Check out these additional areas of opportunity in 2012.
Wounded Warrior— Metro Custom Installations of Staten Island, N.Y., was tasked with creating an environment that would provide a local wounded veteran who is a quadriplegic with a home that gives him the independence he deserves. With a Crestron system, Metro Custom Installations was able to provide whole house AV, lighting and HVAC control via an Apple iPad. The system also lowers his cabinetry and oven, giving the client accessibility to his home amenities. This project was very unique given that the veteran had to be able to use the system with his prosthetic hand.
Potential Partnerships: Home Builders, Realtors, and Moms — Home builders, realtors, and moms can be solid partners this year and into the future. First, the home builders. CEA in its 9th Annual State of the Builder Technology Market Study reports that home builders see broadband connectivity and connected homes as a selling point. The percentage of builders installing broadband connections, at 77 percent, is the highest in the history of the study, showing Internet access is a prerequisite for any new home.
“The home technology sector has always been closely tied to the housing market,” says Chris Ely, CEA’s manager of industry analysis. “As the housing market recovers, we see a greater number of builders embracing technology as a means to differentiate their offerings and grow margins.”
Builders Use Home Systems to Differentiate Themselves