MINNEAPOLIS — Honeywell has announced an application programming interface (API) program that enables development partners to build application software that interfaces with numerous Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats including the color-customizable Wi-Fi Smart Thermostat. Honeywell is initially partnering with Akuacom, Opower, Control4, and Lutron on the API offering. The new Comfort Control API will allow additional development partners to offer value-added services and custom applications that integrate with Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats.

For homeowners, Honeywell said the Comfort Control API means their Wi-Fi enabled thermostats will integrate seamlessly with products and services from other companies to give people greater control over their home’s systems via smartphone, tablet, or computer.

Honeywell said the Comfort Control API is an effort to accelerate innovation and expand the integration of products and services. “Honeywell subscribes to the belief that peoples' lives are made easier — and better — if devices and products talk to each other,” said Tony Uttley, general manager home comfort and energy systems at Honeywell. “With the Comfort Control API, our thermostats will communicate with other apps and devices, which gives consumers a greater experience of convenience, control, and energy management within their home.”

Honeywell is in beta testing with the following companies:

• Akuacom, a Honeywell company and a pioneer of open automated demand response (OpenADR), is a leader in connecting energy providers to their residential, commercial, and industrial customers. The Akuacom platform uses the Comfort Control API to link to the Honeywell Total Connect Comfort app to alert homeowners when temperatures are briefly adjusted to trim electricity consumption. Consumers agree to these changes in advance and receive incentives from their utility.

• Opower is a leading provider of customer engagement solutions for the utility industry. Deployed by 85 utility partners to more than 18 million consumers across seven countries, Opower’s engagement platform, Opower 4, will use the Comfort Control API to integrate Honeywell’s suite of WiFi connected thermostats into utility programs to drive efficiency, demand response, and customer engagement.

• Control4 is a leading provider of automation systems for homes and businesses. By utilizing the Comfort Control API, Control4 will extend the interoperability and integration with Honeywell thermostats via the Control4 platform. Once integrated, Control4 customers will be able to control and monitor their Honeywell thermostats using their Control4 remotes or touch panels, as well as their smartphones, tablets, or computers.

• Lutron Electronics is a lighting control leader that provides homeowners with energy saving solutions including dimmers for any type of light bulb, occupancy sensors that ensure lights aren’t left on in unoccupied rooms, and motorized window treatments that help keep HVAC costs in check throughout the year. With the Comfort Control API, Lutron will provide homeowners with enhanced control of their home environment.

Honeywell's Total Connect Comfort API is available to software developers, product integrators, and retailers interested in integrating with Honeywell’s technology. Prospective partners of Honeywell's API program can visit www.ecc.honeywell.com/api for more information.

Publication date: 9/16/2013

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