One of the first questions we get asked by renovators and self-builders across Kent is simple: should the system be wired or wireless?
The honest answer is that it depends on your project — and with Loxone, it’s rarely an all-or-nothing decision. The same smart home platform supports both wired (Tree) and wireless (Air) devices side by side, so the right choice often comes down to room by room, not house by house.
Wired: Loxone Tree
Loxone Tree is a wired bus system — a single cable daisy-chains between devices, carrying both power and data. It’s the gold standard for reliability: no batteries to change, no signal drop-outs, and rock-solid performance for years.
Tree is the natural choice when:
You’re building new or undertaking a full rewire
Walls are already open for electrical works
You want the lowest possible long-term maintenance
Because Tree requires cabling to be run during the build, it works best when planned early — ideally alongside your electrician. Installation is carried out in partnership with Ryland M&E, and is subject to survey and cabling access.
Wireless: Loxone Air
Loxone Air uses radio signals instead of cabling, which makes it ideal for retrofitting a smart home into a property where chasing walls isn’t practical or desirable — a period home, a listed building, or simply a renovation where you don’t want the disruption of rewiring.
Air is the natural choice when:
You’re upgrading an existing home without a full rewire
Cabling access is limited or costly
You want a phased rollout, adding rooms or features over time
A Real Example: The Loxone Touch Pure Display
This choice isn’t just theoretical; it now sits inside a single product. Loxone’s new Touch Pure Display, launched in July 2026, is available in both Tree (wired) and Air (wireless) versions, with an optional integrated CO2 sensor for rooms where air quality matters, such as bedrooms or home offices.
It’s a genuine step up from mounting a tablet on the wall as a makeshift room panel — the Touch Pure Display is purpose-built for Loxone, with a proper wall-mounted interface for lighting, shading, audio and room climate, alongside built-in temperature and humidity sensing. And because it’s offered in both connection types, you can specify Tree where cabling is available and Air where it isn’t — all within the same system, controlled from the same app.
A Real Example: The Loxone Wall Display 10″
At the other end of the scale is the new Wall Display 10″; a larger, central control screen designed to replace the common workaround of mounting a tablet in a hallway or kitchen to run the Loxone App. Unlike the Touch Pure Display, the Wall Display 10″ is wired only, connecting via Loxone Tree Turbo. There’s no wireless version.
That’s by design. A central hub display is typically fixed in one key location for the life of the system, so a permanent, always-on wired connection makes more sense than a battery or Wi-Fi-dependent device sitting at the heart of your home’s automation.
So Which Should You Choose?
For most Kent renovation and self-build projects, we’d suggest:
New build or full renovation with walls open: lean towards Tree wherever practical, for long-term reliability
Existing home, partial upgrade, or listed building: Air lets you add smart control without disruption
A central control point (hallway, kitchen, plant room): a wired option such as the Wall Display 10″ suits a fixed, permanent installation
Individual rooms: the Touch Pure Display’s Tree/Air choice means you can match the connection method to what’s practical in that specific space
There’s no need to commit to one approach for the whole house. That’s the benefit of a single platform supporting both — you can mix wired and wireless as your project, budget and building fabric demand.
Thinking about a new smart home installation, or extending an existing one? Get in touch and we’ll help you work out what’s right for your home
As another heatwave settles over Kent, more homeowners are asking the same question: how do you keep a home comfortably cool without a wall full of separate remote controls, or a cooling system that runs regardless of who’s actually home?
Smart AC control answers that question by bringing air conditioning into the same platform as the rest of your home’s automation — controlled from your phone, scheduled intelligently, and ready to expand as your needs grow.
Why Smart AC Control Makes Sense This Summer
Standalone AC units are simple to fit but limited in what they can do. Once cooling is brought into a smart home system, it gains the same intelligence as your heating, lighting and blinds:
App control from anywhere — check on and adjust cooling before you get home, or while you’re away.
Room-by-room zoning — cool only the rooms in use, rather than the whole house.
Automatic scheduling — cooling that responds to time of day and occupancy, not a unit left running all afternoon.
One system, not several — AC sits alongside heating and lighting control, rather than needing its own separate app.
How It Works
At the centre of the system is the Miniserver — the small central controller that manages automation logic and connects securely to your smart home app, whether you’re on-site or away. A wireless AC controller links to your existing air conditioning unit, giving the Miniserver the ability to switch and schedule cooling without any additional wiring runs.
Because the same Miniserver can also manage heating, lighting, blinds and access control, AC control is rarely fitted in isolation — it’s usually the first step for homeowners who already have a partial smart system in place, or the starting point for a wider whole-home upgrade.
