by Kyle Glass | Aug 19, 2024 | News, RoseWater Energy
Through a unique combination of leading-edge technologies, RoseWater Energy’s advanced power management systems address every power-related issue plaguing the performance and longevity of a home’s AV equipment, appliances, lighting, control systems, and more.
PLANTATION, FL – August 19, 2024 – CEDIA Expo 2024 attendees looking for a power management solution, will have plenty of options to explore this year. Each of these individual solutions addresses a specific energy-related problem. RoseWater Energy, however, takes a different, more comprehensive approach by combining in one product essential surge and lightning protection, large-scale UPS with voltage regulation, supplemental solar energy, and standby battery power, along with analytics and remote monitoring. It’s the one system on the CEDIA Expo show floor that does it all.
This single, all-inclusive Energy HUB addresses every electrical issue and covers all of the lifestyle critical components of a home. Systems integrators can “take control of the power” feeding into and throughout their customers’ homes. RoseWater Energy’s multi-tiered approach to power management ensures that electrical power is always stable, clean, and dependable for the utmost protection and optimization of every lifestyle-critical system, including A/V components, automation systems, lighting, HVAC units, appliances, and more.
These are the differentiating features that make RoseWater Energy HUBs the most complete power management solutions on the market today. Coupled with white-glove design, delivery, and installation service and support, RoseWater Energy is making it easy for integrators to get into and succeed in the emerging power and energy management business.
At Booth #3905, CEDIA Expo 2024 attendees can learn about the RoseWater Energy difference, discuss how RoseWater solutions can revolutionize their power management strategies, and see how HUBs work. Systems integrators can learn more by attending two educational courses presented by RoseWater at CEDIA Expo: How to Enter and Succeed in Energy Management and Whole-House UPSes and Power Quality. Both are detailed below.
RoseWater Energy Demonstrates the Importance of Proper Power Conditioning
One of the biggest surprises among consumers and systems integrators is that poor power quality, not outages, is the major culprit of most power-related issues affecting the enjoyment, efficiency, and comfort of homes today. An energy management product that ensures every electronic device receives clean, stable, reliable power free of voltage fluctuations, therefore, is the key to optimizing the performance and longevity of a home’s electronic equipment and enhancing the lifestyle of its occupants.
At CEDIA Expo 2024, Booth #3905, the energy management experts from RoseWater Energy will be on hand to discuss with visitors the growing importance of proper power conditioning and how RoseWater Energy’s award-winning energy management HUBs efficiently stabilize incoming power from the electrical grid and electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by devices inside and outside the home. As a large-scale UPS, a RoseWater Energy HUB stabilizes erratic electrical current so that all devices in a home receive the safe, appropriate voltage. This helps devices perform optimally and last longer, which in turn reduces service calls and improves customer satisfaction.
RoseWater Energy Presents Two Educational Courses at CEDIA Expo 2024
Antiquated and stressed power grids coupled with the rapid adoption of smart home devices and systems have unleashed the perfect storm, and systems integrators are in the captain’s seat. To help systems integrators understand the current state of the power, how it is impacting the performance of homes, and how they can address the situation with comprehensive power management solutions, RoseWater Energy CEO Joe Piccirilli, will present two informative courses at CEDIA Expo 2024.
Attendees will learn how to become a successful and profitable provider of custom energy management solutions in “How to Enter and Succeed in Energy Management,” held 9:30-10:30 a.m., on Thursday, Sept. 5. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by embracing this new business opportunity.
Systems integrators attending the second session, “Whole-House UPSs and Power Quality” on Friday, Sept. 6, from 11 a.m. to noon, will learn how a whole-house UPS and power conditioner—plus other equipment—can work together to safeguard and support the performance of a home’s myriad smart systems. Piccirilli will show how it takes a multi-tiered approach to address the countless power problems plaguing homes today.
Both sessions will be presented in Room Mile High 3B.
Where to See RoseWater Energy at CEDIA Expo 2024
CEDIA Expo 2024 attendees can see RoseWater Energy’s advanced, whole-house power management systems at Booth #3905. To learn more about the high-growth power management category, systems integrators can attend educational courses presented in Room Mile High 3B.by RoseWater Energy’s Joe Piccirilli. For more information about RoseWater Energy and its revolutionary Energy HUBs, visit https://rosewaterenergy.com/
About RoseWater Energy
RoseWater Energy understands that Power is the Foundation® for any smart home. The company designs and manufactures a complete solution providing both power conditioning and consistent energy, as well as surge and lightning protection for the main power source, solar input, and large-scale standby power, along with analytics and remote monitoring in a redundant industrial-grade system made for high-end residences and commercial environments.
