Make your Virginia Beach home more energy-efficient with smart lighting technology

The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that the average household spends approximately 5% of its energy budget on lighting. While lighting isn’t the largest energy expense in your Virginia Beach, VA home (that honor goes to the HVAC system), it is an area where you can make practical changes to become more energy-efficient and cut your electricity bills. 

A centralized lighting control system allows you to access, change, and schedule all your home lighting from a smart device like a tablet or smartphone. Lighting control can help you manage lighting more efficiently, cut down energy waste, and lower the monthly power bill. Keep reading to learn how!

Manage Access, Deter Break-ins, and Make Sure Your Home is Secure While You are Away 

Your home is a sanctuary; it is one of the few places you can unwind and truly be yourself. The luxury and convenience of your household in the Virginia Beach, VA area furnish you with a house that adapts to your lifestyle. You revel in the stunning sound of your whole-home audio or take comfort in environmental controls that maintain just the right balance. 

A nice as your home is, life is not only about one place -there is a whole world to explore out there. Now that the ability to travel is opening up, there is an excitement for seeing new places and experiencing new people in places far away from home. You may already have your bags packed and passport ready, but how can you be sure your home is safe and secure while you are away?  

The right security system keeps you connected, protecting your property while you are home or away. Read more below to learn how to vacation with confidence. 

Make Home Management on Your New Property Simple

You’re creating the home of your dreams in the Chesapeake, VA area and you deserve to have a comfortable and convenient at-home experience when it’s finally time to move in. If you aren’t already including a whole-home automation system in your design and build plans, you should consider doing so. 

There are a variety of benefits that home automation can bring to your life, and comfort and convenience barely scratch the surface! Keep reading to find out three reasons why you’re going to want a whole-home automation system on your new property.

Explore home entertainment options like a home theater installation or media room setup 

2020 was a year like no other. People across the globe sheltered in place at home to escape the dangerous effects of the COVID-19 virus that swept around the world. Schools and workforces moved to Zoom and in-home offices, restaurant dining switched to takeout and delivery, and a night at the movies morphed into a film on the couch. 

Most people have been isolated from family, friends, events, and social activities for well over a year now. But with coronavirus restrictions lifting throughout the United States, it’s time to get excited about the thought of hosting parties and get-togethers again.

 Is your Virginia Beach, VA, home prepared to greet guests again? If not, we have three fantastic ideas for home entertainment — a home theater installation, a multipurpose media room setup, and whole-home audio — that will whip your house into peak entertaining shape. 

Work with your local Control4 dealer to customize your system for better home management

Automation systems are designed to make your life more convenient and comfortable by bringing all your home technologies to live in one hub. Over the years, Control4 has tapped into multiple updates and improvements to its operating systems to ensure that you — the end-user — can manage your smart home in a way that fits your lifestyle and daily routines. If you have a Control4 smart home (or you’re considering one), read our blog post below to learn two ways you can personalize and customize your smart home to meet your needs better. 

WSC Smart Home Designers — your trusted Control4 dealer in Virginia Beach, VA — can walk you through setting up these customizations in your home!

Learn how energy-efficient honeycomb shades better insulate your Virginia Beach home

Like many other residents in Virginia Beach, you probably start racking up higher energy bills during summer when the weather turns hot, humid, and sunny. Should you sacrifice your comfort at home to lower the A/C and save a little money on the next electric bill? 

No, you shouldn’t — and with Hunter Douglas motorized shades, a sacrifice isn’t necessary. Hunter Douglas has perfected the shading design and technology for energy-efficient window treatments that insulate your home and reduce solar heat gain during summer. Not only that, but their curated collections of shades and blinds look stunning with any home décor. Keep reading to learn how Hunter Douglas shades can help lower your energy expenses this summer. 

Outdoor speakers from Triad and Origin Acoustics deliver high-performance sound to all your outdoor living spaces

Now is the time to start preparing your backyard, patio and pool deck for the warmer weather that’s on its way to Virginia Beach, VA. One of the best ways to gain more enjoyment from your outdoor living spaces is adding outdoor audio to listen to music while you swim, hang out with friends and family, and stargaze on warm nights. 

