Somfy Systems, Inc., the world's largest manufacturer of radio‐controlled motors (Radio Technology Somfy® – RTS) for interior and exterior window coverings is pleased to announce that its TaHomA® home automation system is helping Chicago‐area homeowners manage their home's energy use by controlling Somfy‐powered motorized products, lighting, and thermostats. Executing the installation of TaHomA® into two different Chicago homes is Matthew Kandl, owner of Motorized Window Treatments located in the greater Chicago area.
TaHomA® is an affordable home automation system which gives users total control of all of their Somfy motorized products along with lighting and thermostats using Z‐wave®, an interoperable two‐way RF mesh networking technology. TaHomA® manages the home's "Energy Triangle" – natural light, artificial light, and temperature – to optimize energy usage and maximize energy efficiency. Accessible from computers, tablets and smartphones, TaHomA®'s user‐friendly interface guides consumers with step‐by‐step prompts as they personalize their system.
An avid supporter of window covering motorization, Kandl has been a Somfy dealer for the past two years and comes to this project with a strong background in motorized window treatments as well as home automation systems. A seasoned installer, Kandl has been in the industry since 2004 and has also been retrofitting window treatments with Somfy motors for the past three years, emphasizing to his customers the benefits of balancing natural and artificial light.
One of the Chicago homes Kandl is installing TaHomA® in belongs to a Graber direct sales representative. In this home he is also motorizing Graber roller shades with Somfy motors and retrofitting four Graber window treatments to be integrated in with the TaHomA® system. His expertise and understanding of TaHomA® is portrayed through the meticulous work he produces. Conscious of the current industry trends of window motorization, security and home automation, offering TaHomA® to his customers was an easy decision for Kandl. Kandl says what interested him most in TaHomA® was that consumers can adjust lighting, window coverings, and temperature settings from their mobile device, both at home and away. He feels that TaHomA® can be greatly beneficial for the elderly and disabled. Those who have a difficult time moving around or lifting their arms can control their entire house with a touch of a remote, phone or tablet. He is confident that once the installation is complete, the value of a home will increase.
"I have always been an enthusiast of Somfy's products because of their reliability, quietness, and ease of operation and programming," said Kandl. "I'm thrilled that I will be transforming a home to be more energy efficient with a TaHomA® installation. Most people underestimate the money that can be saved when you dim your lights a little or put your thermostat on a schedule. Being able to control a home's window coverings with the push of a button makes it even easier to control the natural light coming into the home while still conserving energy. It's truly a remarkable, green product and I envision many more installations in the future."
