App, One Experience
All of these advanced systems, from climate control to security and AV, are controlled through a single app – Loxone. With just one user interface to learn, homeowners can manage every aspect of their home from anywhere in the world, ensuring ease of use and total control at all times. The integration of Loxone with the various systems installed by JSJ ensures a seamless and intuitive user experience, making this home the smartest in Brent.
Conclusion
This Brent property showcases what is possible when smart technology, energy efficiency, and elegant design come together. With Loxone at the heart of the system and JSJ’s expertise in delivering cutting-edge smart home solutions, this home is a prime example of how technology can be used to enhance daily living while drastically reducing energy consumption and environmental impact. With an intelligent combination of solar power, heat pumps, MVHR, and real-time energy price optimisation, this house is not only smart but also sustainable.
Now that’s smart living!