There are several options on the market for high-quality, weatherproof outdoor speakers. At WSC Smart Home Designers, we recommend solutions from Triad and Origin Acoustics. Keep reading to learn why!

Home automation provides proactive security solutions for safeguarding your property

If you’re like many homeowners in the Virginia Beach area, then home security is a priority for you. And you’re always looking for better ways to protect your property, family, pets and valuables. 

Smart security devices that proactively monitor your home and send real-time alerts during emergencies have already greatly expanded the capabilities of home security systems. Integrating security devices with a smart home automation platform is the next step. An integrated system allows you to access and manage all security devices in one place and utilize multiple  technologies to respond to invasions or other security events. 

Keep reading to learn two ways home automation provides more comprehensive protection for your Virginia home. 

Know the Pros and Cons Before You Decide

While the cold winter weather may be keeping you from enjoying your Chesapeake, VA area backyard, now is the best time to make upgrades so that you can fully enjoy your backyard when warmer days arrive. At WSC Home Audio Video, we think speakers made for the outdoors take your outdoor entertainment to the next level.

Our personal recommendations are outdoor speakers from Origin Acoustics and Triad because they’re designed to withstand the outdoor elements while giving you the best audio quality possible. Once you’ve picked speakers that meet your needs and personal preferences, it’s time to decide whether your outdoor entertainment setup will be your next DIY project, or you’ll partner with a professional. Keep reading to find out the pros and cons of both.

Take advantage of multi-room music to make your life more enjoyable

Whole-home audio brings entertainment and enjoyment to everyone in your family. It makes your movies, TV shows, music and audiobooks sound fantastic no matter where you are in your Norfolk, VA home — including outside by the pool or patio! Centralized management of all your audio sources ensures that everyone in your household can access and control music whenever they want. 

With whole-home audio, your favorite music is always just a button press away. Keep reading to learn three ways to enjoy multi-room music anywhere at home.  

Make 2021 your safest year ever with the latest smart home security solutions

When was the last time you updated your Virginia Beach home security and surveillance devices? Home security technology is advancing year-over-year, and smart security devices benefit from proactive features that let you know immediately when something is amiss at home. 

If you haven’t updated your systems recently, you may be missing out on sophisticated smart features that deliver better protection for your home and property. Keep reading to learn three smart devices you need in 2021.

Find Out How An Updated Home Network Can Make Your Media Better And Your Private Data Protected 

The new year is a time to review, refresh, and renew, and there is no better time to look at an upgraded home network installation. Your data network is vital to the operation of any smart home. Nearly all of your entertainment and home management devices rely on having a fast, reliable, and secure connection. 

Streaming content has grown exponentially in the last few years. 4K content from multiplayer games, video services, and even security systems can consume large portions of available bandwidth.  Having a network that can accommodate high demands without stalling and sputtering or causing other operations to fail is essential. 

Are you curious about what a network installation does and how it can enhance your Virginia Beach, VA Area? Read more below.

CONTROL4 LIGHTING CONTROL SOLUTIONS GIVE YOU THE ABILITY TO CONTROL THE MOOD, SET THE AMBIANCE, AND LIGHT THE WAY WITH SLEEK SOLUTIONS. 

Lighting has the power to transform your home, setting the mood and creating ambiance. All too often, we see illumination as a practical matter - bulbs light the way in the dark and switches simply turn them on or off. 

Smart home lighting controls bring a more personalized experience. Set the scene for dinner to automatically transitioning walkway fixtures from a soft glow to bright and clear as the evening progresses.  

Control4 systems include lights as part of a bigger control ecosystem, integrated with climate, audio, video, and security - each working to enhance your home in Norfolk, VA. 

3 Ways a Multi-Room Sound System Improves Your Lifestyle

Remember the days when you had to stay in the same room to listen to songs through a standalone speaker system? Maybe that was before your time. But you probably know what it’s like to wear earbuds to tune into your favorite playlists or podcasts. It may seem “convenient” to you now, but did you know there’s a better option? Instead of confining yourself to one room or relying on earbuds, upgrade your music-listening experience with a whole-home audio system. 

