Shortly after Google purchased Nest Labs in January 2014, home energy management stakeholders began reporting increased market activity, as the acquisition signaled to vendors, utilities, service providers, and retailers that the value in home energy management was finally gaining recognition, notes Navigant Research.

The global smart homes market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17 percent between 2015 and 2020, and reach $58.68 billion by 2020, according to a new market research report published by MarketsandMarkets.

The concept of a “connected home” has been working its way into the public consciousness for decades, and the hype and buzz surrounding that premise is now starting to reach a fever pitch as potential began giving way to reality at the 2015 AHR Expo in Chicago.

Vivint, a leading provider of smart home technology, announced that CEO Todd Pedersen will be featured on the season finale of CBS’s TV series “Undercover Boss,” Friday, Feb. 20 (8 to 9 p.m., ET/PT).

Carrier Corp. announced that it has made a minority equity investment in ecobee Inc., marking an expansion in the parties’ strategic relationship following their collaboration to create the new Wi-Fi-enabled Carrier® Côr™ thermostat.

Trane’s ComfortLink™ II XL850 Smart Control with built-in home automation bridge can connect an entire home to more than 200 Z-Wave products, including door locks, lighting, security devices, garage doors and more.

The number of homes in North America and Europe with a smart thermostat grew by 105 percent to 3.2 million in 2014, according to a new research report from Berg Insight. The North American market recorded 107 percent growth while the European market grew by 96 percent.

nomos system AG has introduced three products that the company says provide universal automation for a seamless path into the Internet of Things (IoT) market. According to nomos, its products break down the barrier of incompatible technologies, giving businesses and consumers alike full advantage of automation and IoT.

Carrier has introduced a new smart thermostat that the company said fuses the convenience of smart device remote access with improved HVAC system efficiency. With a 3.5-inch, full-color touch screen, the Cor™ thermostat responds automatically via its built-in proximity sensor and welcomes users with an intuitive interface, said Carrier.