Upgrdman shows us how to make an Infrared Transmitter Arduino Home Automation system. This system uses a very high power wide range IR LED so that it would be great to be placed in the general area of the equipment you would like to control. If you are interested in making your own the example code is provided.
“In this video I show an easy and low-cost way to do some home automation. I setup an Arduino with an infrared receiver and transmitter, then use it to control my television and a tower fan. This setup can be used to control pretty much anything that has an infrared remote, even air conditioners.”