We tend to think of school technology as whiteboards, projectors, and iPads. It is that (you don’t need to tell us how important AV is). But it can be so much more.

If energy efficiency for a school building is the goal, automating systems like lighting and heating can help to manage costs extremely effectively, and require zero input from the school’s staff to work as they should.

You can now experience an ambient assisted living solution (AAL) designed and installed by Epitome Living at the Sync Living Independence and Mobility Hub in Jennymount Business Park in Belfast. AAL uses discreet technology systems to create safe, easily monitored environments for people who want to lead independent lives.

Our CPD courses explore the design and installation of technology in contemporary homes and are suitable for architects and interior designers. We're the only smart technology installer in Ireland offering this training in smart technology, so don't miss out on getting yourself or your team signed up. 

Installing a smart system in your home can be costly. Wiring is one cost, hardware is another, and we know it all starts to add up. We’re not detached from the fact that when you’re building or renovating, you don’t often have an extra few thousand pounds in your pocket for some ‘nice-to-have’ technology. But what if smart technology wasn’t seen as a ‘nice-to-have’? What if it was seen as an investment that saves you time, money, and energy in the immediate term and in the future?

The simple answer? 

The same as what happens when the power goes out and you don’t have a smart home. 

We’re always on the look out for tech developments, particularly when it comes to smart building technology, as we want to give our clients the best experience possible with what we install for them. 

We asked the team what their 2026 home tech predictions are, and here’s what they came up with.

A non-exhaustive guide to the energy efficiency grants available for homeowners and commercial building managers in Ireland through bodies like the Sustainable Energy Authority Ireland (SEAI).

Is there really that much of a difference between smart technology that’s wired into your home and smart technology that’s been retrofitted?

We think so. 

Not getting enough bright light in our eyes can cause a “misfiring of the circadian rhythm”, Dr Laurence Wainwright, a psychiatry academic at Oxford University explained to Sky News. That’s why we feel so ‘off’ sometimes from November to February (let’s not even talk about everything that contributes to the January blues).

When we don’t get enough sunlight during the day, our bodies get confused about when it’s time to be awake and when it’s time to sleep. That’s the ‘misfiring’ referenced by Dr Wainwright, and it’s why we feel more sluggish when darkness seems to dominate our days.

Aside from technical definitions, what is smart building technology? And what do we do with it that makes our offering different to what you can buy on Amazon?