According to a report from Mordor Intelligence, the global smart home market was valued at $35.7 billion in 2017, and it is expected to reach a value of $150.6 billion by 2023, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 26.9 percent during the forecast period.
Honing in on the high-end heating market, there have been several changes over the years, but four primary trends stand out among the rest: connectivity, efficiency, aesthetics and health, and upgraded technology.
The expected surge in smart thermostat sales will have equipment manufacturers, many of whom have their own proprietary controls, competing with the well-known universal thermostat brands, such as Nest, Honeywell, and ecobee.
According to a recent study by Parks Associates, 13 percent of U.S. broadband households owned a smart thermostat by the end of 2017. And while that’s still under a quarter of eligible homes, that number has nearly tripled from just three years prior, influenced by factors like the ubiquity of the smartphone and the rise of in-home AI.
Despite the fact that there’s a lot of airtime given to smart thermostats in the media and throughout industry conferences, the reality is that only about 15 percent of households own a smart thermostat, according to Rob Munin, president at Lux Products.
The HVAC industry is no stranger to do-it-yourself (DIY) homeowners, especially with the growing popularity of smart thermostats that just happen to be readily available at their corner big-box store or online via two-day shipping.
The ultra-thin programmable thermostat has a full-color glass touchscreen and features local weather, one-touch away mode, motion activation, and integrated Wi-Fi.
Going forward, the most significant driver of unit sales of smart and connected thermostats will be the rapidly declining prices, which will support multiple-unit consumer adoption. Ramped up efforts by utility companies, homebuilders, and HVAC contractors to promote these products based on their cost- and energy-saving benefits will also underlie growth.