The last year has seen tremendous growth in consumer interest and demand for energy management solutions for the home. There has also been an explosion in new products from enhanced devices such as standalone ‘smart thermostats’ to integrated solutions that tightly connect devices within the home. With these expanding options, consumers must not only decide which tool fits with their lifestyle, but also which complete home energy management system offers the most capability and value.
According to research firm Parks Associates, more than 60 percent of U.S. households will have energy management technologies (deployed by utilities, service providers or retailers) by 2022. While we are still early in the adoption, there is growing evidence that consumers are more interested in an integrated solution as opposed to a standalone energy management device. This creates a great opportunity for security dealers and integrators who are in a unique position to tightly integrate home energy management with the consumer’s security platform and offer exclusive, market-demanded services.