Parks Associates: 37% of U.S. Broadband Households Made Energy-Saving Home Improvements in the Past Year

DALLAS, Feb. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- More than 250 executives from utilities, energy providers, regulators, and other IoT-related industries gathered this week in Austin, Texas, for the ninth-annual Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, February 19-21. The conference focuses on the benefits of incorporating smart products into energy efficiency and DR programs and the opportunities for energy providers across converging ecosystems.

According to Parks Associates, 42% of U.S. broadband households are "leaders" in energy efficiency—they believe home energy efficiency is important, have efficient personal habits, and adopt technology with the early majority. These households are also most likely to make energy-saving home improvements; 45% of these leaders have made home improvements in the past year, compared to 37% of all U.S. broadband households.

"The large segment of energy-efficiency leaders will play a key role in driving crossover adoption of smart home technologies for energy solutions," said Elizabeth Parks, SVP, Parks Associates. "This year's Smart Energy Summit examines successful strategies to target the early majority and the implications for home energy management as utilities and energy providers explore next-generation energy monitoring and energy management solutions. The event also highlights the external forces reshaping home building as solar adoption increases and builders move on the path to net-zero homes."

Smart Energy Summit examines the changing role of utilities to help empower and engage consumers with solutions to save energy in the home. The conference also identifies new strategies that utilities and other providers can leverage as a result of the adoption of new consumer technologies.

"Consumers show increasing preferences for hardware-as-a-service models for smart home bundles, specifically when the service provides additional ongoing benefits," said Tom Kerber, Director of IoT Strategy, Parks Associates. "Utilities and energy providers have the expertise in installation and support services to create valuable partnerships with smart home manufacturers. Integrating smart home devices with energy efficiency and demand response programs is a starting point for developing ongoing relationships that can grow to the benefit of both parties."

This year's Smart Energy Summit features keynotes, presentations, and speaker panels from industry-leading experts in energy management. Keynotes include:

• Kim Greene, EVP and COO, Southern Company
• CR Herro, VP, Innovation, Meritage Homes
• Dave Packard, VP, Utility Solutions, ChargePoint
• Jamie Staples, Head, Retail Energy Partnerships, Nest Labs
• Russ Vanos, VP, Sales and Marketing, Global Software and Services, Itron

Parks Associates hosted the pre-conference research workshop, "The Role of Energy Providers in the Smart Home," on Monday, February 19, featuring findings from the consumer research project 360 View: Energy Management, Smart Home, and Utility Programs. Additional research from Parks Associates:

• 13% of U.S. broadband households have a smart thermostat
• 20-25% of U.S. broadband households are interested in bundling home and energy services
• 12% of U.S. broadband households that do not currently have solar PV panels are likely to purchase them in the next year

To speak with an analyst or request specific research data, contact Julia Homier at [email protected] or 972-996-0214.

About Smart Energy Summit

Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines the changing role of utilities to help empower consumers with solutions to save energy in the home. The event addresses the potential benefits of incorporating smart products into energy efficiency and DR programs and the opportunities across converging ecosystems for the market for energy solutions, including connected devices, energy management, utility services, and home control platforms and services. www.SES2018.com

Contact:
Julia Homier 
Parks Associates
972.996.0214
[email protected]

SOURCE Parks Associates