Introduction

This report examines how consumers and governments are creating a booming market for “smart home” devices. It analyzes the companies, technologies, and products behind automation in energy, entertainment, home security and health care. It details pilot projects, product costs, industry trends, business alliances, and the new and emerging technologies that are shaping the future of the market.

Features and benefits

* Understand the trends driving uptake of home automation technology, from the perspectives of both consumer demand and government policies.
* Analyze developments in the smart energy, metering, and appliances markets.
* Analyze developments in smart home entertainment, security, and health appliances.
* Gain insight into the product offerings and strategies of key players in the home automation space.
* Assess the future market potential for home automation, make plans to deal with change, and develop successful marketing strategies.

Highlights

Home automation encompasses any device that gives a household automatic control of home functions. The systems most likely to be automated are: thermostats, home appliances, and heating and cooling; television, video and music systems; security alarms and monitoring systems; and home health care monitors, alarms and communication devices.
Energy suppliers that offer smart meters are finding they gain a competitive edge. When people know more about their home energy use, they change their behavior and incorporate energy efficiency. Smart meters are already in 85% of US homes, and GE expects smart meters to be in every US home by 2019.
Demographic changes and a growing shortage of healthcare providers are creating huge market opportunities in home health technologies. These can be classified into “passive” monitoring equipment and more “active” devices which supervised patients can use to take their own vital sign measurements.

Your key questions answered

* What is home automation, and what is really driving the market: green consumer trends or governmental policies?
* How has electric deregulation opened the way for home energy automation? How will smart energy homes really reduce energy use and costs?
* Who uses and makes smart products today? What are the key product offerings and strategies of key market players?
* Who stands to win and who stands to lose from future developments in the home automation market?
* How can different market players make the most of the opportunities presented by home automation, and what challenges do they face?"
 

Executive Summary
The future of home automation
Developments in smart energy
Who uses and makes smart products today?
The smart home: entertainment, security, and health
Users and manufacturers of smart media and home appliances
Conclusion: the market potential of home automation
About the author
Disclaimer
The future of home automation
Summary
Introduction
What is this report about?
Who is this report for?
What is home automation?
Market size and state of play
The whole house model
Importance to society
The history of home automation
Drivers and barriers to market penetration
Protocols
Lack of consumer motivation
Role of electricity rates
Time of use rates
High speed internet
Developments in smart energy
Summary
Introduction
Moving away from the present-day “dumb” grid
The electric grid fails to keep up with the digital age
Governmental stimulus plans
Government policy rather than consumer demand drives smart home energy
How did electric deregulation open the way for emerging home energy automation?
How will smart energy homes reduce energy use and costs?
What are the elements of the smart grid?
Smart meter and home energy monitors
Two-way communication with the energy provider
Home displays to monitor energy usage
Smart meter installations in the US
Initiatives and pilot programs in the EU
Pilot programs in China
Consumer response to smart meters
Smart appliances
Home energy use
How smart appliances reduce energy use
Coordination of smart appliances offers most cost benefits
The growing smart appliance market
Lighting controls
Heating, ventilation & air conditioning (HVAC) controls
Who uses and makes smart products today?
Summary
Introduction
Smart Grid pilot programs in the US
General Electric smart grid pilot in Martha’s Vineyard
Whirlpool Corporation in Houston and the Pacific Northwest
General Electric smart appliance pilot for Louisville Gas & Electric
PowerCentsDC smart meter pilot program in Washington, D.C.
General Electric and Reliant Energy in Texas
Constellation Energy smart orb project in Maryland
Verizon’s whole home approach in New Jersey
Smart Grid pilot programs outside the US
General Electric in Masdar City, United Arab Emirates
GE in China
Other Asian rollouts
Europe’s pilots
Smart meter companies and their products
The Google PowerMeter
GE and Fuji Electric
IBM
Siemens
Cisco Solutions
Oracle Solutions
Silver Spring Networks and Itron OpenWay
BPL Global
eMeter and Verizon
Smart appliance companies and their products
GE
Whirlpool
Electrolux
LG
Lighting control companies and their products
Smart HVAC companies and their products
The smart home: entertainment, security, and health
Summary
Introduction
Drivers of smart home technologies
Connectivity
Portability
Immersivity
Home entertainment
Televisions
Home theater systems
Audio and video distribution
Smart home controllers
Security systems
Monitored systems
Security as part of whole-home control
Door hardware
Cameras
Home health systems
Passive products
Active systems
Users and manufacturers of smart media and home appliances
Summary
Introduction
Innovation at high speed
Standards deviation and market definitions
ZigBee
Z-Wave
Insteon
HomePlug
Evolving market definitions
Content challenges
International trends
Rapid increase in global internet traffic and connection speeds
New devices making the most of expanding connectivity
Developing markets to drive new device and content uptake
Entertainment product innovations
The Slingbox
Roku and Boxee
Cisco umi telepresence
Home security innovation
Telcos enter the space through acquisitions
Video surveillance driving growth
International opportunities
Home health
Aging populations drive need for home health solutions
Passive and active systems
New web-enabled products: Vitality GlowCaps
Conclusion: the market potential of home automation
Summary
Introduction
Changing trends: winners and losers
Creating new competition for out-of-home services
Providing function over fad
Energy challenges: improving air quality
Marketing ‘smart’
Stretching the message beyond the tech savvy or green-motivated buyer
Employing tech-savvy staff to provide help and guidance
Overcoming government and regulatory challenges
Labeling
The EPA’s Energy Star rating
Other home labeling programs
Bibliography
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

Companies Mentioned

Whirlpool Corporation, PowerCentsDC , Constellation Energy , Verizon, The Google PowerMeter, GE , Fuji Electric, IBM, Siemens, Cisco Solutions, Oracle Solutions, Silver Spring Networks and Itron OpenWay, BPL Global, GE, Whirlpool, Electrolux, LG,