Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 - (Page 37)

cantly. In order to provide the highest level of bandwidth capacity, the network must be connected directly into the home. The critical connection Many developers are confused about the benefits of fiberoptic telecommunication for their projects. However, the real risk is not including fiber as a key amenity. According to TecHome Builder magazine, residences that feature a direct fiber-optic connection have a higher property value compared to those that do not. This is just one additional benefit that attracts buyers when they are considering a new home purchase. “It’s almost certain that if a resident is given the choice between two similar developments, one with fiber and one without, they will choose fiber. It’s that important.” said Brian Gullette, national vice president of business development for Connexion Technologies, a national fiber-optic amenity company. In today’s housing market, many developers are using technology to differentiate themselves from the rest of the competition, and buyers are taking notice. Potential buyers need to know that their homes will be built to last, and connectivity capabilities are a big part of that. Brookwood Properties elected to install a fiber-optic network in its development. “In today’s market of high-definition television and the use of the Internet, a community’s telecommunications infrastructure is becoming increasingly important to homebuyers,” said Brett Turner, president of the company. “In order to meet the demand of today’s homeowner and to keep up with future tech- Fiber does not conduct electricity, so it is more reliable than coax and copper cable. This means fewer service interruptions during storms and power outages. With the growth of bandwidth-hungry technologies, the demand for fiber has risen dramatically. FTTH is the only network structure with enough bandwidth capacity to handle the demands of emerging technologies both on the Internet and in the home. Without fiber, there is little chance a homeowner can keep up with the demand of tomorrow’s communication and entertainment services. Only fiber provides sufficient capacity to enable multiple services to work together seamlessly over a residential network. What makes fiber a vital amenity? Fiber, with its reliability and ability to transmit vast amounts of information, is vital for the integration of many “connected home” technologies, such as remote home monitoring that allows homeowners to control thermostats and alarm systems via the Internet. Buyers are increasingly concerned about rising energy costs in their home. Fiber can easily support home monitoring solutions that cut energy costs by regulating heating and cooling systems. Many utility companies have started offering lower rates for residents in energy efficient homes. Additionally, “smart grid” services from some utilities provide further savings for homes that can be regulated during peak consumption periods. With home monitoring services through a fiber-connected smart home, residents can lower their energy consumption and help lower their monthly bills. Rising auto fuel costs are also driving the need for fiber. More professionals now choose to work from home to not only save money, but also to decrease their carbon footprint. More and more businesses offer telecommuting options to employees – but only if they have the ability to stay well-connected to the office without project-stalling delays. Without a network that supports secure and reliable teleconferencing, file sharing and other advanced technology needs, telecommuting will never win the boss’ confidence. Even if you don’t telecommute, most people benefit from having a network that supports their ability to conduct work away from the office. When it comes to fiber deployment, all networks are not created equally. In many communities, fiber is run throughout the property, but not connected directly to the home. Bringing fiber along the “last mile,” but leaving the last 100 feet to copper, limits the benefits and abilities of the fiber network signifi- HTI, Inc. 3104 Logan Valley Road, Suite 100 Traverse City, MI 49684 Complete Design/Build/Operate Services I SBR & Extended Aeration WWTP’s Fire Protection Tanks Potable Water Storage Tanks Storm Water Reservoirs Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) Tanks Biosolids Storage Tanks Septage Receiving Facility I I I I I HTI’s team of experienced professionals will provide long term sustainable solutions for your Water and Wastewater needs. Our Permitting/ Design/Build/Operate team of experts insure a smooth project from Permitting through Startup for a complete and compact system of virtually any capacity that is easily expandable for future growth. 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Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008 Contents Our Voice Editorial Board SLDT Resources Addressing a Crisis with Wastewater Recycling Visionary Award Finalists The Jonquil City - How a City Revitalized its Downtown Industry Spotlight: Enviroquip Solar Power System Design and Installation Stormwater: The Return of the Cistern Site Amenity: Fiber Optics Surveying and Mapping Wastewater: Low-Pressure System Special Feature: The Urban Canopy as Infrastructure Industry News Advertiser Index Products/Services Showcase Classifieds The Last Word: Nature Bats Last…

Sustainable Land Development Today - May 2008

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