Latest news with #Albuquerque
Forbes
8 hours ago
- Business
- Forbes
Smart Home Technology Reimagined: The Future Is So Much Smarter
RIoT Technology is able to track home performance to better inform builders and homeowners about ... More what offers the best return on investment. Smart home technology has been evolving rapidly, driven by consumer expectations. While the technology has advanced, the ecosystem has remained clunky—and understandably so. With disjointed products and services, it has been easy for builders to leave smart technology integration up to the homeowner as an aftermarket consideration. Hundreds of competing manufacturers have exacerbated compatibility issues, wiring and infrastructure requirements vary across products, and integration and interoperability are complex. Since consumers can buy the latest gadgets online and install them themselves, it has been easy for builders to step aside entirely. Hitting Reset On Smart Home Tech The goal of any smart home system is to create a cohesive program where everything works in harmony, delivering a seamless experience for the homeowner, which is a far cry from what most consumers can do on their own or from what builders can deliver. Brian McCarthy, co-owner of Abrazo Homes, has built more than 200 homes annually in Albuquerque for the past fifteen years. Attuned to consumer trends, he recognized the growing demand for connected, automated homes, but he also saw the inherent difficulties. After conducting extensive research focused on simplifying smart technology integration and extracting useful insights, he launched RIoT Technology, a startup dedicated to integrated residential technology. Today, 60 homes are online with RIoT. His approach to winning over builders reluctant to complicate their processes was to develop a preconfigured smart home kit complete with sensors, valves, and devices. Builders could use the same installation processes and subcontractors without having to learn complex systems—yet still deliver a smart home. The kit removes the intimidation factor of selecting or learning new technology. 'The installation process was very simple and seamlessly integrated into the construction of the home,' said Ryan Hillgartner, director of marketing at Tim O'Brien Homes that has installed RIoT in multiple homes. 'Each individual trade was given an easy-to-understand how-to guide for their respective installations that required minimal onsite guidance. Once all components were installed, the setup process with the home's WiFi was made simple by both the how-to-guide, and the team at Abrazo providing on-the-spot assistance. Many of our trades voiced being impressed at how easy these smart home technologies were to install, especially compared to other smart home technology products.' Then comes the real intelligence. Once it is installed, RIoT connects the system to the internet, giving homeowners the ability to monitor leaks, weatherization, energy use, air quality, and other essential operations via an in-home kiosk. Installing these features during construction—rather than after—offers distinct advantages. For instance, the kit separates internal and external plumbing, allowing users to shut off external systems before the first freeze, which is difficult to retrofit. This feature alone helps builders avoid having to fix bursting pipes, which is one of the most common warranty claims according to McCarthy. The RIoT system goes beyond calendar-based preventative tips. By using its sensors, it can detect when a filter actually needs to be changed—by sensing pressure drops from a dirty filter. When that happens, McCarthy simply ships a new filter to the homeowner. This addresses a commonly missed maintenance task and benefits both builder and buyer. The builder avoids warranty issues, while a clean filter means a homeowner can save up to 15 percent on monthly energy bills, according to Constellation Energy. McCarthy adds that not having a clean dryer vent means the dryer uses up to 15 percent more power, which is another routine maintenance issue that can be monitored by RIoT. 'We wanted to find ways to prevent a furnace filter from dangerously reducing airflow due to neglect, so employing RIoT's filter life monitor has given us that ability with alerts to gently push homeowners to perform this important maintenance task," said Hillgartner. "These features not only provide peace of mind to homeowners, but also to us as a builder that this home will be well maintained, preventing callbacks.' Tim O'Brien Homes is using the live monitoring to watch indoor air particulates, temperature, and relative humidity to see how its homes perform in the local climate using real performance data from multiple points in the home that offer better understanding of the mechanical systems and building enclosure's ability to manage temperature and moisture swings. It also tracks onsite solar production and battery storage, plus uses the system with leak detection equipment in the main plumbing line of the home. Now Come the Brains of the Smart Home A user dashboard shows home performance in each area of the home over time so the user can make ... More adjustments for more efficiency. Utility companies measure power usage, but they don't evaluate how that power is used inside the home. McCarthy is working to change that. Data from RIoT can track home temperature relative to weather forecasts and the building envelope. It can also detect if an ERV (Energy Recovery Ventilator) has failed, shut off, or stopped—issues that can quickly compromise indoor air quality. While airtight construction improves performance, it also increases risk for builders. RIoT's data-driven approach helps quantify ERV performance, offering insights into both its necessity and return on investment for builders and homeowners alike. Smart systems like these also reduce warranty expenses by proactively managing the monitored systems. A report earlier this year showed that publicly traded homebuilders spend $1 billion each quarter on warranty costs. New data from RIoT could make both homebuyers and builders significantly smarter, in a proactive sense to make smarter design choices and to avoid warranty and insurance issues. 