Built for Kent’s Older and Newer Housing Stock Alike
Kent’s mix of period cottages, extended family homes and new-build developments all share the same summer problem: solar gain through south-facing glazing, and rooms that overheat well before evening. A wireless-first approach means AC control can be retrofitted into older properties without chasing walls, while fitting just as easily into new-build wiring during a renovation or extension project.
Stopping Heating and Cooling From Fighting Each Other
Adding AC control on its own can create a hidden problem: if radiators or underfloor heating aren’t coordinated with the cooling system, a room can end up being heated and cooled at the same time — wasting energy and money.
Radiator / UFH zone controllers solve this by bringing each room’s heating circuit into the same system as its cooling. The Miniserver can then ensure heating and cooling never run against one another, and can hand control between the two automatically as the seasons change.
Completing the Picture: Boiler and Hot Water Control
Bringing boiler and hot water control into the same system completes full house climate control — heating, hot water and cooling all coordinated centrally, rather than managed by separate, unconnected controls. Boiler and hot water upgrades are scoped and priced individually based on your existing setup, following a survey.
Sensing Without Extra Clutter
Radiator/UFH zone controllers and smart keypads can double up as temperature sensors, so many rooms gain accurate monitoring without any additional hardware. In some rooms — particularly larger or open-plan spaces — a dedicated temperature sensor may still be recommended for the most accurate reading, and this would be identified during a survey.
Get Started
The best way to know what’s right for your home is a survey. Get in touch to arrange one:
Smart heating control is changing how Kent homeowners manage comfort and cost. Most homes are still heated the old way: one thermostat, in one hallway, deciding the temperature for the whole house. The spare room gets heated to the same degree as the lounge. The upstairs landing runs as warm as the kitchen. It works, in the sense that the house gets warm. But it’s a blunt, wasteful way to do it.
At SimpliHome Automation, we design and install smart heating control, room by room, across Kent. It replaces the single-thermostat approach with something far more precise, and far more comfortable to live with.
Why a Single Thermostat Falls Short
A single thermostat can only respond to the temperature of the room it happens to be in. Every other room is heated as a side effect, whether it needs it or not. As a result, most homes end up with:
Bedrooms too warm to sleep in comfortably
Rooms that are rarely used but heated anyway
Some rooms too cold while others are too warm, at the same time
A heating system that runs longer than necessary, just to satisfy one room
“A single thermostat treats a house as one room. In reality, every room has its own pattern of use, and its own ideal temperature.”
What Smart Heating Control Actually Does
Smart heating control divides your home into individually managed zones, typically room by room, though zones can also be grouped by floor or by use. Each zone gets its own target temperature and schedule, managed centrally through the Loxone platform.
In practice, this means the lounge can stay warm through the evening while an unused guest room holds a low background temperature automatically. Nobody has to remember to turn a valve down.
Key Benefits at a Glance
🌡️ Room-by-room precision — every space sits at the temperature you actually want
💷 Lower running costs — stop paying to heat rooms nobody is using
🛏️ Better sleep — bedrooms run cooler than living spaces automatically
📱 One app, whole-home control — check and adjust every zone from your phone, on-site or away
How a Zone Control System Is Built
A SimpliHome Automation heating installation rests on three elements, working together.
Smart Heating Controller. This is the central logic that manages schedules, target temperatures, and automation rules for every zone. You access it through the Loxone app.
Room sensors. Discreet temperature sensors sit in each zone. They give the system an accurate reading room by room, rather than relying on one hallway sensor for the whole house.
Zone Controllers. Compact devices fit at the radiator or underfloor heating manifold. They open and close each zone independently, based on what that specific room needs.
Whether your home has underfloor heating, radiators, or a mix of both, one platform manages all of it consistently, from a single app.
How Much Can Smart Heating Control Save?
Heating typically accounts for the largest single share of a UK household’s energy bill. The Energy Saving Trust estimates that turning a thermostat down by just one degree can cut heating costs by around 10%.
Zone control takes that same principle and applies it room by room, all day, without anyone thinking about it. Combine that with scheduling, so heating ramps up before you wake and eases off once you’re out, and the saving compounds significantly over a year, particularly in larger homes with rarely used rooms.
Does It Work with My Existing Boiler and Radiators?
Yes. Smart heating control doesn’t mean replacing your boiler or radiators. In most cases, it works alongside what you already have, adding intelligent control on top of your current heat source.
For period Kent properties, control can usually be retrofitted without extensive rewiring — see our guide to planning your smart home for how to weigh up wired versus wireless options. For new builds and major renovations, we design the system in from the start, working with Ryland M&E to deliver heating controls, electrical works, and programming as one coordinated project.
