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.

Wi-Fi thermostat advancements have been talked about by many inside and outside the HVAC industry the last couple of years. The AHR Expo was no exception as a plethora of companies showcased just how smart their thermostats have become.

Nest share results from three energy-savings studies that indicated, on average, the Nest Learning Thermostat saved customers about 10-12 percent on their heating bills and 15 percent on their cooling bills. 

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.

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.

After only a handful of years in existence, the market for smart thermostats is now poised for growth, says Navigant Research. This market is being driven by the advent of a range of innovative devices and software that appeal to a variety of customer segments, particularly in North America and Europe.

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.

Considered to be the premier event in the HVACR industry, the AHR Expo is the place where contractors, engineers, and other building professionals meet to learn about new products.