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International Builders' Show focuses on connectivity in home
LAS VEGAS — During Design & Construction Week, Jan. 18-21, in Las Vegas, International Builders’ Show (IBS) attendees got a glimpse of just how connected they can be to residential plumbing and HVAC systems.
For starters, GE Appliances is adding another product, the GeoSpring hybrid water heater, to its growing list of appliances consumers can control using IFTTT, an online service that allows users to create powerful connections between apps or websites and Wi-Fi-connected products they love. In June 2015, GEA announced its partnership with IFTTT and introduced the GE Appliances Cooking channel.
Now, GEA and IFTTT are launching the GE Appliances GeoSpring channel to help owners connect the GeoSpring hybrid water heater to more than 100 apps and connected devices including Facebook, Twitter, Evernote and Dropbox. This connectivity will give GeoSpring owners, who on average already save over $375 on energy bills every year, even more control over their hybrid water heater. From texting the water heater to switch to vacation mode to selecting the most efficient operating mode based on GPS data, the latest GEA channel helps consumers control their savings and comfort.
“Why ask your water heater to continue heating water when you’re away?” asked Jared Hatfield, server architect for the Wi-Fi-connected appliances team at GEA. “Using the GeoSpring channel, you can give your water heater and your energy bill a break.”
IFTTT members can concoct recipes, or directions, for how their apps will respond to certain circumstances. For example, IFTTT users can automatically log Fitbit results into a Google spreadsheet or get a tweet when their GE oven is preheated. Using the GeoSpring channel, IFTTT users can create their own recipes or use one of the six already created.
“The GeoSpring is the most efficient electric water heater on the market,” said Hatfield. “Now, you can easily customize that efficiency based on your lifestyle using the GeoSpring’s IFTTT channel.”
If your household routine includes morning showers for the whole crew, then use the already-created recipe to put your water heater in boost mode at 6 a.m. every day. If you set your Nest thermostat to “away,” then use the IFTTT recipe to put your GeoSpring into vacation mode at the same time.
"We’ve empowered owners to extend and customize their GE Appliance experience through IFTTT," said Hatfield. "From simply scheduling actions using the Date & Time channel to building custom integrations using the Maker channel, we are excited to pioneer appliance connectivity in the home."
GE’s Cooking and GeoSpring channels are a warm-up to the company’s plan to introduce a complete line of IFTTT channels that will complement the upcoming GEA Wi-Fi Connect product line.
American Standard Heating & Air Conditioning showcased the expanded lineup of home comfort systems. American Standard thermostats and smart controls are easy-to-use command centers that offer families convenient remote access to control their homes’ comfort.
The latest control in the product line, the Gold 824 Smart Control, allows homeowners the ability to reduce their systems energy consumption from any Web-enabled device, such as a smartphone. The built-in Nexia bridge allows users to remotely control up to 200 additional Z-wave connected products in their home, all from one location. The Silver 624 Smart Control provides users with complete home comfort control, all at their fingertips. The product features programmable seven-day heating and cooling schedules, and remote temperature control with Nexia remote climate access.
The Nexia smart home system integrates all of a home’s smart devices in a single, all-in-one app, giving homeowners reliable control over their home from anywhere. Powered by secure Z-Wave technology, Nexia allows homeowners to expand their system with hundreds of devices from top manufacturers, such as Trane thermostats or Schlage locks, to create a truly smart home that simplifies everyday life.
Also showcased at the booth were the home comfort systems, including the Gold S9V2 Furnace, AccuComfort variable speed heat pump and air conditioning system; Platinum 18 Heat Pump; Forefront Platinum TAM8 Air Handler, and American Standard Ductless Systems.