If you’re also planning lighting upgrades, both systems run on the same Loxone platform, so heating and smart lighting control can be installed together or added later without starting from scratch.
Comfort Without the Thinking
The point of a well-designed heating system isn’t that you interact with it constantly. It’s that you don’t have to. Zones reach temperature before you notice they were cold. Unused rooms stay economical without anyone remembering to turn them down. The system simply gets on with it.
That’s the same philosophy behind everything we install: the best smart home isn’t one you’re constantly adjusting. It’s one that simply knows.
Get Smart Heating Control for Your Kent Home
If you’re planning a renovation, replacing an old heating control system, or tired of one room running too hot while another stays cold, talk to us about smart heating control for your Kent home.
SimpliHome Automation works in close partnership with Ryland M&E to deliver fully certified electrical installation alongside our heating and automation services. All electrical works are completed in accordance with BS 7671 and Part P of the Building Regulations, with full certification provided on completion.
Good lighting does more than illuminate a room — it sets the mood, shapes how a space feels, and quietly influences how much you spend on energy every month. For homeowners who want full control without complexity, intelligent lighting systems have become one of the smartest investments you can make in your home.
At SimpliHome Automation, we design and install residential lighting systems that are elegant, intuitive, and genuinely cost-effective. Whether you are building a new home, undertaking a renovation, or simply want to breathe new life into your current lighting scheme, we have the expertise, the products, and the partnerships to deliver a complete solution — from first circuit to final fitting.
Why Residential Lighting Design Matters More Than You Think
Lighting is often treated as an afterthought — something chosen at the end of a project once the walls are painted. In reality, a well-considered lighting design is one of the highest-impact decisions you can make for your home’s comfort, aesthetics, and running costs.
Poorly lit rooms feel flat and uninviting. Overly bright spaces can feel harsh and cause fatigue. The right lighting, delivered at the right intensity and colour temperature, transforms how a room looks and how you feel within it. Modern lighting control systems make this effortless — and automatic.
“The right lighting system does not just look beautiful — it adapts to your life, learns your routines, and works quietly in the background so you never have to think about it.”
Key Benefits at a Glance
💡 Energy Savings — Intelligent dimming and occupancy control dramatically reduce unnecessary consumption
🎨 Interior Aesthetics — Layered, scene-based lighting elevates every room like a professionally styled interior
📱 Effortless Control — One tap sets the perfect scene for morning, evening, entertaining, or relaxing
🏡 Added Property Value — A professionally installed smart lighting system is an attractive feature for any buyer
The Systems We Trust: Loxone and Rako
SimpliHome Automation works with two of the most respected names in residential lighting control: Loxone and Rako. Both offer outstanding reliability and a genuinely user-friendly experience — but they each suit slightly different needs and property types.
Loxone — Whole-Home Automation & Lighting
Loxone is a central, server-based system that controls lighting alongside heating, blinds, audio, security, and more — all from a single platform.
Presence-based automation: lights follow you through the home without touching a switch
Circadian lighting that adjusts colour temperature throughout the day to support your natural rhythm
Rule-based logic for holiday mode, away mode, and time-based scenes — all simple to configure
Controlled via the Loxone app, wall-mounted Touch Pure keypads, or voice assistants
Highly scalable — equally suited to a modest family home or a substantial country property
Rako — Wireless Lighting Control
Rako is a British-designed wireless lighting control system, ideal for retrofits and period homes where running new cabling would be disruptive.
No rewiring required in most cases — perfect for period properties and listed buildings
Scene-setting at the touch of a button from elegant, discreet wall plates
Integrates with Amazon Alexa and Google Home
Simple to expand — add rooms and circuits as your requirements grow
Intuitive Rako app for smartphone and tablet control from anywhere in the world
Which System Is Right for You?
Loxone is the natural choice when you want whole-home automation — one system that orchestrates lighting, climate, and security together. Rako is the outstanding option for lighting-focused projects, retrofits, and period homes where a wired system would be impractical.
Our team will assess your home and recommend the most appropriate solution during an initial consultation. In either case, the day-to-day experience is the same: simple, intuitive, and quietly brilliant.
How Smart Lighting Saves You Real Money
Energy bills are a genuine concern for homeowners across the UK. Intelligent lighting control addresses this directly.
Up to 80% less energy
LED lamps vs traditional halogen
~25% additional saving
From intelligent dimming and automation
25,000+ hours
Typical LED lifespan vs ~1,000 hours for halogen
Systems like Loxone and Rako use presence detection and occupancy sensors to ensure lights are never left on in empty rooms. Automated dimming reduces consumption whenever full brightness is not required — which is most of the time. Time-based schedules ensure outdoor and security lighting runs only when needed.
