Green Story

After years working in retail selling home audio and video systems, Nahant, Massachusetts native Paul Ford decided he was tired of simply “pushing boxes out the door”. In 2005 he started his own business, Atlantic Home Systems, which provides custom home entertainment as well as home automation and energy management systems.

What exactly is an energy management system? In short, it allows the homeowner to control the bulk of their home’s appliances – everything from TVs to sidewalk lighting to heat and air conditioning – from one interface. Because the systems offered by Atlantic allow you to put your entire home on a specific, set schedule, everything works more efficiently, saving you money and reducing your home’s carbon footprint in the process. You can even subscribe to a program that allows you to monitor your home and its energy use from the other side of the world online! In short, Atlantic Home Systems help make your home smarter and greener, while saving you “green” in the process.

Ford has always had a keen interest in all things audio and video, and touts an extensive background and education in acoustical, audio, and visual engineering. And because his Barrington home office is also his showroom, he feels he can provide a prospective customer with a much more real, intimate picture than a lot of the big box stores. “That way, I can show people how the system actually works as a whole, for a real family,” says Ford.

Ford prides himself on sourcing a vast majority of his products from within the U.S., and even has one company in Norwood, Massachusetts who serves as a regular supplier. Control 4, one of Ford’s largest suppliers (particularly in the realm of energy management systems) is known for working with power companies who utilize “smart” grids which are far more efficient than standard grids.

After growing tired of simply pushing the most expensive products on customers while working in retail, Ford now sees owning his own business as an opportunity work with a customer to find the system or program that is best for them. “Being independent allows me to only buy the things that I need, so all I have to figure out is the customer’s needs, their lifestyle, budget, etc.,” says Ford. “I’m not concerned with particular manufacturers or making profits on specific items, which means I can really work in the customer’s best interest to help them become more efficient.”