Forty-four percent of U.S. broadband households would permit utilities to monitor and manage energy use of their household appliances, according to new research from Parks Associates, indicative of Americans’ strong and growing interest in reducing energy consumption and enhancing the energy efficiency of their homes to realize savings on monthly expenses.
Researchers also found that 44% of U.S. broadband households are “highly interested” in taking advantage of the ability of the latest generation of smart, connected appliances to troubleshoot and help resolve problems. Those are capabilities that manufacturers are now building into a growing range of common household appliances.
“Manufacturers are developing connected appliances to stay competitive in a mature market, where connectivity can differentiate products and add value through remote monitoring, enhanced functionality, and energy savings,” Parks’ director of research for home controls and energy Tom Kerber was quoted in a Parks’ press release. “Appliance manufacturers LG and Samsung have launched Wi-Fi-enabled appliances, and most major manufacturers are launching new connected products in 2013, which will continue to increase consumer awareness and strengthen the value proposition of connected appliances.”
“Our research shows more consumers value remote monitoring of lights over refrigerators or clothes dryers, likely driven by the mistaken belief that lighting accounts for a large portion of their overall energy consumption,” Parks’ director, consumer analytics John Barrett commented. “The appeal of energy monitoring for appliances could be boosted by educating consumers about appliance energy consumption, which would ultimately provide more savings to consumers.”
