The Electronic Security Association (ESA), Irving, Texas, announced an initiative to help raise understanding about the enhanced digital services offered by ESA member companies. Called the SECURE+ Initiative, the effort establishes the ESA SECURE+ Seal of Acceptance along with an awards competition to recognize real-life examples of how ESA companies are making their customers' lives not only safer and more secure, but simpler, more energy-efficient and more convenient.

The SECURE+ Seal of Acceptance can be used by participating companies to help promote their expertise in this area. The initiative is the result of several months of collaborative work by an ESA created task force made up of operating alarm companies, manufacturers and service providers.

“Homeowners have come to rely upon their electronic security services provider and ESA members in particular as the trusted technology resource to install, service and monitor the new, smarter security systems that are at the very heart of the connected home,” said ESA Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Merlin Guilbeau.

As other technology companies enter the security space, Guilbeau notes, it is important to showcase the range of services ESA member companies have been providing for quite some time. Whether a customer wants to conserve energy by remotely adjusting the lights and thermostat, check to see if a son or daughter has come home from school, or make sure the home is protected from intruders or fire, member companies can provide the appropriate solution.

“This campaign can help us raise awareness both inside and outside of the industry that many of our members are providing these sophisticated services all day, every day,” Guilbeau said.

The campaign includes the ESA Accepted SECURE+ Awards competition. The categories are aimed at honoring innovation and technical skill while encouraging companies to provide solid customer testimonials.

Categories include:

• Life Safety Award for the most innovative use of interactive services in a life safety situation including fire, carbon monoxide detection or medical emergency.

• Peace of Mind Award recognizing the most dramatic use of interactive services to extend connection with family members.

• Protect and Connect Award for the best use of interactive services in an intrusion scenario to include alarm activations in a robbery or burglary.

• Sustainable Lifestyle Award for installations that reduce energy consumption and costs in a residential home.

• I Love My Pet Award for the best use of interactive services in caring for our beloved animals.

Nominations for the ESA Accepted SECURE+ Awards can be submitted in the coming weeks with winners to be announced at the ESA Leadership Summit, Feb. 18-21, 2013 in Orlando, Fla.

“For ESA Accepted SECURE+ companies, this campaign is an opportunity to showcase the terrific job ESA member companies are doing for customers who need security services for protection, but who want to use technology to connect and control every aspect of their busy lives,” Guilbeau added.

More information about the ESA SECURE+ Initiative is available online at www.esaweb.org; by contacting Shannon Murphy, ESA vice president of Sales and Marketing, at (972) 807-6835 or via e-mail at Shannon.Murphy@ESAweb.org.