01
Define the intent
The initial project brief framed an environmentally responsible, connected home as something attainable—not a collection of luxury gadgets.
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Founder experience · before Powers PropTechBrooklyn, New York
A brownstone with smart and heart.
A three-year renovation connecting sustainability, wellness, energy performance, networking, and entertainment through thoughtful systems integration.
Client
Adrian Grenier / family residence
Property
Multi-story Brooklyn brownstone
Role
Smart-home advisor & systems integrator
Timeline
Three-year renovation
Project overview
Technology true to the home.
Long before “smart building” became a standard industry term, Jason Powers was helping clients connect technology, energy performance, wellness, and design into one coordinated residential system.
This Brooklyn brownstone renovation was created for actor and environmental advocate Adrian Grenier’s mother, Karesse. The broader project placed sustainability at the center of every decision, using reclaimed original beams as flooring, recycled-denim insulation, FSC-certified wood cabinetry, and carefully selected finishes.
Jason led the smart-home design, infrastructure, and systems-integration work through his earlier business. The goal was not to fill the home with disconnected devices. It was to create synergy among the systems so the combined result delivered more value than the individual technologies could provide alone.
“We want to be able to create a synergy between all these devices so that the sum is greater than the individual parts.”Jason Powers
The original vision
Make smart living sustainable.
The initial 2016 project brief described a behind-the-scenes remodel of Karesse Grenier’s Brooklyn brownstone. It positioned Jason as an advisor in home sustainability and automation and proposed showing how environmentally responsible products could be integrated into a connected home without treating them as luxury items.
Historical attribution
The 2016 brief credits “Smart Tech by Powers Energy Solutions,” while later technology coverage identifies Powers ioT. Both refer to Jason’s work before Powers PropTech and are presented here as founder experience—not as a Powers PropTech contract.
From brief to build
Intent, built in.
02
Plan while the building is open
Jason’s advisory and smart-home role began while the brownstone was under active renovation, when infrastructure choices could still be coordinated.
03
Connect the systems
Networking, comfort, air-quality monitoring, automation, and entertainment were designed as one coordinated residential environment.
04
Stay accountable
Adrian later described a very challenging project and credited Jason with helping bring the whole effort together.
Design during construction
Decide while the walls are open.
The renovation created a narrow window to coordinate network pathways, centralized equipment, climate controls, sensors, audio, and video before restored finishes concealed the infrastructure. The original media plan documented this process through interviews, contractor and designer viewpoints, and active build footage.
The supplied production photo shows Jason being filmed inside the exposed brownstone during renovation—evidence of early involvement and the project’s documented, collaborative process.
The integrated system
High performance. Low profile.
A reliable network, centralized equipment strategy, multi-zone climate controls, sensors, audio, and video were planned early—then made to recede into a carefully restored interior.
Centralized infrastructure
Home-run low-voltage wiring to one secure network and audiovisual equipment location.
Zoned comfort
Room-level Nest controls coordinated with occupancy sensing and multi-zone radiant heating.
Indoor air quality
airthinx monitoring for particulates, CO₂, radon, and carbon monoxide.
Automated response
Cloud integration allowed elevated air-quality readings to trigger HVAC circulation.
Distributed AV
Centralized Sonos amplification powered architectural speakers and televisions throughout the home and backyard.
Sustainable audio
Custom Leon Speakers made with reclaimed Detroit urban wood connected performance with the material story.
The outcome
Smarter. Healthier. More efficient.
Occupancy-based logic reduced unnecessary heating in unused zones.
Air-quality monitoring could automatically cycle the HVAC when conditions required it.
Centralized equipment preserved clean living spaces and improved serviceability.
Integrated entertainment extended throughout the home and backyard.
“I see this home as not only smart, but also heart … a home of the future, but we can also track all of the savings and all of the energy efficiency.”Adrian Grenier
Watch the original features
Three views. One connected home.
Begin with the one-minute Mother As Design trailer, then explore Jason’s technology scope and the broader sustainable design and material story. Select any video to watch it here without leaving the case study; starting another automatically stops the current video.
A personal message to Jason
A thank-you that says it all.
“You’ve really helped to bring the whole project together. All the smart technology with the environmental sensitivities—and the knowledge and expertise that you bring to the table—has been very helpful to me.”Adrian Grenier
In this 49-second message to Jason, Adrian describes the project as “very, very challenging,” thanks him for his accommodating approach, and says he looks forward to working together on future projects. Captions are included in the player.
Why it matters today
Design early. Build once. Connect everything.
This work predates Powers PropTech, but it captures the approach Jason carries forward today: understand the property’s values, coordinate specialists early, connect systems around a shared outcome, and remain accountable when a complex project needs someone to bring it together.
Start a conversation
Building a smarter property?
Talk with Jason about the project, the integration risks, and the right team for the work.