Install a Ceiling Sweep fan

Ceiling sweep fans are a great way of providing economical cooling in summer and improving the economy of heating in winter. Especially effective for cooling in more humid areas, ceiling sweep fans will quietly and gently distribute air around the room to make it far more comfortable. Most ceiling sweep fans are reversible which allows you to use them in winter to circulate warm air that gathers near the ceiling down thus improving the efficiency of your heating.

Provide power outlets in easy access positions to cater for your Home Entertainment System

Most entertainment systems consist of a television, video, compact disc player, cassette player and radio, and are usually housed in a cabinet of some description. Ensure you have enough power outlets in the one area to cater for the system as well as making them as easy as possible to access.

Install a wall mounted TV antenna connection socket

If you intend to use a home entertainment system or television set in your lounge/living area it is essential you install a TV antenna connection socket near by. Antenna sockets are available in all switchplate styles as well as a huge range of antenna accessories which allows a single antenna to deliver TV signals to any number of TV outlets in your home. Not only will you do away with unsightly portable antennas but your picture quality will be greatly enhanced. Also available is a range of switchplates that combine outlets for free to air TV, FM Radio and Pay TV.

To protect your entertainment system use a Surge Filter Mechanism

A range of compact surge protection devices are available that are designed to absorb power surges which may damage or even destroy your expensive electrical equipment. They may be installed at your main switchboard to protect all power circuits. There are also models which operate as any normal power outlet except they have an inbuilt neon lamp to indicate that the surge filter is operating correctly. Also available are portable surge filters available which can be fitted to existing power outlets and provide the same protection.

Consider installing Dimmers or Smart Meks for variable lighting options

Dimmers and Smart Meks are ideal for all types of lounge rooms and living areas. You can reduce the intensity of the lights when watching a movie or to set the mood for a romantic evening. Smart Meks are an economical way of adjusting light intensity. Available in both dimmers and timers, Smart Meks look like any normal switch but with the added benefit of fully controlled, adjustable lighting.

Ensure you install a Smoke Alarm

Smoke alarms are now mandatory in all new homes in most states of Australia. Smoke inhalation is the main cause of death in domestic fires and as the smell of smoke wont wake you, a quality detection network is essential. The early warning a smoke alarm provides means less chance of major fire damage and, more importantly less chance of lives being lost. Smoke alarms can be mains powered, with a 9V battery backup as an additional safety feature. Also available are smoke alarms that run off a 9V battery. The smoke alarm provides constant visual status that the system is working correctly, includes a hush facility, and up to 40 units can be interconnected together. This means if one alarm is triggered all other interconnected alarms will be triggered, alerting everyone in the house.

Ensure you have enough power outlets to cater for all possible appliances

There are a huge range of electrical appliances that are often used in the Lounge/Living area. These include:

Television - Radio - Compact Disc - Cassette Player - Extra Lighting - Iron - Fish Tank - Childrens Toys - Slide Projector - Portable fan - Sewing machine - Vacuum Cleaner - Clock - Floor Polisher - Computer - Printer

Providing sufficient power outlets around the room will minimise the need for extension cords and power boards which are both messy and potentially dangerous. Also, having the power outlets installed when you build is far more economical and convenient than having addition outlets fitted later.