'For instance, the standard insulation is R-49 in the attic, but in the design center, we can offer R-60 for future energy savings,' McCarthy said. 'Today, a homeowner chooses the upgrade based on trust and marketing. The customer doesn't know if it's worth it.' Again, that's about to change. The system will be able to analyze data from hundreds of homes to calculate the financial breakeven point between R-49 and R-60 insulation, providing data-driven insights for more informed decisions—and improved energy efficiency. This analysis can also apply to other features like windows, HVAC systems, and refrigerators. Lance Manlove serves as the director of innovation at Delaware-based homebuilder Schell Brothers that developed a proprietary software platform called Heartbeat that runs all operations in the company from the website to warranty to sales. The builder focuses on technology and wanted to integrate its own system with a platform capable of data acquisition. Schell is installing the RIoT system into employee homes that are under construction to see what can be done with the empirical data. Instead of the homeowner changing air filters every six months just based on a rule of thumb, they will be able to monitor the air flow and order one when there is only 80 percent airflow through the filter. Manlove will use APIs to hook into RIoT allowing the company to explore the performance of windows, insulation, and other products, and to pool data to better understand the efficiencies. Tim O'Brien Homes is looking forward to collecting data from multiple homes to identify areas for improvement, such as poor distribution of conditioned and filtered air and understanding how the outdoor environment impacts the indoors. Credible Smart Home Sustainability For years, Energy Star has helped consumers identify efficient appliances and products, but now the program faces potential elimination. 'The implications of losing Energy Star could make systems like RIoT even more important,' McCarthy said. 'All manufacturers are trying to create more efficient products, but without Energy Star, how can consumers make informed decisions without a data-driven approach to scoring appliances and building materials?' Smart home tracking systems could also support the country's aging energy grid. McCarthy notes that California's grid is only stressed on five days per year and typically has excess capacity. However, peak demand on hot days can strain the system. 'Heating and cooling are the biggest consumers of electricity,' he said. 'There's enough power in the world—just not always at the right place at the right time.' Currently, millions of programmable thermostats are on the market, but most aren't tailored to actual homeowner usage patterns. This means many systems heat and cool unnecessarily because there's no data to optimize the process. RIoT interprets in-home data, aligns it with usage patterns, and allocates energy accordingly. It can even push power profiles and efficiency recommendations to the homeowner, shifting energy use to off-peak hours and offering tips to boost efficiency. The platform also allows manufacturers to integrate their devices, enabling connected systems throughout the home to contribute to valuable data insights. For example, the dryer could communicate with the power meter to understand total consumption and usage timing. 'It's part of our vision that in the future, appliances like the air conditioner and dryer will talk to each other to be more efficient,' McCarthy said. 'Most utilities are moving toward time-of-use billing, with costs rising up to 700 percent during peak hours from 4 to 7 p.m. If we reduce consumption during those hours, we can deliver cost savings.' Future Smart Home Tech Goes Healthy Smart home technology is also evolving to support personal health. Since we spend 70% of our time indoors, systems that monitor air quality, lighting, humidity, and water usage can have significant health impacts. 'There are more than 50 versions of bottled water, and a lot of attention has gone into what we put in our bodies—but little into the air we breathe,' McCarthy said. 'As homes become tighter, we need to monitor air quality and understand its effects on sleep, energy, and wellness. In this context, an ERV or HRV becomes one of the most important systems in a new home.' McCarthy hopes to track indoor air quality with wearable devices and correlate that data with environmental changes and health outcomes. He envisions a future where these metrics are available and actionable. "We are constantly exploring various technologies and WiFi-enabled devices to make operating our high performance homes easy for the homeowner,' Hillgartner said. 'Working with RIoT has been another leap forward into the world of smart home technology with a higher level focus on health and comfort, and we will continue to enhance our portfolio with their help.' Manlove envisions insurance benefits as well. If an insurance company could see the active monitoring of systems, there could be potential to lower rates. The active monitoring is critical, because while a system might be in place, maintenance to make sure the system is functioning properly has to take place, like replacing filters and batteries. Other home builders, like Las Vegas-based LIVV Homes, are bringing smart home technology into the home experience in different ways, such as with digital twins. Smart home systems have been disconnected and elementary until now. Data from the homes that are being installed with RIoT will help the industry reimagine the possibilities.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
