In the midst of the climate change debate, society in general has grown increasingly aware of the need to conserve energy as much as possible in all aspects of their lives.

The importance of energy management in home automation stems from a global need to conserve energy. Many manufacturers are determined to create new products and appliances for the connected home that are beneficial to the planet, as well as the bottom line.

For example, there is an emerging trend to integrate security systems with energy management as rainfall lessens, water supplies dwindle and energy costs rise. The combination of security with both water and energy conservation can give a customer a better overall control of their home automation system.

Motion detectors can be used to control lighting, while water monitoring and power monitoring can be tied into thermostat, lighting and sprinklers.

Smart water meters can show how much water is being used and feed this into a security automation controller. Home owners can then use these facts and figures to determine if they need to change parts of their lifestyle to become more energy-conscious, or if they’re happy with what they’re using.