For the majority of the year in North Carolina, we have warm, sunny weather with enviable beaches. But our winters are cold, wet, and dreary, and if you’re an avid golf player in Lake Norman or the surrounding area, you know how hard it is to set aside your clubs for the season. With rain, frost, or snow on the course, you’ll have to either travel south to play or abandon your game.

But just because it’s wintertime, that’s no reason to let your golfing skills slip. With a high-end home golf simulator like GolfZon Vision in your home, you’ll be able to accurately practice your swing and lower your handicap as if your feet were planted on the green. How? Continue reading to learn more.

SEE ALSO: 4 Ways a Home Golf Simulator Will Help Lower Your Handicap

How It Works

For the complete experience, your GolfZon system will include a projector with up to 6,000 lumens of brightness that will shine on a large screen. The high-quality projector supports ultra-realistic settings that will make you feel like you’re really at PGA National.

With the GolfZon Premium setup, two high-speed camera sensors are placed on the ceiling to accurately trace your club’s motion, the impact, and ball movement. This means you can transfer the muscle memory and skills you achieve with the simulator to the real-life golf course. The Standard and Compact models include on-floor or kiosk sensors, which capture movement just as well but are less discreet.

If you love golfing, you are more than likely looking for any way to improve your swing and practice your game. Unfortunately, getting out to the golf courses isn’t always the most time-efficient situation. And other times, the weather won’t be your friend.

So how can you rely on getting in a few practice rounds in whenever you need to, without having to depend on the surrounding circumstances falling into place? That’s where a golf simulator becomes the ideal smart solution for your Charlotte, NC living space.

Want to find out more about giving your golf game a boost? Just keep reading on below.

SEE ALSO: GOLFZON: THE ULTIMATE SIMULATOR FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY

No Matter the Weather

Consistent practice is key in improving your skills, and severe weather can change your golfing plans drastically. Don’t let the rain or storms throw a wrench into your plans. You won’t have to cancel plans or reschedule a tee time – instead, you can invite friends over for a practice round or keep score like you would on the course.

Smart home technology already has made its way into the mainstream.

From intelligent thermostats to full-home automation and control systems, smart technology solutions are becoming more commonplace in houses across the Charlotte, NC area.

As a design-build professional, how are you adjusting?

If you’re not offering smart home installations as part of your new-construction projects, it might just be time for you to begin reconsidering.

Why? Just keep reading to find out everything you need to know.

Have you heard of Wi-Fi 6? It’s the next generation of Wi-Fi, which has faster speeds than ever. While the current Wi-Fi 5 runs on 3.5 Gbps (gigabits per second), Wi-Fi 6’s speeds reach 9.6 Gbps. But the new Wi-Fi offers much more than a speed boost. The way it’s programmed makes it possible to run more devices at once without slowing or crashing your network.

But how? We dive into the ins and outs of Wi-Fi 6 so you can understand all that’s to come in home networking. If your Charlotte, NC house currently includes multiple smart devices, the internet upgrade will be especially beneficial to you.

SEE ALSO: Smart Home System Trends to Watch Out for in 2020

Is It Really Faster?

Although Wi-Fi 6’s maximum speed is 9.6 Gbps, it’s unlikely you’d ever reach or need that speed in the real world. The standard download speed in the US is 72 Mbps—less than 1 percent of Wi-Fi 6’s maximum speeds! But that 9.6 Gbps is valuable because it can be split across a whole network of smart devices. Your router can only communicate with so many gadgets at once, often causing the system to overload. The more in-demand your network is, the more it is going to slow down.

If you’re considering a new home technology project—whether it’s a security system, smart lighting, whole home audio, or all three—be sure to work exclusively with an HTA-certified integrator. Members of the Home Technology Association are experts in the field and will provide excellent services, installation, and support. In the Charlotte, North Carolina region, The Integrated Home is proud to be your HTA-certified technology company.

But what makes an HTA certified business better than the rest? Continue reading to find out.

SEE ALSO: Is Your Smart Home Up to Date?

What Is the HTA?

The Home Technology Association (HTA) was formed to empower homeowners with a reliable method to evaluate a company’s competence, customer service, and reputation in the industry. With rigorous standards, a board of HTA members decides which technology installation firms deserve certification. The association was created because previously, there was no qualification for a business to call themselves a ‘home technology professional,’ leading to subpar technology experiences. Just like Michelin stars tell you a restaurant is high-quality, an HTA-certified firm is one you can trust.

Over the past few years, we’ve used this blog as a resource to show our clients just how much they can benefit from installing a home automation system.

Smart technology can add beauty, increase efficiency and security to your Charlotte, NC home.

But how do you know which devices and features are the best fit? Below we highlight the steps you need to take to get a solution that is a custom fit for you and your family.

SEE MORE: 3 Signs Your Smart Home Needs an Upgrade

Finding the Ideal Partner

The first step is finding a home technology expert in your area who can guide you through the process. They’ll know the ideal way to design your home automation system—from the right networking foundation to choosing compatible devices—to ensure it lasts for years to come.

We take wellness for granted until we aren’t feeling great: Sluggishness, fatigue, and migraines are all common ailments that affect most of us. According to a poll conducted by YouGov, only 1 in 7 Americans wakes up feeling well-rested every day of the week. We can try our best to get enough rest and relaxation, but oftentimes, life gets in the way. But what if we told you your home’s lighting could improve your wellbeing?

Smart lighting control systems have been known for use in commercial spaces and theaters, but they have gained prominence in homes for their tunable color and brightness features. To see how smart lighting can improve wellness in your Charlotte, NC home, learn more below!  

