1. A Take Control home automation kit, with a controller and two modules costs £200 sterling. These are distributed in Ireland by CHC Aerial Satellite in Lisburn (02892 664771), and sold through Maplin, PC World and Homebase.
2. Plug the controller into the wall and into your computer's USB port, turn dials on the front of your lamp module and appliance modules to give them different addresses - say, A1 and A2. Then you use the software - typically Windows-based - to set timers on these switches. Kits which use a mini-timer or a remote control zapper cost £90 sterling.
3. Motion sensors cost £50 sterling. Remove the front of the sensor and set it to the address of a particular module, so that when someone passes in front of the sensor that module switches on.
4. Douglas in Camden Street, Dublin (014752951), can order the Autoglide curtain machine. It costs £150, and you will have to pay an electrician to install it.
5. If you find you like automation, you can use DIN switches and DIN dimmers, £47.69 sterling each, on your fusebox, allowing you to turn on and off lights from thousands of miles away with the aid of a mini-timer.
6. Letsautomate (www.letsautomate.com) sells X10 equipment, and also has the HomeVision Integrated Home Controller, which controls the whole house, starting with the controller at £440 sterling. Mac users should consult www.shed.com. Linux users can go to www.nysaes.cornell.edu/cc/ staff/pool/homeauto/ This has links to X10, Linux software and Mister House for Linux or Windows.