Your home will become one big sound space for music. No volume knobs, no wires or earbuds, no mess. Most importantly, you’ll enjoy amazing sound quality that rivals anything you’ve heard before. Keep reading to learn the three main benefits of installing a multi-room sound system at your home in Virginia Beach, VA.

Whatever Theater Setup You Have in Mind, Samsung Has a TV for You

With more time spent at home this year than ever, there is one home upgrade that is top of mind for everyone: their home theater. Our clients in Virginia Beach, VA are eager to find out how to optimize their home theater installations to get the most out of their favorite home entertainment. 

And no theater component takes center stage more than the TV. As for our recommendation, Samsung is one of our favorite options. No TV solution offers better resolution and color quality for your viewing experience than Samsung. Its versatility, advanced technology, and seamlessly integration capabilities make it one of the best options on the market.

Motorized Shades from Hunter Douglas Transform Your Lifestyle

Creating ambiance and setting the mood in different rooms throughout the house is a priority for all homeowners. How you view your space affects your mood and well-being. Perhaps you want tons of natural light in one room and no light at all in another. 

Or perhaps your biggest priority is having an eco-conscious household and you’re looking for new ways to conserve energy. As you commit to having a smaller footprint, there is a lot of technology that can help you along the way. 

For both of these priorities there is a surprise technology option that can help: motorized shades. By integrating them into your Control4 system, you’ll enjoy a more beautiful, comfortable and efficient household. 

Our clients in Chesapeake, VA, know that we’re committed to providing a premium smart home experience. That’s why we partner with Control4, and it’s also why we love working with Hunter Douglas for our motorized shades solutions. Below are some of the reasons they’re our go-to shading partner. 

SEE ALSO: 3 Ways That Motorized Shades Will Improve Your Life

Take Full Advantage of This Year’s Event Either in Person or Online

There is nothing more exciting than shopping for gadgets and electronics to build the smart home of your dreams. However, it can be an overwhelming and extremely stressful task to take on by yourself. How do you know which gadgets to add to your home? How do you make sure they’ll work as advertised? 

Throughout November, you can take advantage of the Control4 C4Yourself event by attending sessions either in person or online. You’ll be able to learn about Control4’s latest smart home features and interact with a Control4 dealer who’ll help you get the most out of each. 

Our clients in Chesapeake, VA and surrounding areas know that they can count on WSC Smart Home Designers, the premier Control4 dealer in the area, to help them install a Control4 System in their home, as well help them in the future with any additions. Below are just some of the features we’ll be showcasing this month.

The Right Smart Home Automation System Can Keep Your House Safe When You’re Away for the Holidays

As the holiday season quickly approaches, making sure your home is safe while you are away is more important than ever.  With a smart home automation system, you can rest assured that your home will be safe while you are vacationing with the family. 

Aspects of smart home automation systems, such as security and lighting control, can do a lot to deter possible thieves from even attempting to get inside of your home.

Our team of experts at WSC Home Audio Video can help you every step of the way when it comes to smart home automation and enjoying the ultimate security in your Chesapeake, VA home.

Craft A Secure Home for the Holidays

As the holidays approach, you’re probably going to be visited by quite a few delivery people dropping off packages. To make sure your gifts are delivered safe and sound, you need a smart security system with the latest connected features. 

According to research at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, released in January of 2020, every day there are almost 1.7 million packages lost or stolen in America.

Our customers have discovered peace of mind in their homes in Virginia Beach, VA once they’ve had a smart home security system installed. Now they can monitor and manage their holiday packages from anywhere in the world.

Movie Theaters Might Not Be Back To Normal — But You Can Still Bring The Theater To You

Although movie theaters in the Chesapeake area are slowly starting to reopen, many have social distancing requirements and limited capacity for each showing. If you feel like it’s too soon to go to the movies safely, or you just feel like having a cinematic experience in the comfort of your own home, we have good news for you. With the right home theater installation checklist and home installer, you can have an epic home theater that you and your family can enjoy all year round and for years to come.

Here’s what to include in your home theater installation for your household in the Chesapeake, VA, area.