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Mile High system for injured Marine
On November 10, 2009, five and a half years after being felled by sniper fire in Fallujah on his second tour of duty, 26 year old Corporal Visnu Gonzalez will cut a ribbon and wheel into his new green, state of the art adapted home in Hillsdale, New Jersey. At the ceremony will be a representative from our local Mile High Automation based in Commerce City, which designed, supplied and helped install the home’s cutting edge adaptive technology. Rick Goyette of the non-profit Homes for Our Troops, who oversaw the 4 year long project and its army of volunteers, will hand Visnu the keys to his new home.
Gonzalez’ new home was designed to address his unique physical challenges and to help him regain a measure of independence. Paralyzed from the upper chest down, the Dominican-born Marine has use of his arms but only limited use of his hands. His body can no longer regulate its own temperature and Gonzalez is in constant danger of infection, necessitating both a continual supply of fresh air plus a carefully controlled thermostat.
Coordinating with Rick Goyette, Daniel Lowitz, Sales Manager of Mile High Automation, ensured that the air in the house which is completely replaced every two hours, is kept at a prescribed temperature. Lowtiz designed a system for Visnu that will allow him to control the home’s security system, lighting and thermostat by means of a portable 8” touch screen that can be hand held or attached to his wheelchair.
From this screen Gonzalez can run the sprinklers, close his garage, turn on his porch light and open the front door to let in a visitor; the screen also allows him to access his email or surf the web. In addition, Mile High placed motion sensing lights throughout the house to allow for hands free operation, switching on when Gonzalez enters a room and darkening after he leaves.
Other adaptations in the house include custom cabinetry and lowered countertops with wheelchair access, allowing Gonzalez to prepare his own meals and work at a desk. In his bedroom a lift will carry him from his bed to a specially equipped bathroom. Even with the home’s state of the art technology, Gonzalez will require the assistance of his mother, Maria Baez, who will be moving in with him. It was his mother’s refusal to give up on her son that finally brought Visnu’s case to the attention of Homes for Our Troops.
Not only is the home adaptive, it is arguably “the greenest home in New Jersey” thanks to a generous grant from the Sierra Club, earning it the highest platinum-level LEED certification. The house is completely powered by solar roof panels (including a solar-powered elevator), uses geothermal heating and cooling from two deep wells in the backyard, collects rainwater from the roof to water a drought-resistant garden, and uses energy efficient LED lighting.
As with many other suppliers on this project, Mile High Automation donated labor to help install its custom home automation system. “MHA is proud to partner with Homes for Our Troops in this worthwhile cause and we wish Visnu all the best in his new home,” states Josh Ferguson, Mile High Automation president. “We’ll train Visnu how to operate the system from his touch screen and we’ll be here to answer any questions he has down the road and provide him a lifetime of tech support.”
Of her son’s new home Gonzalez’s mother, Maria Baez states, “This is our second miracle. The first miracle was that he lived. The second is now he has a possibility of living well.”
Gonzalez’ new home was designed to address his unique physical challenges and to help him regain a measure of independence. Paralyzed from the upper chest down, the Dominican-born Marine has use of his arms but only limited use of his hands. His body can no longer regulate its own temperature and Gonzalez is in constant danger of infection, necessitating both a continual supply of fresh air plus a carefully controlled thermostat.
Coordinating with Rick Goyette, Daniel Lowitz, Sales Manager of Mile High Automation, ensured that the air in the house which is completely replaced every two hours, is kept at a prescribed temperature. Lowtiz designed a system for Visnu that will allow him to control the home’s security system, lighting and thermostat by means of a portable 8” touch screen that can be hand held or attached to his wheelchair.
From this screen Gonzalez can run the sprinklers, close his garage, turn on his porch light and open the front door to let in a visitor; the screen also allows him to access his email or surf the web. In addition, Mile High placed motion sensing lights throughout the house to allow for hands free operation, switching on when Gonzalez enters a room and darkening after he leaves.
Other adaptations in the house include custom cabinetry and lowered countertops with wheelchair access, allowing Gonzalez to prepare his own meals and work at a desk. In his bedroom a lift will carry him from his bed to a specially equipped bathroom. Even with the home’s state of the art technology, Gonzalez will require the assistance of his mother, Maria Baez, who will be moving in with him. It was his mother’s refusal to give up on her son that finally brought Visnu’s case to the attention of Homes for Our Troops.
Not only is the home adaptive, it is arguably “the greenest home in New Jersey” thanks to a generous grant from the Sierra Club, earning it the highest platinum-level LEED certification. The house is completely powered by solar roof panels (including a solar-powered elevator), uses geothermal heating and cooling from two deep wells in the backyard, collects rainwater from the roof to water a drought-resistant garden, and uses energy efficient LED lighting.
As with many other suppliers on this project, Mile High Automation donated labor to help install its custom home automation system. “MHA is proud to partner with Homes for Our Troops in this worthwhile cause and we wish Visnu all the best in his new home,” states Josh Ferguson, Mile High Automation president. “We’ll train Visnu how to operate the system from his touch screen and we’ll be here to answer any questions he has down the road and provide him a lifetime of tech support.”
Of her son’s new home Gonzalez’s mother, Maria Baez states, “This is our second miracle. The first miracle was that he lived. The second is now he has a possibility of living well.”
