In a smart home, innovative technologies work for comfort, safety, ecology and savings. One of the key elements of a smart building are automatic blinds, which free users from the troublesome and time-consuming manual raising and lowering of blinds. Is it worth investing in an automatic blind control system? What functions can the installation offer? And what are the costs of such an investment? You will find the answers in the article below.
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Automatic blinds - comfort, safety and savings
Daily manual raising and lowering of external blinds is not only troublesome, but also time-consuming – especially with many windows. In addition, it is easy to forget to roll up/down the blinds when you have to leave the house quickly, go on holiday or are surprised by extreme weather conditions. In such situations, an automatic blind control system is an irreplaceable solution. At any time, using the central control button in the house or remotely via a smartphone app, you can simultaneously lower or raise all the blinds in the building. Modern blind automation increasingly often works without human intervention. The system can be activated by twilight or temperature sensors, respond to information from a weather station or operate according to programmed modes.
To sum up, automatic blinds are:
- comfort – such a system ensures completely effortless raising and lowering of the blinds, e.g. using an application on a smartphone or a switch key at home;
- time saving – you close and open all the roller shutters in the building with just one button/click;
- saving money – automatic lowering of the blinds on sunny days generates huge savings in buildings with air conditioning, while in winter the blinds constitute an additional thermal barrier, reducing heat loss;
- safety – lowered blinds will deter potential burglars when you are not at home and minimise the risk of damage to the interior if a downpour unexpectedly arrives;
- prestige - smart home systems undoubtedly increase the standard, value and attractiveness of the property, which facilitates its sale/rent on better terms;
- control - the user can freely manage the degree of interior sunlight and the level of privacy.
Methods of controlling automatic blinds
Automatic blinds can be controlled in many ways, including:
- switch keys ,
- pilots,
- mobile applications,
- voice assistants,
- wall panels.
The switch key is an element of the control system that allows you to simultaneously raise and lower all the blinds in the building using a single button. Advanced switch keys can be easily integrated with the smart home system, which allows for remote 
controlling the operation of roller shutters via a mobile application or a building automation control unit. This in turn opens the way to programming individual scenarios for opening and closing roller shutters at specific times of the day/night. Such a system, after being equipped with appropriate components (e.g. temperature, humidity and twilight sensors), can also react automatically to changing weather conditions. The roller shutters can automatically lower after the household members leave the building, which increases safety and reduces interior heating. A frequently used scenario is the so-called morning wake-up. It involves the gradual raising of the roller shutters in the morning at a selected time. Natural light is let into the rooms, which supports a gentle and pleasant wake-up.
We recommend modern, smartphone-controlled push-button controllers from the Simon 54 GO series, including:
- key for the roller shutter group for SIMON54 GO DKE13/41 electronic switches and controllers ,
- key for the roller shutter group for SIMON54 GO DKE13/48 electronic switches and controllers .
Central roller shutter control - diagram
The basic scheme of central roller shutter control includes the following elements:
- roller shutter relays,
- central control button,
- roller shutter motors.
This is the simplest scheme, which many investors expand with lighting and heating control functions, a weather station, etc.
How much do automatic blinds cost?
The cost of purchasing components and installing an automatic external roller shutter system depends primarily on:
- the size and number of secured window openings,
- the type and material of the blinds,
- the level of technological advancement of automation,
- the complexity of installation work,
- the reputation of the blinds manufacturer and the company providing the service,
- services and additional elements (sensors, alarm integration, etc.)
Automatic blinds are a much more expensive solution than manual blinds. Prices start at PLN 800/m2, but can reach even several thousand zlotys per m2. However, it is worth noting that savings on electricity, thanks to the use of an automatic blinds system, can amount to several hundred zlotys per year. The return on investment usually occurs within a few years. It is best to ask different companies to prepare quotes and compare offers.
We invite stores offering automation for gates, roller shutters and awnings as well as installers of Smart Home systems to cooperate with us.