SEE ALSO: Why Motorized Shades Are an Essential Addition to Your Space  

How Human-Centric Lighting Works

Since the dawn of electric lighting, we no longer have to go to sleep when the sun goes down, and we can ‘see’ in the dark whenever we want. Although it’s a miraculous technological advancement, many studies observe the negative effects lightbulbs can have on our body’s circadian rhythm. Our circadian rhythm regulates the cyclical behavioral, mental, and physical changes we go through in a day. Without natural light, our system can be thrown off course.

Enter lighting control. Now, smart home systems connected to lighting fixtures can personalize the color temperatures, spectral power, color, and brightness of each bulb in your home. From a smartphone or tablet, you can set your lights to automatically adjust throughout the day, mimicking the sun’s journey in the sky. In the morning, your lights should be brighter with a white-blue tint. That kind of lighting doesn’t fare well in the evening, however. By afternoon, your bulbs should shift into a warmer, softer hue, like the golden hour before sunset.

As an interior designer, you’re probably ahead of the curve when it comes to trends in color, fabrics, and furniture arrangements. But what about smart home technology? Many designers avoid dipping their toes into integrated technology because it seems too complicated, unrelated to design, or frankly, not visually appealing. But adding smart systems to your design portfolio will give you a competitive advantage over other designers in your area. Plus, there are stylish new devices built to blend in with each room’s facade (more on that below).

You don’t need to be a technology expert to add home automation to your interior design process. By partnering with a smart home company, you’ll open yourself up to new possibilities that homeowners will love. Keep reading to discover how Charlotte, NC homes will benefit from approaching technology with style.

SEE ALSO: A Day in the Life with Audio and Entertainment in Every Room

Hidden Screens  

Most designers agree that it’s no longer ‘in’ to arrange a living room or media room around a screen. While we’re more connected than ever, there’s been a recent cultural shift in our approach to technology. Many are taking breaks from their screens in the name of wellness. While we still love our HD screens for shows and films, the presence of large displays does not feel like a relaxing escape from our plugged-in world.  

The solution? Hidden technology, with in-ceiling and in-floor TV mounts that raise and lower a high-definition flat screen at one press of a button. Screens can swivel too, so they can emerge and fit into any space without compromising the room design. Seura’s smart mirrors function as sleek mirrors that display smart home information like a futuristic magic mirror. By tapping on the screen or using voice commands, users can explore everything from the weather to music control on the glass. Equally magical are Seura’s mirror TVs. When the show is over, and the screen is turned off, your client’s TVs will turn into a fully functioning mirror!

Ever wanted to take the family and friends out to swing a few rounds of golf, but the heavy summer rains decided they had other plans?  Don’t let the season’s weather determine how the day’s entertainment goes.

Whether you’re hosting guests or just wanting to enrich your Charlotte, NC home’s media space, a golf simulation installation is the perfect solution.

In rain or shine, spend hours practicing your technique or play multiple rounds with friends – all in the comfort of your own home’s media or game room.

We recommend the GolfZon Vision simulator for a virtual experience unlike any other.  In this blog, we'll go through this smart tech’s impressive features and its benefits.  Transform any evening into a golfing adventure.

Keep on reading below!

There’s nothing like a beautiful day on the green with friends, but in sweltering summer heat or under stormy weather, your golf plans may get put on hold. But practice makes perfect, and to get in the most time on your swing, a home golf simulator is an excellent option to lower that handicap. Like a bowling alley for golfers, a home golf simulator lets you work on your game offseason in private or over drinks with friends and family.

If you’re curious about adding a golf simulator to your Charlotte, NC home, continue reading below to discover four ways it will perfect your swing.

SEE ALSO: Top 4 Benefits of A Golf Simulator in Your Home

1. Use Your Own Equipment

Unlike other indoor sports videogames, a golf simulator allows you to use your real clubs and balls. With lifelike image quality on the screen that reacts instantly to your motions, it will give you a better feel for how your gear operates at different approaches. Since you’re using your own club, you won’t feel any difference between the mat and the real course.   

2. Instructional Aid

Many professional golf simulators include an educational component that will track your club head’s movement as it approaches the ball. The information will provide an analysis of your swing and suggest methods to improve. Common statistics include swing tempo, club head speed at impact, face angle, path, ball speed and launch angle. It’s like having your own golf coach right at home! 

North Carolina in the summertime means heat—and lots of it. With the humidity, it’s nearly impossible to get by without air conditioning flowing through your house. However, cooling costs can rack up your monthly bills immensely and negatively impact the environment.

Well, what can one do? Sweltering inside your home in the name of being resourceful isn’t a practical option. But with smart home technology like motorized shading, there are handy ways to save energy and stay cool at the same time.

To learn how to permanently optimize your Lake Norman, NC home’s energy use year-round, continue reading below!

SEE ALSO: Why Motorized Shades Are An Essential Addition to Your Space

1. Add Motorized Shading to Your Home

Motorized shades are an excellent option to routinely preserve a cool indoor temperature. With automated blinds like Lutron’s Serena smart shades in every room, you can easily connect each window to your smart control system like Control4. Set your shades to a timer based around your work schedule, or swipe on your smartphone to automatically lower every shade before departing.

If you own a home in the Charlotte, NC area, chances are you spend plenty every year heating and cooling your property.

Luckily, there’s a readily available solution that will help you save money and energy consumption each month: a smart thermostat.

Smart thermostats can automatically regulate the temperature in your home to create an eco-friendly home environment whether you’re at work, lounging in your great room or readying for sleep. They also can inform you of your energy consumption patterns so that you naturally can consume less.

Most importantly, though, climate control technologies such as smart thermostats shouldn’t be considered just a convenience. They can provide real, lasting benefits for your home and the environment.

Don’t believe us? Below are three startling facts you should know about home energy consumption and smart thermostats.