30% of US broadband households plan to buy at least one smart appliance in the next 12 months, with energy management features a key purchase driver

International research firm Parks Associates will feature new consumer research and insights from industry leaders representing Austin Energy, Bidgely, Constellation Energy, EnergyHub, and Zen Ecosystems at the CONNECTIONS™ Community virtual event Energy Management: Opportunities in the Smart Home, Wednesday, July 29.

Parks Associates launched the CONNECTIONS™ Community in 2020 as an online conference and networking experience focused on the connected home and IoT industries. The CONNECTIONS™ Community will host multiple special networking events over the next three months, leading up to the main virtual conference on November 10-12, which will bring together industry leaders to network and discuss the growing smart home market.

Sponsors include Sutherland Global Services, Alarm.com, Bitdefender, Cox, Intellithings, Cirrent, Everise, MMB Networks, ServiceLive, Zen Ecosystems, Firedome, Inspire, Z-Wave, Aprilaire, Gadgeon, Sprosty Network, and Wi-Charge.

“Energy-saving features are very important to consumers when purchasing smart appliances, particularly smart refrigerators,” said Patrice Samuels, Senior Analyst, Parks Associates. “As consumers spend more time in their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, the energy-saving capabilities of their smart products will be even more important. Our latest research finds 36% of US broadband households expect they will cook more at home and keep more household supplies on hand even beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, an important shift that can impact future energy management needs."

Energy Management: Opportunities in the Smart Home includes insights from Parks Associates on demand for energy management in the smart home, followed by a presentation from Erika Diamond, VP, Utility and Market Services, EnergyHub. Following this presentation, a panel addresses new business models and technologies that are driving consumer engagement and participation in utility-sponsored programs:

• Abhay Gupta, Founder and CEO, Bidgely
• James Muraca, VP, Product, Zen Ecosystems
• Joe Teng, Program Manager, Austin Energy
• Michael Wajsgras, Executive Director, Innovation, Growth and Digital, Constellation Energy
   

"The latest research we've found at Bidgely is that 75-80% of commuters exhibited changes in their behavior consistent with stay-at-home users during the COVID-19 lockdown period," said Abhay Gupta, Founder and CEO, Bidgely. "This change accounted for an increase of ~14% consumption for commuters during lockdown between 10 AM – 5 PM on weekdays. Utility customers are engaging with our energy intelligence at much higher rates; they are eager to manage their costs, which has catalyzed utilities to adopt more virtual audits, digital behavioral energy-efficiency programs, and proactive communications to support their customers and the community."

“We’re offering a holistic approach to energy management by combining competitive supply and home services with a comprehensive smart home platform that provides valuable insights and analytics,” said Michael Wajsgras, Executive Director, Innovation, Growth and Digital, Constellation Energy. “I look forward to showcasing how Constellation’s solutions are empowering customers to understand and manage their energy use and am eager to hear from the other panelists on how their companies are working to do the same.”

The CONNECTIONS™ Community will host multiple special networking events leading up to the November event, with analyst insights, interactive panels, roundtable discussions, and special networking, throughout the year.  

Parks Associates surveys 10,000 broadband households each quarter, providing a rich data set with trending for at least five years. The firm will feature its market insights and consumer data during the webinars and throughout the virtual event.

To request data or an interview, contact Rosey Ulpino, rosey@parksassociates.com, 972-490-1113.

About CONNECTIONS™

Parks Associates' 28th annual CONNECTIONS™: The Premier Connected Home Conference is hosted May 7-9, 2024, in Plano, Texas, and brings industry leaders together to provide insights and business forecasting about the adoption of technology including broadband, smart home, security, connected health, energy, and home automation.

CONNECTIONS™ provides ongoing insights throughout the year with virtual and in-person conference sessions. Parks Associates' analyst team leads the conference sessions, which are focused on technology innovations, consumer adoption and trends, product and service forecasts, and the evaluation of new business strategies, partnerships, monetization opportunities, and value-added service design.

CONNECTIONS™ is a pivotal platform for partnerships and exploring the future of technology adoption and its impact on consumers and businesses. www.connectionsus.com