This Albuquerque business owner found a ‘humane' way to deal with trespassers using his back door as a toilet
Petty theft, vandalism and yes, even people treating your back door like a public restroom are headaches business owners know all too well. But one Albuquerque entrepreneur is proving you don't need a big budget or a security team to fight back. Thierry Gonzalez, who runs a business in downtown Albuquerque, decided to take matters into his own hands after repeated incidents of people loitering, using drugs and relieving themselves behind his store. Don't miss Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now become a landlord for as little as $100 — and no, you don't have to deal with tenants or fix freezers. Here's how I'm 49 years old and have nothing saved for retirement — what should I do? Don't panic. Here are 6 of the easiest ways you can catch up (and fast) Want an extra $1,300,000 when you retire? Dave Ramsey says this 7-step plan 'works every single time' to kill debt, get rich in America — and that 'anyone' can do it 'We've just had a lot of problems with people using our back door as a bathroom or a place to shoot up or whatever,' Gonzales told KOB 4. For less than $150, he built a high-impact deterrent using a Ring camera, PVC pipes, sprinklers and Wi-Fi solenoid valves to keep trespassers at bay. But is this DIY fix just clever or could it cause legal trouble in the long run? Spraying away trouble Gonzalez came up with a simple solution to the chaos outside his business. For three years, he's dealt with unsanitary and unsafe incidents — part of a growing issue in Albuquerque, where homelessness rose to 2,394 people in 2023. Rather than wait for things to get worse, he took matters into his own hands. 'If they don't leave, then we spray them with water. That just seems to be the simplest way, and it's a humane solution to getting someone to stop using our back door as a bathroom,' Gonzales said. Other business owners are now asking how they can set up similar sprinkler systems to protect their property. The problem isn't new in Albuquerque. In 2023, KRQE Investigates reported that a business on Central Avenue was dealing with the same issues of homelessness, drug use and human waste — all threatening its survival. 'I pick up out there the burnt tin foils that they're doing the drugs with. I probably can clean up 100 a day,' said Michael Spaeth, co-owner of Southwestern Minerals. 'The needles — I can probably pick up 25, 30 a week. It blows in from the alley. The whole yard is just covered with drug residue.' While local businesses are clearly struggling, questions remain about whether this approach is legal, and if it's a sustainable solution or just a temporary fix to keep the lights on. Read more: Americans are 'revenge saving' to survive — but millions only get a measly 1% on their savings. The legal solution Gonzalez says his creative setup is already making a difference. What used to be a twice-daily issue now happens only every other day. 'We can't depend on somebody else to handle the problem for us, and we're doing what we can to combat it on our own, but do it in a safe, you know, humane manner,' he said. Whether his method is legal, however, remains unclear. According to KOB 4, New Mexico law doesn't explicitly address tactics like Gonzalez's, putting it in something of a gray area. Mayor Tim Keller has acknowledged the challenges businesses face. In 2024, he announced the Metro Homelessness Initiative (MHI), a program aimed at addressing housing issues, connecting unhoused individuals with jobs and creating paths out of homelessness through its A Better Way Forward campaign. 'We're acting with urgency, but what the City can do alone is not enough. We are inviting service providers, the business community, and elected leaders to come to the table this fall, pool our resources and turn the tide on homelessness,' Keller said. Business owners dealing with similar problems are encouraged to reach out to local authorities or seek legal guidance. A little expert advice can go a long way in keeping things under control. What to read next Robert Kiyosaki warns of 'massive unemployment' in the US due to the 'biggest change' in history — and says this 1 group of 'smart' Americans will get hit extra hard. Are you one of them? How much cash do you plan to keep on hand after you retire? Here are 3 of the biggest reasons you'll need a substantial stash of savings in retirement Rich, young Americans are ditching the stormy stock market — here are the alternative assets they're banking on instead Here are 5 'must have' items that Americans (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you? Stay in the know. Join 200,000+ readers and get the best of Moneywise sent straight to your inbox every week for free. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Sandia National Labs team with Explora for X-R Conference
