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Parks Associates: Home controls to jump from 6% to almost 20% of U.S. households by 2014 (6/7/2010)

Energy management, entertainment systems control, and remote home monitoring to drive adoption of home controls

The home controls market must focus on individual applications, such as entertainment and energy management, to overcome current inhibitors and boost its penetration beyond the present 6% of U.S. households, according to international research firm Parks Associates.

The firm's report Home Systems: Home Controls - Analysis and Forecasts finds low consumer awareness and a shortage of affordable installation services currently hinder widespread adoption. The entry of well-known players, including ADT, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and Schlage, will help grow this market, but players should focus their value proposition on specific, easily understood applications in order to build consumer awareness and lay the foundation for future expansion.

"Three applications will drive adoption of control systems over the next five years: energy management, entertainment systems and content control, and remote home self-monitoring," said Bill Ablondi, director, home systems research, Parks Associates. "Consumers see the value in these areas, which, once established, can serve as the base for expanded control systems in the home."

For example, as entertainment controls for home theater and audio systems become more affordable, penetration will expand from 5% of U.S. households to 17% by 2014. These systems can then be expanded to integrate lighting, window treatments, and security controls, a strategy that will help push penetration of control systems overall to almost 20% of households by 2014.

Home Systems: Home Controls - Analysis and Forecasts offers in-depth analyses and forecasts for the home controls market.

www.parksassociates.com