Here are some more information for Structured Wire:

Living in a home where all the devices can be controlled by a single control panel or a small remote control is not an idea from the movies. It is very much a reality. You would remember that televisions and computers were once believed to be the products of fiction. Today, you can fully automate your house and control your devices with the help of a single control panel.

Many people have installed home automation systems in their houses. The technology has proved to be a blessing for those who lead busy lives and has made their lives more comfortable and secure. You can use your home automation system to control each and every electronic appliance in your house.

Previously, home automation systems were not wireless. They were controlled by a hard-wired control panel. Thanks to advancement in the field of computer technology, wireless home automation systems are now available in the market to enhance the quality of life of people.

Automation manufacturers have now integrated wireless technology in their home automation solutions. Some of us have already used hard-wired automation systems. Now, just consider the benefits of wireless technology integrated into a home automation system.

A home automation system comprise three parts: a computer-like microprocessor, a structure wiring, and a connection center. A professional usually does the structured wiring and connects it to the connection center, within which the microprocessor is located. The microprocessor, which you control, in turn controls the entire automation system. The microprocessor has only one function--communicate with the devices in your house. It translates your commands in a language that your home devices can understand.

A wireless home automation system uses a touch screen wireless control panel, which you can carry with you. Consider the following scenario. You are watching a movie, and you suddenly remembered that you have left the kitchen lights on. You don't have to get up and go to the kitchen, thereby interrupting your movie-watching experience. Simply touch an icon on your touch screen wireless control panel, and the lights in your kitchen will go off.

Certain home automation systems can be programed to respond to your voice. It records your voice first, and thereafter, obeys all your spoken commands. Besides the touch screen wireless control panel, you will be able to control your devices through your voice alone. Simply use a command and your computer will record and store it. When you give the same command again, your computer will match your voice with the stored recording, and will instantly turn off or turn on the respective lights or electronic device or watering system.

You can now connect your home automation system to the Internet. Irrespective of where you are, you can access the devices in your house via the Internet. For example, if you are caught in traffic, you can turn on your PDA, go online, and through the Internet, you can turn on your air conditioning to cool the temperature of your house, the music system to play your favorite music, and the coffee maker to make a cup of hot coffee for you. Once you reach home, you will find your home set to the perfect temperature while your favorite music greets your ears and a cup of freshly brewed coffee waits for you.

With a wireless home automation system, you can control what happens in your house irrespective of where you are. Home automations of the future might bring more wonders. Maybe future home automations will integrate robot technology, and one day, you will have your own personal robot to do all your work for you. Your robot might even have a hot dinner ready for you by the time you come home from work.

Technology has made life safe,secure, and easy. You can live in a "home of the future" today itself. Simply install a wireless home automation system.

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Sustainable Views and Fabric Structures

With Sustainable Design as the most important issue in Architecture today, designers are not only focusing on environmentally friendly materials but also educating their clients on the benefits of their design approach, their use of materials and their method of construction for reaching "Green" status.

The essential aim of Sustainable Design is to produce places, products and services in a way that reduces the use of non-renewable resources, minimizes environmental impact, and relates people to the natural environment. Architectural Fabric Structures have been in use since first introduced by Frei Otto in the early 1960's for temporary expositions. The major benefits were its minimal impact on the environment, its ability to enclose large spaces with little material and, of course, its aesthetic quality. Essentially, these early structures were fine examples of Sustainable Design. Over time, these structures have proven themselves as a permanent building material having been used in retail malls, airports, and sports facilities to name a few.

Everyone (Owner, Designer, Consultant, and Contractor) has an opinion on sustainability and when it comes to fabric structures one could argue that these view points can be broken down into three major components: Design, Materials and Construction.

When it comes to design, it is very important to understand why one wants to be sustainable. Some times it can be a philosophical approach from the owner's point of view, it could be mandated by market segment or there could be financial implications (banks, energy, etc.). I always like to say Design takes time and Green Design takes more time. Make sure your client realizes that too. Current design benefits of fabric structures directed at clients include: day lighting which reduces the need for artificial lighting, UV protection which reduces the risk of skin cancer, water collection which is then used for irrigating plants and other services, solar shading which reduces energy on a building's mechanical system and rarely considered but a growing trend of incorporating a fabric structure as an educational tool that teaches people about UV protection, recyclability, etc.

When it comes to materials and fabric structures, designers look to the three basic components: the structural members, the membrane and the perimeter tensioning system. The structural system is primarily made of steel but aluminum and wood are being considered more often. These materials all have many recyclable attributes and can be specified to be manufactured locally to the site. However, the most important factor in looking to be more sustainable with the structural members is in documenting your work. Saying something is recyclable and having the certified documents to prove it are two different things. It is hard to go back to the origins of the material if you intend to go for a LEED certification or need it for rebates and tax cuts. The perimeter tensioning system which includes tie downs and catenaries can be made with webbing belts, ropes of different compositions or wire rope depending on the load imposed on the structure. The membrane can come from all over the world and fabrication shops varying depending on the material chosen. Some materials have short life spans while others are made of recyclable materials. You can also find materials with 20 to 30 years life spans and are more environmentally friendly than ever before. The same can be said for the membrane as it is for the structural members; document your work and certify its origins. More research needs to be done on the amount of energy required to both make the material and fabricate the finished membrane. I think one will find another added benefit to fabric structures and sustainable design.

Lastly, construction benefits and fabric structures vary from location, place where components were manufactured and what is required to install these structures. Most tensioned fabric structures are designed, engineered and fabricated by "form finding" which means they are designed to be not only structurally efficient but manufactured and installed with little to no waste and energy. Architectural fabric is considered one of the lightest building materials and can create the largest building envelope. The result can have significant impact from plant to site. Less weight and packed to move, membrane, structural steel and components can be shipped to site with fewer trucks and erected with lighter equipment. Properly designed fabric structures may have little impact on the ground with smaller concrete foundations for compression loads and the use of utility cable anchor technology for tension loads. These efforts can have significant saving when the site is being used for temporary structures or deployable structures where reuse is inevitable.

Remember, sustainable design and the use of fabric structures is most successful when ALL three components are considered just keep in mind the views of others.

About the Author

Samuel J. Armijos, AIA, is Architect and Vice President of FabriTec Structures, a brand of USA Shade and Fabric Structures. He is author of Fabric Architecture: Creative resources for Shade, Signage and Shelter. He resides in Fairfield, NJ. http://www.fabricarchitect.com

What is the cheapest building material?

I am going to build a large haunted house to run in the fall. I need a very basic structure that will enclose about 4000 square feet. No insulation, no wiring, no plumbing. Basically a big barn or warehouse type structure. Would corrugated tin, concrete blocks, or wood be the cheapest way to go?

probably a pole building with tin siding. anf metal roof

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