The savings compound. The combination of LED technology, smart dimming, and occupancy-based control can reduce a home’s lighting energy consumption by well over half compared to a standard halogen-and-switch setup.
LED Lighting: The Foundation of Any Efficient Scheme
The benefits of intelligent control are maximised when the underlying lighting is of the highest quality. SimpliHome Automation are not just control specialists — we supply and specify LED light fittings, drawing on deep technical knowledge to select the right products for every application.
Not all LED lighting is equal. Colour rendering, beam angle, colour temperature, and dimming compatibility vary considerably between products. A poorly chosen LED fitting can flicker, shift colour when dimmed, or cast unflattering light. We ensure every fitting we specify is fully compatible with your control system and delivers the quality of light your home deserves.
From recessed downlights and architectural linear LED to decorative pendants and exterior fittings, we can source, supply, and specify the complete lighting package — giving you a single point of responsibility and genuine peace of mind.
Interior Design, Elevated by Light
Professional interior designers have long understood what homeowners are now discovering: lighting is the single most transformative element in any interior. A well-lit room changes character entirely between morning and evening, between relaxed family time and a formal dinner.
With Loxone or Rako, you can save and recall lighting scenes for any occasion at the touch of a button:
“Dinner” — dims the pendants above the dining table and warms the tone
“Film” — extinguishes overhead lights and brings on a low, ambient wash
“Morning” — gradually brightens the bedroom from 07:00, replacing an abrupt alarm with a gentle awakening
These scenes are effortless to configure and even simpler to use. Whether you control them from a wall keypad, your smartphone, or by saying “Alexa, dinner mode”, the experience is seamless. Guests invariably ask how it works — but the honest answer is that you barely think about it. That is rather the point.
A Truly Turnkey Solution
One of the most common frustrations with smart home technology is coordinating multiple trades and suppliers. Lighting design, electrical works, cabling, controls, and fitting supply often involve several different companies — and the coordination falls on you.
SimpliHome Automation removes that burden entirely. In partnership with Ryland M&E, our trusted mechanical and electrical contractors, we offer a genuinely comprehensive service covering:
✦ Lighting design consultation and scheme specification
✦ Supply of all LED light fittings and control equipment
✦ Full first-fix and second-fix electrical installation
✦ Structured cabling and containment
✦ System programming, scene-setting, and commissioning
✦ Electrical certification in accordance with BS 7671 (18th Edition IET Wiring Regulations)
✦ Handover, training, and ongoing support
One point of contact. One project timeline. One team responsible for quality and compliance — from design concept to electrical sign-off.
“From design concept to electrical sign-off, SimpliHome Automation and Ryland M&E handle everything — so you can focus on enjoying the result.”
Is Smart Lighting Right for Your Home?
Intelligent lighting control is no longer reserved for high-end new builds. Thanks to wireless systems such as Rako, it is eminently practical in period properties, flats, and homes of all sizes. Whether you are refurbishing a single room, redesigning an entire floor, or planning a new home from the ground up, there is a system and a budget that works for you.
The investment pays back through reduced energy bills, extended lamp life, and the kind of daily comfort and convenience that is genuinely difficult to put a price on. Many of our clients tell us it is one of the best decisions they made during their renovation — and one they wish they had made sooner.
Ready to Transform Your Lighting?
Speak to the SimpliHome Automation team for a free, no-obligation consultation. We will assess your home, discuss your requirements, and outline the options that make the most sense for you.
SimpliHome Automation works in close partnership with Ryland M&E to deliver fully certified electrical installation alongside our lighting design and control services. All electrical works are completed in accordance with BS 7671 and Part P of the Building Regulations, with full certification provided on completion.
Future-Proof Your Homes: How SimpliHome Automation, a Loxone Partner, Delivers Ready-for-Future Homes Standard 2026 Compliance
Introduction
The UK’s Future Homes Standard 2026 is here, and it’s transforming how we build and live in our homes. Effective from 24 March 2027, this regulation mandates that all new homes must produce 75% less carbon than those built to 2013 standards, with a shift away from gas boilers, increased use of heat pumps and solar PV, and significantly improved building fabric for energy efficiency.
For developers and homeowners, this means future-proofing homes today to meet tomorrow’s energy and sustainability requirements. SimpliHome Automation, as a trusted Loxone Partner, is uniquely positioned to help you deliver homes that not only comply with the Future Homes Standard but also offer smart, efficient, and future-ready living.