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Explora visitors can soon step into the world of extended reality, thanks to Sandia National Labs. This week, technology enthusiasts can experience augmented, virtual, and mixed reality as part of Sandia's Seventh Annual X-R Conference. Story continues below Food: Albuquerque diner named one of the best in the country by Food Network New Mexico Crime Files: NM town mayor and police chief caught smuggling guns to Mexican cartels Sports Office: Playing defense from the offensive line with Teton Saltes Community: What's happening in New Mexico July 18-24? Route 66 Summerfest and more The event brings leaders in the industry together to explore the future of extended reality. The labs will host a demo day at Explora this Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
New AFR and APD boathouse will reduce water rescue response time
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque's Fire and Police Departments said they'll be able to rescue people in the water faster, thanks to a new boathouse. AFR and APD will now be housing their airboats and other equipment at a brand-new garage. They said having their boats here saves them 10-15 minutes getting on the water. The Crew Behind Swift Water & Arroyo Rescues On a corner of Tingley Drive just north of the ABQ BioPark, a new garage is storing airboats for Albuquerque's Fire and Police Departments. Prior to this boathouse, AFR used to store their boats at Station Four near Coronado Park while APD's equipment was housed near their academy on Second Street. 'The issue there is any time we'd get a call, from driving from that location to our launch point at Tingley and Central is about 15-20 minutes, and so having this location here now cuts that down to five minutes at the most here to our launch location,' said Sergeant Brian Shannon, Albuquerque Police Department. This garage cost more than $600,000 and was completed last winter to house both AFR and APD equipment. AFR Lieutenant Jason Fejer said their boats were also used to respond to the bosque fires a few weeks ago. 'The bosque fire a couple of weeks ago, we actually had a couple of firefighters on APD's boat on the river with a pump fighting that fire from the river, so it does give us some flexibility on how we respond,' said Lieutenant Jason Fejer, Albuquerque Fire Rescue. Although there is no dedicated staffing at the boathouse, APD and AFR said its location still makes it convenient for available staff to report directly to the boathouse. The boathouse will also store ATVs and UTVs for police to patrol the bosque along with other necessary equipment. 'And that allows us to drive from here to across the street right into the bosque instead of having to load these up on a trailer, come here, park, unload them, and then drive in,' said SGT. Shannon. Both the fire and police departments said the boathouse location will allow them to keep more equipment and do more regular patrols on the river, but said they've put those on halt due to low water levels. AFR said they have another UTV coming in the fall that will be stored at the boathouse. It will have a water pump in order to help fight fires. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
City looking to move APD substation in preparation for Route 66 Centennial
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Drive along Central near the University of New Mexico, and you will encounter a piece of history. This tiny police substation may soon be on the move as part of the upcoming celebration of the Route 66 centennial. Story continues below News: Albuquerque's downtown vacant buildings ordinance will go into effect July 1 Investigation: 'It's on her': Senator defunds DA citing attitude, staff shortage Sports Office: Catching up with World Champion Boxer Danny Romero Jr Shelley Sanchez, the director of Arts and Culture for the City of Albuquerque, said, 'It's not crazy to think that we could move it again to its next long-term home on another piece of Route 66.' Currently, the substation is located at the corner of Girard and Central, but the city is planning to relocate it entirely. The substation was originally a Valentine Diner, one of the many prefabricated diners that became popular in the 1930s and could be easily moved. Sanchez said, 'These were kind of tiny, ready-to-go diners that people could purchase. They could seat anywhere from three to maybe 12 people. If you wanted to start a restaurant, you could just buy one, have it delivered by train, and be ready to go.' In fact, this substation was not at its current location for long, as it was situated at 8th and Central just 30 years ago. The city aims to move the diner to the Route 66 Visitor Center in time for the centennial next year. However, the center has faced controversy. An investigation by Larry Barker revealed that the city spent $320,000 to furnish the building without proper oversight, and the building is still not open to the public. The city has indicated that this could change by the end of the summer as they are working to hire staff for the center. They plan to convert the substation back into a diner, creating a historical exhibit connected to the Mother Road. 'When we move it to a place like the Visitor Center, where we will have staff starting later this summer, we can open it to the public so that people can actually go into this space,' said Sanchez. It remains unclear how much the move will cost, but the city expects to have a better estimate of its feasibility by the end of summer. Sanchez added, 'Before we make the final decision as the administration and the department, we want to finish those conversations to ensure we are really hearing what everyone needs from this process.' If approved, the relocation could take place by fall of this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
