The team at mero CONCEPTS is keeping an eye on all the latest news about the COVID-19 outbreak in the United States and around the world, and we are taking all necessary precautions to keep our employees, clients and community safe during this time. Health precautions and protocols in line with WHO and CDC directives are taking place throughout our organization to reduce the spread of disease. Every day our team reviews up-to-date recommendations to ensure we’re doing everything to curb the spread of COVID-19. 

Though these may change over time, here are the current steps we are taking to reduce the risks associated with this novel coronavirus: 

• Every technician is equipped with hand-sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol to clean their hands. It is also readily available at our showrooms, offices and work sites to be used by all of our employees. In addition, all employees must wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness are recommended to stay home and not come to work until they are free of fever (100.4° F [37.8° C ] or greater using an oral thermometer), signs of a fever, and any other symptoms for at least 24 hours, without the use of fever-reducing or other symptom-altering medicines (e.g. cough suppressants). Employees are instructed to notify their supervisor and their healthcare provider immediately upon experiencing any symptoms.
• Measures are in place to address employees who have recently traveled or have family members who have tested positive for COVID-19. They will go through a CDC-directed risk assessment for potential exposure and be directed to stay home if necessary. 
• Disinfectant wipes are readily available throughout our job sites and permanent locations to wipe down frequently touched surfaces including workstations, countertops, doorknobs, remotes, and touch panels. In the field, our installers also have wipes handy to wipe down tools and equipment before and after each use.
• Our installers are following strict on-site health and safety guidelines including the use of disposable gloves and sterilization products. 
• We will refrain from shaking hands with clients, and will maintain recommended distances while in your home or business.
• Employees have flexible sick leave policies that offer them the ability to care for themselves and family when needed. 
• We have also been spraying equipment with rubbing alcohol at all times, the same equipment-grade sterilization method that is used to clean fiber optics. We are disinfecting our vehicles daily and wearing gloves. 

We appreciate your trust during these unprecedented times, and we take the health and wellbeing of our clients and employees very seriously. To protect our staff, we also ask that our clients communicate if anyone in your home or business is experiencing symptoms or has been exposed to the virus. We also ask that you follow the CDC's guidelines for preventing the spread of COVID-19 while we are on-site. If you have any questions about these precautions, please do not hesitate to reach out.

Have you ever noticed how much happier you feel when there’s music on? Picture the following two scenarios: First, you walk into a restaurant, and it’s completely silent besides the clatter of silverware and buzz of lights above. Now imagine a restaurant with your favorite song lightly pulsing through every room, just loud enough to enjoy while still able to chat. Suddenly, you feel like relaxing back in your seat with a drink for hours—or perhaps even dancing.

Your home will also come alive with a whole house audio system. Whether you prefer Billie Holiday, Billy Joel, or Billie Eilish, music will follow you from room to room, so you won’t have to stay wherever one speaker is located. But what speakers should you use to build a whole-house audio system? We share different speaker models to help you find the right choice for your Austin, TX, house below.

SEE ALSO: Where & Why You Should Use Home Lighting Control

In-Wall and In-Ceiling Speakers

The most elegant and minimalistic approach to whole home audio is the in-wall or in-ceiling speaker. You can enjoy high-quality background music at all hours without the bulky appearance of technology. Wires are hidden within the walls, and speaker grilles can even be painted to further blend into your décor.

Bookshelf Speakers

Bookshelf speakers are certainly more visible than in-wall models, but they offer generally higher sound quality. They’re still easy to rearrange and move and are small enough to place on, yes, a bookshelf, but also tables and countertops. 

If you’ve read up on smart home technology, you may have come across conflicting suggestions and advice. Many people recommend a DIY approach with smart devices like the Nest thermostat, Ring video doorbell, and Phillips Hue lightbulbs. But most technology experts, including ourselves, consider these approaches to home automation weaker than a system like Control4’s OS 3. But why?

As a Control4 dealer in Austin, TX, we’ll shed some light on what makes Control4 many steps ahead of off-the-shelf gadgets. Continue reading to see how a smart home system will enhance your daily life.

SEE ALSO: The Smarter the Home, The More Reason to Hire a Professional

One Press of a Button

As more household objects become smart—from coffee pots to lighting fixtures— you’ll spot more smart gadgets in stores like Best Buy. You can bring home a smart speaker or a Ring doorbell and quickly plug-and-play. But the thrill of your new devices fades when you have to juggle different apps for every subsystem in your home. You won’t have an integrated home, but rather a disjointed experience that’s mildly inconvenient for you and completely inaccessible to visitors.

Getting started in smart home automation with a few smart devices, like an Amazon Alexa speaker or a video doorbell, is an easy enough endeavor. But that isn’t really a smart home, is it? A true smart home incorporates many systems that work together automatically. We may not be able to have our homes cook for us, pick out our clothes, or clean for us as it was depicted in The Jetsons (yet). But your home can play music, turn on lights, lock doors, and lower blinds automatically or when told to, controlled by the same smart system.

So if you’re planning on building a smart home system, at what point should you bring in a professional home automation installer? Continue reading to see how a professional can bring your Austin, TX home into the future.

SEE ALSO: Where & Why You Should Use Home Lighting Control