SARASOTA, FLA., Aug. 7, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pepper Viner Homes advanced its reputation as one of the nation's most forward-thinking homebuilders by announcing today that it is including home automation lifestyle packages in the homes it will build. The technology initiative kicks off with every new home in its Stonebridge in the Foothills community, located in the beautiful Sonoran desert near Tucson, Arizona.

The Pepper Viner packages will be delivered through a partnership including Area 51, a local custom electronics engineering and consulting firm; Clare Controls, a manufacturer of high-performance automation solutions noted for offering scalable lifestyle applications ranging from lighting and climate controls to video surveillance and multi-room audio; and Pepper Viner Homes.

Each Stonebridge home will include Clare's CLIQ controller – the "brain" of the automation solution – plus a programmable thermostat, whole home Wi-Fi, several circuits of automated lighting, and more. Homeowners will then select packages to add comfort and convenience, safety and security, and audio/video entertainment to the unified automation solution. Each home will come with a control interface utilizing an iPad mini and charging dock station. They will control all of Clare's lifestyle applications securely through a single, personalized interface on their iPads, iPhones, and Android phones, whether they're at home or away.

"We quickly recognized that the Clare system aligned perfectly with our mission to build high-performance homes that do the right things, both for our customers and for the environment," stated Chad Williams, Pepper Viner Director of Operations. "While adding measurable quality to customers lives, the Clare system's One-Touch Scenes make energy consciousness easy…practically a second thought. Plus, putting system management in Area 51s hands gives us confidence that our customers will find immediate and ongoing high levels of satisfaction."

For Area 51, John Cento said, "The efficiency of the cloud-based Clare system makes it ideal for this type of project. We can deploy with unbelievable ease, even cloning system configurations for a quick start on every project. And using Clare's secure remote access for maintenance and system updates is a win-win-win: we roll fewer trucks and both our end users and Pepper Viner get a whole lot of peace-of-mind."

Brian Dietsch, Clare's National Director of Business Development, added, "We are unique in our ability to deliver luxury-level automation performance in systems configured and packaged specifically to distinguish homes in communities like Stonebridge in the Foothills. We are especially pleased that our system has helped add value to the relationship between Area 51 and Pepper Viner. We are confident that this program will be beneficial to Pepper Viner Homes," he concluded, "and will result in an unrivaled homeowner experience."

About Pepper Viner Homes

Pepper Viner, builder of high performance / high design homes, is the creator of DESIGNflex, a unique program that lets homebuyers customize the interiors and exteriors of their new homes, and to provide certified energy savings while protecting natural resources. Pepper Viner was named Southern Arizona Home Builder of the Year in 2013, the fifth time it has earned this distinction. For more information please visit www.pepperviner.com

About Area 51

Area 51 Audio Engineering started in 1999 with a simple goal: to treat each customer like family while giving them extraordinary AV experiences. Area 51 believes that home theaters, home automation, and lighting should be easy to use, and that they should all enrich users' lives in some way. For more information on Area 51 please visit www.area51audio.com

About Clare Controls

Clare Controls is the provider of the ClareHome Builder's Program, an integrated hardware, software, and business solution that gives homebuilders a comprehensive response to today's exploding demand for mainstream home automation systems. Featuring on-site service by certified Clare partners with national manufacturer's support, the Program delivers full-featured home automation in a predictable and repeatable business model. For more information, visit www.clarecontrols.com