Tech Made Simple

Hot Topics: How to Fix Bluetooth Pairing Problems | Complete Guide to Facebook Privacy | How to Block Spam Calls | Snapchat Symbol Meaning

We may earn commissions when you buy from links on our site. Why you can trust us.

author photo

New Home Builders Embracing Home Automation

by Fox Van Allen on February 27, 2015

Smart home technology on a tabletHome automation technology is still very new. Many of us are just getting our feet wet, experimenting with smart thermostats and Internet-connected home security cameras. But for Fortune 500 homebuilder KB Home, home automation tech has come of age.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the builder and its competitors are increasingly offering more home automation technology options in the homes they build. In the case of KB Home, the company uses Schneider Electric SA’s Wiser Home Management System to connect a home’s security system, heating, air conditioning, lights and appliances under a single platform. It’s not cheap – the WSJ reports that ordering all the home automation options will set you back an additional $18,206. But that cost is rolled into the home’s price and much of it can be recouped over the life of the home in the form of energy savings.

Very few homeowners have chosen to go the route of full home automation given the large price tag. But with basic features like smart thermostats retailing for $250 and under (not counting frequently available rebates from utility providers), many are choosing to embrace partial home automation. After all, if you’re spending $283,600 for a new home (the median in 2014 according to the U.S. Commerce Department), what’s another couple hundred bucks?

A recent market report from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) estimates that only about 13% of households – both new and existing – own a smart home device. Another survey from Forrester Research pegged the number slightly higher, at 18%. Regardless of the exact numbers, all agree that smart home adoption is growing rapidly. “By 2020, half of households, particularly affluent ones, will be engaged in some kind of substantial aspect of home automation,” explains Forrester Principal Analyst Frank Gillett.

[Home automation via Shutterstock]


Topics

Internet & Networking, Sponsored, Computers and Software, Health and Home, Home Improvement, Automation Systems, Blog

Actiontec Electronics develops broadband solutions that connect people to the Internet, applications, and content they care about. We're turning the promise of the digital lifestyle into reality, enabling consumers to enjoy any content on any device in any room in the house.


Discussion loading

Home | About | Meet the Team | Contact Us
Media Kit | Newsletter Sponsorships | Licensing & Permissions
Accessibility Statement
Terms of Use | Privacy & Cookie Policy

Techlicious participates in affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, which provide a small commission from some, but not all, of the "click-thru to buy" links contained in our articles. These click-thru links are determined after the article has been written, based on price and product availability — the commissions do not impact our choice of recommended product, nor the price you pay. When you use these links, you help support our ongoing editorial mission to provide you with the best product recommendations.

© Techlicious LLC.