Meanwhile, technology giants such as Samsung and LG are rolling out individual smart home products, part of the “Internet of things” trend that has seen Internet connectivity make its way into everyday items.
The housing recovery could also fuel growth if owners choose to pull out their rising equity to give their homes high-tech upgrades.
And as Americans purchase more newly built homes, they may increasingly find those digs fully integrated with their phones. Some of the nation’s largest home builders now market tech-equipped houses’ advantages over older homes.
Although new homes are usually more expensive, builders have emphasized the long-term cost savings owners can reap through solar panels and the ability to monitor and change their energy usage with smart devices.
That’s because computerized controls in one’s home and on appliances can be set to respond to signals from energy providers to minimize electricity consumption at times when the power grid is under stress from high demand. Homeowners can even shift some of their power use to times when electricity is available at a lower cost. The so-called smart grid—a digital network enabling utilities, consumers and alternative sources of renewable energy to “talk” to one another instantaneously—steers electricity to where it is needed most.
Russell Chang and his wife recently purchased a four-bedroom house in Irvine, Calif., complete with solar panels and several home automation offerings from Miami-based Lennar Corp. Since they purchased the house in November for a little more than $1 million, he has enjoyed ensuring the house is warm before he steps inside.
The high-tech options didn’t drive his decision to purchase, although he says the perks helped him decide that “this is the right home for us.”
“It really put the icing on the cake,” the 40-year-old says. “We know we are going to get cost savings.”
Smart home technology isn’t for everyone. For many, it’s not too much trouble to set the washing machine or dishwasher manually or wait until getting home to turn on heat. And smart home products are still more expensive than old-school items.
Analysts also point out that in many cases, it could take years for the savings from reduced energy use to offset the cost of installing a home system.
But the market is surging ahead. Los Angeles-based builder KB Home now offers a base home automation system in all its new communities nationwide. The standard system enables owners to track their energy use through the Internet.
Home buyers can then add options, including appliances, a thermostat, lighting, security cameras and locks that they can control through smartphones and tablets. Solar power also comes standard in most of the firm’s Southern California communities.
©2013 Los Angeles Times
Distributed by MCT Information Services
