Energy efficiency and smart living in a modern build

Nestled in a lush avocado orchard in New Zealand’s rural Bay of Plenty is a modern and energy efficient home with clever technology at its heart. Owners Alistair and Carol left the busy inner-city life in the tranquil spot with its views of Mount Maunganui and the ocean.

They combined their goal of a sustainable home with careful electric home design to create an environment that works perfectly for their lifestyle.

A future-ready home

“Electric home design actually future-proofs you within your new build,” says Alistair. “The more preparation you do beforehand allows you to enjoy things later. We spent a lot of time thinking about little things that could make a big impact later on.” He also recommends asking your electrician for ideas as you go. “It’s really important to understand what your electrician can add to your project. They are all about value-adding.”

A smart and energy efficient home

The couple’s plans for a smart home meant finding a system that could bring all the individual parts together in one easy-to-use application. Clipsal Wiser Smart Home links all the electrical elements in one easy-to-use app and gives the couple touch-screen control of their home’s lighting, heating and security so they can see exactly what is on and when.

“If we’re out and coming home and it’s a cool evening, I can actually crank up the heat in the bathroom from my phone, so there’s a warm bathroom to shower in,” says Alistair.

Even the entrance to their house can be operated via Wiser – an electric maglock secures the large reflective glass front door, which they can see via the security cameras on their phone screen and then unlock remotely.