Labels: charity, home automation, HVAC control, lighting control, security systems
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Dan Lowitz
Posted
Thursday, November 5, 2009
at
11:23 AM
Mile High Jet Setter
Having had the pleasure of traveling to our clients homes and complete the installations of the systems, I thought I would share a bit about the systems themselves and how our clients are actually integrating them into their lives. Primarily everyone is utilizing the security portion of the systems to the fullest. These are complete perimeter and interior alarms, some have taken advantage of the 24-hour central station monitoring we are now offering. Lighting controls and HVAC systems are being integrated in all of the installations and combining those with the security system customizing the systems has been pretty intense. I think once a client sees something actually working as it is meant to it allows the imagination to run wild. We were able to make on the fly programming updates and create custom buttons for the system that our clients were able to see and then tweak immediately to suit their needs. It has been a lot of fun working directly with our clients, in their homes, to make things work for them exactly as they wish.
I have gotten to visit some areas I might never have gone as a result too. I got to visit Lincoln's tomb in Springfield, Il. I was in the hills outside of San Jose in a beautiful area of the country known as Los Gatos. Got to see most of Georgia as I drove from about an hour north of Atlanta from a lakeside home to another house in the western hills of the state. Very different areas each stunning in their own way. Our clients have all been very nice and extraordinarily accommodating. The systems have all been substantial and have had all the different services we offer represented. It has been a pleasure so far, despite a few travel issues, and I look forward to working with many more of you in the coming years.
I have gotten to visit some areas I might never have gone as a result too. I got to visit Lincoln's tomb in Springfield, Il. I was in the hills outside of San Jose in a beautiful area of the country known as Los Gatos. Got to see most of Georgia as I drove from about an hour north of Atlanta from a lakeside home to another house in the western hills of the state. Very different areas each stunning in their own way. Our clients have all been very nice and extraordinarily accommodating. The systems have all been substantial and have had all the different services we offer represented. It has been a pleasure so far, despite a few travel issues, and I look forward to working with many more of you in the coming years.
Labels: California, custom install, custom programming, Georgia, home automation, HVAC control, Illinois, integration, lighting control, security systems, Travel, wiring
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Dan Lowitz
Posted
Friday, August 7, 2009
at
9:45 AM
Lighting control for Mother Nature
Mile High Automation is proud to announce that we are, in connection with Blind Corners and Curves, offering motorized shades and blinds. Blind Corners and Curves (BCC) have been providing quality products and installation since 1997. Our clients will benefit from this relationship immensely. BCC, in addition to being a key account for Hunter Douglas, has a custom manufacturing facility on-site for the creation of motorized blinds to fit oddly shaped windows (a staple in current construction). Our customers have been asking for shade and blind motorization and natural light control for a long time and we are now able to offer it.
The systems can be designed and installed for a pre-construction or a retrofit application through the use of wireless remote controls. We will integrate your standard lighting control system to work with your new natural lighting control system and function according to scene control, alarm status, vacation mode or even the astronomical clock. This will allow you to have absolute control over how your home is lit whether you are home or away, day or night.
The benefits of natural light control are great. Proper window covering and control will save your furniture, rugs and expensive artwork from the damaging rays of the sun. Think of it as SPF for your possessions. BCC will work with designers, architects, builders, homeowners and Mile High Automation to be certain your home gets what it needs.
Please get in touch with us and we will work with you and BCC to create the natural lighting control system you need. Check out their website at www.bccblinds.com to see the choices they have to offer.
The systems can be designed and installed for a pre-construction or a retrofit application through the use of wireless remote controls. We will integrate your standard lighting control system to work with your new natural lighting control system and function according to scene control, alarm status, vacation mode or even the astronomical clock. This will allow you to have absolute control over how your home is lit whether you are home or away, day or night.
The benefits of natural light control are great. Proper window covering and control will save your furniture, rugs and expensive artwork from the damaging rays of the sun. Think of it as SPF for your possessions. BCC will work with designers, architects, builders, homeowners and Mile High Automation to be certain your home gets what it needs.
Please get in touch with us and we will work with you and BCC to create the natural lighting control system you need. Check out their website at www.bccblinds.com to see the choices they have to offer.
Labels: blinds, home automation, integration, lighting control, motorization, shades, wireless
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Dan Lowitz
Posted
Monday, April 6, 2009
at
8:53 AM
Webinars Coming Soon
We will be hosting homeowner webinars starting next week! It will be an outline of what we do for our clients and a detailed explanation of how home automation can make your home a more pleasant environment. The format is to be a lecture and open discussion where I will go over the different systems we offer and take questions about the features and benefits of the integrated home and how automation will make your home function to more efficiently serve you.
I will be explaining the systems from start to finish including; the control system or nerve center, multi-room audio, lighting control, security systems and monitoring, HVAC control, remote software, touchscreens along with CCTV cameras and DVRs. We will also focus on programming and custom design.
We will be adding a link next week to our website to allow homeowners to register online.
Link is available this week.
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/921066846
I will be explaining the systems from start to finish including; the control system or nerve center, multi-room audio, lighting control, security systems and monitoring, HVAC control, remote software, touchscreens along with CCTV cameras and DVRs. We will also focus on programming and custom design.
We will be adding a link next week to our website to allow homeowners to register online.
Link is available this week.
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/921066846
Labels: CCTV cameras, control sytem, design, DVRs, HVAC control, lighting control, monitoring, multi-room audio, programming, remote software, security systems, touchscreens
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Dan Lowitz
Posted
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
at
11:16 AM