the wall. You can check the weather or traffic. It gets six downloads each day.”   E-mails   can   be   left   on   the message   center   for   other   family members  or  sent  directly  to  their individual e-mail. “You can even control lightin,.” said   John.      ADT’s   Smart   Light products  integrate  extra  security with convenience. “You can program it to turn lights on as you enter or flash certain lights on and off,”  explained  John.  “It  can  even auto   dial   the   police   during   an emergency.   It’s   valuable   for   the hearing impaired as well.” For  those  who  are  in  a  hurry, ADT and Timex teamed up to offer remote  security  activation  through the Timex Ironman watch. “You can turn your security system on and off with  the  watch,”  said  John.  If  the Ironman watch isn’t your style, ADT has  remote  click  keys  that  provide the  same  functionality.  All  of  the add-ons  to  home  security  systems are    rapidly    gaining    popularity. “People  add  on  a  lot  of  goodies,” said John. Paula  Washow,  owner  of  Alpha Omega   Security   Corporation   in Milwaukee sees technology improving security system options firsthand.   “Right   now   they   do everything up to and including slic- ing  and  dicing,”  laughed  Washow. “Our high tech society plays a part in that. It’s not just about crime.” Today,  if  you’re  willing  to  pay, your security system can check the status of anything in your house that works   on   electricity   or   a   radio frequency.  “You  can  dial  into  these systems   from   any   place   in   the world,” said Washow. “It is your butler or maid. It can tell you if the furnace shut off and the   temperature   dropped   below what  you  set.  It  will  digitally  dial the heating and cooling person you identified.  It  can  even  tell  you  if your   refrigerator   is   running   and the same with your sump pump.” A system  like  this  once  and  for  all answers   the   question   of   “Did   I leave the stove on?” Now you can just  call  your  security  system  and check.   However,   such   peace   of mind doesn’t come cheap. “It’s very costly,”   said   Washow.   “It   can   be $6,000   versus   a   basic   system   for under $1,500.” T H E C R A F T I N G F reeman Group has been turning dreams into quality homes for two generations. Crafting these homes requires an imaginative outlook and a respect for time-honored craftsmanship. Freeman Group builds every home with superior quality and a style that embodies the high-end expectations of our customers. Our reputation is a testament to the solid construction, maximum energy efficiency, and attention to detail we put into every home we build. As a Wisconsin ENERGY  STAR®  Home builder, we employ some of the highest building standards and construction details in the nation – details that reduce drafts, improve air circulation, improve air quality, and minimize condensation on windows Don’t sacrifice your home dreams. Let Freeman Group show you how to turn them into reality. O F ^Adream ... T  H  E     C  O  N  C  O  R  D T  H  E     H  A  R  T  F  O  R  D T  H  E     M  A  N  C  H  E  S  T  E  R 262-377-4612 info@freemanhomes.com Wisconsin ENERGY  STAR® Homes Partner March 2001 • Northshore LifeStyle • 37