At the Trane booth thermostats and smart controls were showcased, offering comfort on command, through easy-to-use products that communicate with the home’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems. When paired with the Nexia smart home system, homeowners can remotely control heating and cooling from any Web-enabled computer, tablet or smartphone. The Trane ComfortLink II XL950, a home energy command center, is an easy-to-use, programmable, digital thermostat that monitors indoor and outdoor temperatures, so users can adjust their systems to be more efficient. The XL824 Connected Control, a seven-day programmable control, seamlessly connects with any system, offering easy-to-use indoor and outdoor temperature control, and boasts a built-in Nexia bridge.
Also showcased at the Trane booth was the S-Series Furnace, TruComfort variable speed product lines, XV20i Variable Speed Air Conditioner, XC95m Modulating Furnace, ductless systems and CleanEffects Air Cleaner.
At the Woodford & Watco booth, a popular product showcased was Universal Nu-Fit Trim Kits, offering quick and easy installation. The kits fit all standard bathtub drains without removing the strainer body, are long-lasting and durable, corrosion resistant, resists harsh chemicals, and available in nine designer finishes with standard or high flow grid strainer. Also showcased was the Innovator Cable Drain.
The cable drain is ideal for deep tubs as the stopper can be opened or closed by turning the overflow plate. The flexible stopper prevents stubbing of toe or breakage of stopper stems, and repairs can be made easily from inside the tub by removing three screws and replacing the old cable.
At Panasonic’s booth the WhisperFit EZ was featured — it is the perfect solution for quick and easy replacement of an existing fan from below the ceiling. This fan enables you to utilize existing duct, while its low profile housing design ensures a proper fit in virtually any ceiling. Installation is made simple with the Flex-Z Fast installation bracket with articulating joints for easy positioning through a ceiling cavity. The detachable installation adapter provides even greater flexibility when wiring and attaching the duct. Once installed, use the Pick-A-Flow speed selector to customize the air flow to meet your customers’ ventilation needs. All of these great features combined make WhisperFit EZ the fastest, easiest, ENERGY STAR retrofit fan available. This ventilation fan is perfect for remodeling and hotel new construction or renovation.
Also at the booth was the Whisper Recessed LED ventilation fan, the design solution for bathroom fan/LED light combinations. This fan is ENERGY STAR rated architectural grade recessed fan/LED light. The fan is quiet, energy efficient and its powerful 80 CFM ventilation is hidden above the ceiling. Other features include replaceable 14W, ENERGY STAR rated, GU24 base LED lamp, beautiful lighting with 6-1/2" aperture and advanced luminaire design, LED lamp is dimmable, and adjustable lamp positioning and deeper regression reduces glare.
Delta Electronics, a provider of power and thermal management solutions, introduced its latest energy saving solutions at IBS 2016, its Breez Ventilation Systems. DeltaBreez delivers a powerful combination of performance in every fan, quietness in every fan, state-of-the-art DC motor technology in every fan and affordability. All products are ENERGY STAR-qualified, ASHRAE 62.2-compliant, quiet, with low power consumption and high-energy efficiency. Precision engineered, DC-motor driven bath fans reduce energy consumption by up to 85%.
Expanding on industry-leading DC brushless motor technology, Delta was the first-to-market with a DC-motor, LED fan/light combination unit. The trend continues with the addition of three new bath fans with LED lighting, including: BreezRecessed 80 CFM Fan with LED Light & Nightlight- the only recessed bath fan on the market with LED light & nightlight and energy-efficient DC brushless motor for long life; Breez GreenBuilder 100 CFM Decorative Fan with LED Light – first decorative fan on the market with energy-efficient DC motor; and BreezIntegrity 70 CFM Fan with LED Light – the only fan with LED light on the market with dimmable LED light and energy-efficient DC motor.
Other new product highlights include the BreezSignature 110 CFM Fan with Stereo Speakers; BreezIntegrity 70 CFM Fan with Bluetooth Speaker; BreezProfessional 300 CFM Fan; Breez GreenBuilder 100 CFM Fan with Humidity Sensor and BreezSlim 70 CFM Fan with Humidity Sensor.