Page 60 - Green Builder Magazine Spring 2018 Awards Issue

Smart, Smarter, Smartest

When it comes to aiming for smart home

technology, security and energy

efficiency call the shots.

BY SARA GUTTERMAN
Cognition Smart Data, Green Builder® Media’s suite of market
intelligence and data services, leverages Artificial-Intelligence
(AI)-based technology to uncover insights into purchasing
patterns and buyer preferences. This issue, we highlight trends
in the exploding sector of smart home technologies.
MART HOME TECHNOLOGY is becoming ubiquitous. CREDIT: PHILLIPS LIGHTING
The ecosystem of connected devices now spans far beyond
speakers and thermostats, and Smart Home 1.0—which
consists mainly of command and control features—is rapidly
S evolving into a sophisticated interplay of intelligent devices
that self-optimize to decrease resource use, enhance living spaces CREDIT: ELAN
and anticipate homeowner preferences. Secure thoughts. Wireless home automation, such as ELAN’s security-
Given the swift pace of innovation, it’s no wonder that homeowners driven indoor control system, are at the top of consumers’ “must have” lists.
and builders alike are struggling to keep up with the exploding
smart home tech sector. Fortunately, Green Builder Media’s cutting- Living Easier
®
edge AI-based platform, Cognition Smart Data, oŽers proprietary Indoor air quality is trending as consumer emphasis on health and
intelligence and pioneering insight into the smart home sector, wellness continues to grow. Cognition data shows a snowballing
tracking macro-market trends as well as user-speci‘c behavior to demand for smart systems that track indoor air quality by measuring
make sense of key indicators like purchasing patterns, behavioral toxins, CO – , dust, temperature and humidity. But measurement alone
preferences and brand preferences. isn’t enough—homeowners are calling for seamless intelligence
The Cognition data indicates that energy and security rule when it behind the scenes. They want their homes to intelligently respond
comes to driving purchases of smart home technology. Homeowners if the quality of their air has been compromised by turning on
identify that energy e’ciency is the top reason that they purchase ventilation systems, enabling fresh air exchange, opening windows
connected devices, followed by enhanced safety and security. They and the like.
also like the ability to check on their home, kids and pets when It’s also clear that smart home technology remains in a fairly
they’re away. nascent phase with plenty of room for improvement. Trending
Correspondingly, thermostats and security devices, such as homeowner frustrations include the inability for all of their devices
cameras, sensors and locks, are the hottest smart home gadgets. to connect with one central hub, and unforeseen glitches in the setup
When it comes to smart home system features, homeowners process and ongoing usage.
insist that security—all kinds—is the ultimate “must have.” They Generally speaking, homeowners feel good about smart home
want their smart home systems to ensure the security of their data technology. Many express con‘dence that connected devices are
by protecting against hackers and cyber-threats, and they want making their lives easier and their homes safer, but an equal amount
their homes to be proactive, sensing ‘res and other dangers, and of others indicate that the verdict is still out, and they’re reserving
respond accordingly—by doing things like turning on sprinklers judgement one way or another.
and irrigation systems—and sending alerts when an intruder is At this time, the majority of homeowners own one to ‘ve smart
approaching. devices. Another, growing group owns six to 10 devices.

58 GREEN BUILDER Special Awards Issue 2018 www.greenbuildermedia.com

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