Home Automation Tops Residential Tech Trends

From smartphones to smart watches to smart cars, technology is transforming nearly every aspect of our lives, streamlining daily routines and providing quick, easy access to the capabilities and content we want most. Not only are new technologies providing convenience on-the-go, but they are becoming accessible and affordable in homes under $400k. A study by the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University says “home automation is predicted to be the No. 2 trend in residential remodeling over the next five to 10 years.”

Control4 (NASDAQ: CTRL) home automation solutions and platform enables homeowners to connect a broad variety of devices and systems throughout their home and control everything from a single app via a smartphone, tablet or in-wall touch screen. Major drivers for the smart home market continue to be enhancing and automating control of climate, lighting, security, and entertainment devices. “I’m surprised home automation isn’t in every home – even if it’s as simple as lighting control,” said Control4 customer, Shane Bernard. “It saves electricity, protects the home, and is incredibly convenient.”

According to one of the Harvard studies, “73 percent of consumers are demanding energy efficiency in their remodeling projects” – something smart home technology can provide. By managing and coordinating lighting control and HVAC systems together, Control4 enables the home to respond intelligently to changing conditions, while also allowing homeowners to adjust temperature and manage lighting via their mobile devices. With the addition of remote monitoring, homeowners can benefit from alerts that notify them of lights or small appliances that are left on, home temperatures are too low or too high, the detection of a water leak, and more – making it easier to save energy while away and enabling homeowners to react faster to prevent accidents and property damage.

Security solutions are increasingly acting as a gateway reasons for consumers interested in upgrading their home to include home automation. Smart door locks have become more than just a convenient way to enter your house. When integrated and used with Control4, they can also keep homeowners informed about who is entering or leaving, when they left, and how long they were there. In addition, homeowners are also enticed by the potential for insurance premium discounts “Insurance companies can offer discounts for security systems, fire protection systems, camera systems, and some water leak detection systems,” said Rene Robaina, president of Home Technology Solutions, a certified Control4 Dealer.

Home automation can be installed into both new and existing homes, and depending on the complexity and range of the requested functionality and device interoperability can be installed in as quickly as one day. And with today’s smartphone and tablet technology, homeowners should have little to no difficulty operating their smart home. “An automation system is just a computer that runs your home systems,” added certified Control4 dealer and owner of Ambiance Audio|Control|Video, Brent Wilson. “The idea is to make things more intuitive, so while being tech savvy doesn’t hurt, it isn’t required.”

To learn more about Control4 automation solutions, please visit: www.control4.com

About Control4

Control4 (CTRL) is a leading provider of automation systems for homes and businesses, offering personalized control of lighting, music, video, temperature, security, communications and similar functionalities into a unified home automation solution that enhances the daily lives of its customers. Control4 unlocks the potential of connected devices, making entertainment systems easier to use, homes more comfortable and energy efficient, and families more secure. More than 75% of Control4's consumers have integrated two or more functionalities with Control4's solution, which is available through more than 2,800 custom integrators, retail outlets, and distributors in over 80 countries. By delivering insightfully simple control solutions that enhance the lives of individuals and families, Control4 is the automation platform of choice for consumers, major consumer electronics companies, hotels, and businesses around the world.

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