According to Parks Associates research, Europe is in the early stages of growth for the IoT. The firm's data shows that 11% of Spanish, 9% of U.K., and 5% of German broadband households report ownership of a home control system. A majority of broadband households in all three countries are interested in smart home systems, including 54% in Germany, 56% in the U.K., and 62% in Spain who are interested in a smart home safety system.

Parks Associates and Verisure recently aired and industry webcast focusing on how energy utilities can leverage partnerships with smart home manufacturers to foster adoption of home energy mangement practices and smart home packages throughout Europe. Currently, most consumers are unaware of the capabilities that smart products provide, despite utilities offering these products to help consumers save energy and money.

Research highlights from the presentation included:

• The number of European households that have currently adopted a smart home system
• Barriers to smart home system adoption
• Forecast of the total number of connected devices worldwide by 2020

Speakers on the webcast included Seb Chakraborty, Director of Technology (Connected Homes), from British Gas; Jeremy Peterson, General Manager, Home Comfort and Energy Systems, EMEA, from Honeywell; and Dick Seger, President of Strategic Partnerships & Alliances, from Verisure Securitas Direct. The discussion was led by Parks Associates director of research Tom Kerber.

Download the full recording and slide deck by clicking here. 

Further Reading:

• Over 1.8 million households headed by consumers 25-34 own at least one smart energy product
• 62% of Consumers Unfamiliar with Smart Home Products or Services
• 64% of all smart devices are part of a security or home controls system