Parks Associates: Smart Thermostats Are One of the Strongest Categories of Smart Home Devices

DALLAS, TX--(Marketwired - Aug 13, 2015) - Parks Associates today announced the topics and call for papers for Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, February 22-24, 2016, at the Omni Hotel Downtown in Austin, Texas. The seventh-annual conference will address the expanding market for energy solutions and home controls and its impact on utilities, service providers, retailers, manufacturers, and consumers.

The Market for Smart Thermostats, new energy research from Parks Associates, finds smart thermostats are among the strongest categories of smart home devices, with more than 10% of U.S. broadband households planning to buy a smart thermostat over the next 12 months. Nearly 75% of current owners report that this device has reduced their electricity bill.

"Our energy research shows U.S. consumers are acquiring energy solutions from a variety of channels -- 36% bought from a national or local retailer, but 11% acquired their smart thermostat from a broadband service provider and 13% acquired from a security dealer," said Tom Kerber, Director, Research, Home Controls & Energy, Parks Associates. "The diversity of devices in the connected home demands interoperability solutions so that utilities and other players in the energy market can leverage these devices for consumer-focused value-added services."

Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer, with early sponsorship support from Affinegy, is accepting speaking submissions at http://www.parksassociates.com/ses-speaker. The event will feature industry perspectives on key topics impacting smart products and systems, energy services and partnerships, and the Internet of Things for the connected consumer. The 2015 summit featured keynotes from NRG Energy and SunPower Corp.

Topics for the 2016 summit include:

Electric Utilities and IoT

• Remaking the Business Models for Electric Utilities
• Integrating Smart Products into Utility Programs
• Expanding the Retail Energy Provider: Security, Warranty, Wireless Services
• Utilities and Consumers: Creating a New Relationship with Energy

Converging Ecosystems: Industries Impacting Utilities

• Solar Integration, Competition, and its Impact on IoT
• Electric Vehicles: Redefining Drivers as Energy Consumers
• Perfecting Services for the Smart Home
• Smart Home Products and Energy Services

Partnerships, Strategic Growth, Interoperability 

• Role of Smart Products in Demand Response
• Integrating Demand Side Programs into Grid Planning and Operations 
• Creating Consumer Engagement in EE: Smart Products and Services
• Standards and Interoperability: Integrating Energy with the Smart Home

More information about the Smart Energy Summit is available at www.SES2016.com. To speak with Tom Kerber or request specific research data, contact Holly Sprague at hsprague@gmail.com or 720-987-6614.

About Smart Energy Summit
Smart Energy Summit: Engaging the Consumer examines the expanding market for the smart home and the role of energy solutions within the Internet of Things, including connected devices, energy management, utility services, and home control platforms and services.

Smart Energy Summit addresses strategies for utilities, service providers, retailers, and manufacturers to expand and monetize their energy offerings by engaging consumers, developing new business models, and creating unique partnerships.

The summit agenda features thought leaders representing utilities, state and national regulators, telecom and security companies, retailers, and OEMs presenting on the state of the market and the emerging consumer and business opportunities.

The seventh-annual Smart Energy Summit will take place February 22-24, 2016, at the Omni Hotel in Austin, Texas. Follow the event on Twitter at @SmartEnergySmt and on the Smart Energy Insights Blog. For information on speaking, sponsoring, or attending Smart Energy Summit, visit www.ses2016.com.