Page 26 - Lighting Magazine November 2019

“The global smart home market is now projected to grow $192 billion in 2023.” —IHS Markit
24 enLIGHTenment magazine | november 2019
www.enlightenmentmag.com
Smart Home
advised, adding, “Then there are the electrical utilities and the role they might play.”
In the past, the electric utilities were responsible for broadening the adoption of energy-saving light- ing through rebates for CFLs and LEDs. With that effort virtually successfully exhausted, it’s time for the utilities to come up with a Plan B. “Lighting systems have been the leader [in energy savings] by reducing wattages,” McGowan commented. “ENERGY STAR believes there is an additional 30 percent of savings that can still be had without com- promising quality. We [the lighting industry] have a proven record, and it’s interesting that there’s [ap- parently] still more energy savings to be had.”
conSIder THe opporTunITIeS
SHEMS is very customizable as to what can be put into each package, according to McGowan. “It could even be built into a homeowners associa- tion’s benefits,” he suggested.
Building relationships with other similar-minded providers will become key to mutual profitability. “The lighting industry is one of the best for forming relationships,” McGowan remarked. “Lighting is a lot of fun, and its involvement with a lot of people is really first class. We have to consider how these other service aspects will be handled. There are potential relationships that can be formed be- tween the lighting showrooms and the SHEMS service providers for products, installation, set-up, and service. The service provider relationship can extend the reach of the showroom and distribu- tor,” he explained, adding, “If an electric utility is involved, energy-saving rebates would apply to all fixtures and lighting products and not just the commodity type for utility rooms, garages, and closets.”
McGowan also announced that the ALA will continue to monitor CABA’s upcoming research projects and the results they uncover. 