In this post, we’ll explore:
What the Future Homes Standard 2026 means for your projects
How Loxone’s energy management systems support compliance
Why SimpliHome Automation is your go-to partner for seamless integration
What Is the Future Homes Standard 2026?
The Future Homes Standard 2026 is the UK government’s latest step toward net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. Key requirements include:
75% lower carbon emissions compared to 2013 standards
Mandatory heat pumps and solar PV in new homes
Improved building fabric (better insulation, airtightness, and ventilation)
Smart energy management to optimize energy use and reduce bills
Homeowner guidance on heating, ventilation, and renewable energy systems
The standard is part of the Part L and Part F updates to the Building Regulations, with a 12-month transition period to help the industry adapt. From March 2027, all new homes must comply, making it essential for developers to act now.
How Loxone Supports Future Homes Standard Compliance
Loxone is a leader in smart home and energy management systems, and its technology is explicitly designed to help developers meet the Future Homes Standard. Here’s how:
1. Energy Efficiency & Renewable Integration
Loxone’s Building Energy Management System (BeMS) optimizes energy use by:
Monitoring and controlling heating, cooling, and ventilation systems in real time
Integrating with heat pumps and solar PV to maximize renewable energy usage
Predicting energy demand based on weather, occupancy, and grid pricing
2. Smart Controls for Compliance
Loxone’s system ensures homes meet Part L and Part F requirements by:
Automating ventilation to maintain air quality and prevent overheating
Providing remote monitoring for energy performance and compliance reporting
Supporting the Home Energy Model (HEM) and SAP 10.3 methodologies for energy assessments
3. ETL-Approved Energy Management
Loxone is listed on the Energy Technology List (ETL), an official UK government scheme that promotes energy-efficient products. This listing confirms that Loxone’s systems meet the highest standards for energy performance and interoperability, making them ideal for Future Homes Standard compliance.
“Loxone’s systems are not just about automation—they’re about creating homes that are ready for the future. By integrating smart controls and renewable energy, we help developers build properties that exceed energy efficiency targets and reduce long-term costs for homeowners.” — Loxone Blog: Controls Helping Developers Meet the Future Homes Standard
Why Choose SimpliHome Automation as Your Loxone Partner?
As a Loxone Partner, SimpliHome Automation brings expertise in designing, installing, and optimizing Loxone systems for residential and commercial projects. Here’s why we’re the smart choice:
1. Seamless Integration
We specialize in turnkey solutions that integrate Loxone’s energy management, lighting, security, and climate controls into a single, user-friendly system. This ensures your homes are not only compliant but also intuitive and future-proof.
2. Future-Ready Technology
Loxone’s systems are scalable and upgradeable, so your homes can adapt to new technologies and regulations as they evolve. Whether it’s adding smart meters, EV charging points, or advanced analytics, we ensure your homes stay ahead of the curve.
3. Proven Track Record
With years of experience in smart home automation, SimpliHome has delivered projects for high-profile clients, ensuring reliability, efficiency, and compliance every time.
Key Benefits of SimpliHome + Loxone for Future Homes Standard Compliance
Benefit
How SimpliHome Automation Delivers
Energy Efficiency
Real-time monitoring and control of heating, cooling, and ventilation to minimize waste.
Renewable Energy Optimization
Smart integration with heat pumps and solar PV to maximize clean energy usage.
Compliance Support
Automated reporting and documentation to meet Part L, Part F, and ETL requirements.
Homeowner Empowerment
User-friendly interfaces provide guidance on energy use, ventilation, and heating systems.
Cost Savings
Reduced energy bills and maintenance costs through automation and predictive energy management.
Future-Proofing
Scalable systems that adapt to new regulations, technologies, and homeowner needs.
How to Get Started with SimpliHome Automation
Ready to future-proof your homes? Here’s how to begin:
Consultation: Book a call with our team to discuss your project’s energy and automation goals.
Design & Integration: We’ll create a custom Loxone solution tailored to your development’s needs.
Installation & Support: Our certified engineers ensure seamless installation, with ongoing support for compliance and upgrades.
Conclusion
The Future Homes Standard 2026 is a game-changer for the UK’s housing sector, and SimpliHome Automation, as a Loxone Partner, is here to help you meet and exceed these requirements. By integrating smart energy management, renewable energy optimization, and user-friendly controls, we deliver homes that are compliant, efficient, and future-ready.
Don’t wait until 2027—start future-proofing your homes today.
📞 Contact SimpliHome Automation now to schedule a consultation and learn how we can help your next project meet the Future Homes Standard.
What’s your biggest challenge in meeting the Future Homes Standard? Let’s discuss how SimpliHome can help—drop a comment below or reach out directly!
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