"thermostat" articles

Technology within our homes is here to stay. New devices and applications seem to enrich the connected home market almost daily, and research indicates that more and more households are embracing these technological advances. However, bigger technology also means bigger energy output. Though consumers are willing to purchase and use smart devices in their homes, the adoption rate of energy-saving programs and initiatives by utility companies is not near the same rate. In fact, Parks...

Parks Associates announced new research finding at the 2014  Smart Energy Summit  in Austin this week. The results of a new consumer satisfaction survey report that many consumers are nervous about switching to a variable rate or time-of-use (TOU) energy program, thinking that their energy bills will increase after doing so. However, once a household adapts to off-peak consumption patterns, their bills could actually decrease. Additionally, Parks Associates research...

Residential demand response is in transition.  Smart meters, participation in energy markets, and connected products are all forcing executives to consider new approaches and business models that take advantage of the new environment. Smart meters and the associated meter data management systems enable utilities to create new DR programs that reward participation.  At the Smart Energy Summit panelist will evaluate the impact of smart meters on DR programs and discuss the...

This is an insane amount of money to spend on a start up. My estimate is that $3.2B is more than 20X earnings. So why does Google think that is worth $3.2B? Nest has reported 100% growth in both 2012 and 2013. In order to sustain that growth, they must have a great product roadmap. It is likely that they will introduce products in other categories that will bring technology to stale products in the same way that they have reinvented the thermostat and smoke detector. Nest has been...

Parks Associates has released a new primary research survey, 360 View: Energy & American Broadband Households . This consumer survey highlights value propositions driving adoption of smart home products and services and the role of energy within this expanding market area. This research study reveals the consumer perspective with the expanding smart home market. It also provides analysis and in-depth details of the rapidly changing landscape of energy management and smart...

In the future, broadband can serve as more than just a medium for accessing internet content. Home control, energy management, home health services, and more are on the horizon for cable operators. The goal is to use the infrastructure already in place to accomplish new and creative goals and provide services that a consumer would desire to utilize. Several executives from industry leaders met at a session entitled Coming Down the Pipe: Emerging Businesses Powered by Broadband,...

Comcast , has launched a new product under the Xfinity Home umbrella of services called Xfinity Home Control. This product is for customers who want smart home solutions like video monitoring and the ability to either schedule or remotely access lighting and thermostat controls, but do not choose the professional security monitoring that is offered with other Xfinity Home services, which are now called Xfinity Home Secure. Xfinity Home Control provides customers with the...

Time Warner Cable’s home automation and security system, IntelligentHome , will appear in the cable operator’s Ohio and Wisconsin service areas this month and then New York City the next couple of months. After these launches, IntelligentHome will be deployed across all of the major markets in Time Warner Cable’s footprint. The company’s executives have said on earnings calls this year that the company planned on having IntelligentHome launches wrapped up by the end of...