{"id":9868,"date":"2015-04-09T10:28:47","date_gmt":"2015-04-09T15:28:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/?p=9868"},"modified":"2015-12-21T12:40:28","modified_gmt":"2015-12-21T18:40:28","slug":"learn-for-yourself-about-the-power-of-a-connected-home-event-invitation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/energyexchange\/2015\/04\/09\/learn-for-yourself-about-the-power-of-a-connected-home-event-invitation\/","title":{"rendered":"Learn for Yourself about the Power of a Connected Home + Event Invitation"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>It wasn’t long after my husband connected our first smart home device, a Nest Learning Thermostat, that I noticed a change.<\/p>\n

Each time he walked by this new gadget, he would stop and do a little dance. He was interacting with this new friend, and it was a purely emotional response. He even insisted we repaint our wall to better showcase the Nest Thermostat, though he never suggested that for our artwork. Not only was our home connected, but now our hearts were in it.<\/p>\n

This was no ordinary smart device. The Nest Thermostat gave us a sense of power, control, and freedom. And it said \u201chi\u201d to us with its shining light as we approached. The best thing was the money we were saving by lowering our electricity bill, because we could now make sense of how we were using our air conditioning. This also helped reduce our carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

[Tweet “@EDFtx\u00a0is\u00a0throwing a party w\/ @CleanTX @Nest and @googlefiber, and you\u2019re invited! Come\u00a0discover the power of the connected home. “]<\/p>\n

We were hooked. Research<\/a> shows that once a consumer has one smart device, there is, on average, a 50 percent chance the same household will acquire another device within a year. We were living proof. Shortly after we installed the Nest Thermostat, our garage door opener broke and, of course, its replacement happily joined the connected family. I now get a text each time our garage door opens, which sounds annoying, but at 3pm every school day, I get peace of mind knowing my daughter arrived home from school. In fact, a new study<\/a> by Greentech Media indicates peace of mind is the number one reason people buy smart home devices, followed by comfort and convenience as well as energy management.<\/p>\n

Smart connected homes have engaged our imaginations since the days of watching the Jetsons. Thanks to the Internet, this societal dream is turning into a reality and serving as a central driver in the transformation of the energy industry. From iPads and Xboxes to Nest Thermostats and wifi-enabled dishwashers, the number of devices in a home is increasing \u2013 and changing the way we interact with our homes in ways you might not expect.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why Environmental Defense Fund, Google, Nest, and CleanTX are hosting an event on Thursday April 16th<\/sup> to explore what it means to live in a connected home, how it can help reduce Austin\u2019s carbon footprint, and which energy-saving products are already flooding the burgeoning home cleantech market.<\/p>\n

Join us at the Google Fiber location in downtown Austin for a dynamic conversation with Austin Energy, Pecan Street, Nest, and Environmental Defense Fund, with CleanTX moderating, to discover the many benefits of a connected home, including lower electricity bills, cleaner air, and reduced waste. Guests will also have a chance to explore the new Google Fiber space and network over hors d’oeuvres and an open bar.<\/p>\n

To join the event, please RSVP here: http:\/\/connectedhomeevent.splashthat.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Invited Panelists:<\/strong><\/p>\n