Lighting the way to the ‘Smart Home’

The concept of “Smart Home” has been around for years, even decades, but things are heating up, as the industry and the homeowner move closer to mass acceptance and low-cost options.

That’s the view of Greg Rhoades, director of marketing, energy management control and automation for Leviton, who spends a lot of his day working to understand and respond to smart home trends.

“For maybe $50, $100 or $200, you can have a smart house,” he said. “I also feel a lot of excitement about getting these products to the masses out there.”

The goals of the smart home movement have been steady for years — intelligent control of lights, security, thermostat, television and beyond. But the trends have shifted and will continue to shift as customers buy and try.

There have been starts and stops along the way. Staples Connect is an example of a product that had big plans and plenty of options, but failed anyway. That universal-hub system was discontinued by the office products retailer in August. It launched in 2013 as a home-automation system that that could connect to about 150 devices.

The Nest Revolv with Google backing also had ambitious plans in the smart home space. It was shut down in May.

“There is definitely confusion in the marketplace,” said Rhoades. “There are so many smart devices out there, but not all of them work together. And that can be frustrating to the end user. “

According to Rhoades, the concept of big smart home makeover is giving way to a more modular approach — no hub, no recurring fees.

“It’s very piecemeal, and people are buying the exact solutions they need,” he said.

One of the products Leviton has developed along these lines is the Decora Digital Controls with Bluetooth technology. These lighting controls provide the ability to dim and time lighting without the need of a hub, gateway or internet connection.

In a statement from the launch of the product, product manager Randall Rosenbaum said the controls “take traditional lighting control to the next level, bringing convenience and security to the home.”

Users simply pair the device with the Leviton Decora Digital Dimmer & Timer App and use on-screen menu options to control lights with Apple or Android smartphones or tablets within a 30-foot range.

“There has been substantial growth in smart home, with great numbers year over year,” said Rhoades.