AUSTIN, Texas, Dec. 17, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- 2015 is the year smart-home technology entered the mainstream. TreeHouse, the leading U.S. retailer for this type of technology, just released its list of top smart-home products. The list includes thermostats that know when you're sleeping, door locks and lighting you control from your phone, and ceiling fans that sense when you're in the room.
TreeHouse combined sales figures with its own ranking system to list the top products of 2015. Jason Ballard, president and co-founder of the Austin, Texas-based company, said that "2015 was huge because we saw products become easier to use and less expensive. 'Smart home' no longer means building the Jetsons' house. It means adding products to your home that make it safer and healthier."
Gartner Inc., a technology research company, predicts that by the end of 2015, consumers will be using 2.9 billion connected devices. TreeHouse has built a first-of-its-kind smart-home house in the middle of its Austin store. This allows consumers to interact with smart-home products and see how the products work with each other.
TreeHouse's seven smartest smart-home products of 2015 are:
Combination Smoke Alarms
The combined smoke and carbon monoxide detectors that hit the market in 2015 have features including industrial-grade smoke sensors, self-tester functions, and durability to last up to a decade. One brand in this category, Nest Protect, is the first home alarm you can hush from your phone without any extra hardware required.
Home Security
Smart locks and video cameras are getting easier to install. For about $200, you can use your phone to lock and unlock your door. Smart lock brands offer other features such as August Lock's ability to let you create virtual keys for guests, and keep track of who comes and goes. A new home security camera, Nest Cam, came out this summer and has live streaming, night vision, and activity alerts.
Smart Sprinklers
Lawn watering control systems can now use your laptop to schedule watering times and automatically adjust for the weather. The Rachio Intelligent Sprinkler Controller saves 20-50 percent on watering bills.
Smart Thermostats
Nest thermostats are the top-selling smart-home product at TreeHouse. Another TreeHouse favorite, Ecobee, monitors the temperature in multiple rooms. Both brands are proving popular with consumers buying their first smart-home tool.
Air Quality Monitors
These smart devices monitor the air in your home and tell you how to make it better. The Foobot detects volatile organic compounds, particulate matter, carbon dioxide, temperature, and humidity.
Lighting
In the biggest lighting innovation since LED bulbs hit the market, you can now automate your lights completely to make it seem like you're home when you're not. With geofencing technology, your lights can welcome you home or switch off automatically when you leave your home. Most brands in this category let you change the color of lighting in your home, and some, like Philips Hue, can even keep you informed about the weather or incoming calls.
Smart Fans
Big Ass Fans' residential ceiling fan is the only product over $500 that made the list. The Haiku monitors a room's temperature and humidity and knows when you enter or leave.
Photos and logos available for download: https://treehouse.co/newsroom/
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151216/296540
SOURCE TreeHouse
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