Committed to building Simply the Best® energy management system on the market, RoseWater Energy Hubs work 24/7 and are always providing clean power in any situation – including during normal grid operation as well as grid spikes, surges, brownouts, or power outages. RoseWater Hubs are built with full power conditioning functionality and zero-transfer-times between power sources. These unique features enable technology integration professionals to reduce or eliminate a plethora of unnecessary and expensive client service calls due to power issues and instead, provide peace of mind. White-glove delivery and commissioning ensure a successful outcome. RoseWater will work with authorized integration firms to help design, build, integrate, and manage a custom Power Plan™ specific to the needs of each project. For more details visit www.rosewaterenergy.com.
RoseWater Energy Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, and more information please contact Katye McGregor Bennett of KMB Communications at (406) 446-1283 or [email protected].
All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
by Kyle Glass | Aug 19, 2024 | News, Wall-Smart
By visiting WALL-SMART at CEDIA Expo, attendees will discover a wide range of design-friendly flush mounts tailored for some of the most prominent brands in the systems integration industry.
DENVER, COLORADO (August 19, 2024) – For more than a decade, WALL-SMART has stayed ahead of the technological curve by providing the integration community with custom mounts for a wide range of common smart home devices soon after their release. WALL-SMART continues this tradition at CEDIA Expo 2024, giving trade show attendees a unique opportunity to see how a number of third-party products on the CEDIA Expo show floor are rendered considerably less conspicuous when housed inside a custom WALL-SMART mount.
At WALL-SMART’s Booth #4105 some of the biggest names in the systems integration business will showcase the flexibility, diversity, and performance features of their products, transformed cosmetically by WALL-SMART’s custom mounts into seamless, visually discreet high-tech amenities. Products from Savant, Lutron, Nice, Control4, Sonos, Ring, Crestron, Josh.ai, Vantage, Hunter Douglas, Bond, and other leading brands will be represented.
“At a single booth, systems integrators can see our new flush mounts, as well as innovations from other CEDIA Expo exhibitors,” says WALL-SMART Co-CEO Galia Ben-Dor. “We will showcase these third-party products within mounts designed specifically for them, recessed in various wall and ceiling materials.”
Some of the newest additions highlighted prominently this year by WALL-SMART include a visually cohesive flush mounting system for the Ring alarm keypad, motion detector and alarm base station; as well as mounts tailored for Vantage, Crestron, and Black Nova keypads; RTI’s new 5” and 10” touchpanels; Josh.ai’s new 8” touchpanel; IC Realtime’s new W3 camera; Sonos Arc soundbar; and Apple iPad tablets, which will be part of a product giveaway at D-Tools, Booth #2724. Returning to the WALL-SMART CEDIA Expo booth is the award-winning UniINwall mount. Accommodating a Samsung One Connect streaming device, it demonstrates how WALL-SMART’s mounts create clean, clutter-free installations.
In addition to WALL-SMART’s own Booth #4105, attendees can see WALL-SMART’s innovative wall and ceiling mounts at IC Realtime (Booth #C1103), Josh.ai (Booth #2928), RTI (Booth #3512) Lutron (Booth #1912) and others.
New Flush Mounts from WALL-SMART Facilitate Integration of Apple’s Newest iPads
At CEDIA Expo Booth #4105, WALL-SMART introduces mounts purpose-built for Apple’s newest and most advanced generation of iPads powered by the M4 chip. Released in May 2024, the 11-and 13-inch iPad Pro, recognized as the thinnest Apple product ever, and the 11- and 13-inch iPad Air offer integrators a dynamic interface for home control applications. To enable seamless integration of iPads within home control ecosystems, WALL-SMART offers a new optional Ethernet adapter on its new and legacy iPad mounts. Like WALL-SMART’s other iPad mounts, the new versions allow the tablets to be temporarily removed for portability and come with a built-in USB adapter for charging.
WALL-SMART Introduces Custom Mounts for Complete Ring Security System
A complete home security system from Ring can now be beautifully integrated into home interiors, thanks to a series of flush mounts introduced at CEDIA Expo by WALL-SMART. The new WALL-SMART mounts have been customized for a seamless fit and finish within most wall surfaces of Ring’s alarm base, keypad, and sensor. By enabling the fundamental components of a security system to be recessed in convenient wall locations, WALL-SMART offers integrators and homeowners priceless peace of mind while preserving the home aesthetic. WALL-SMART offers new construction and retrofit mounting options for the Ring alarm base and Ring keypad; alarm sensors can be fitted inside a WALL-SMART new construction mount. The Ring alarm base, keypad, and sensor can also be installed flush with solid surfaces like concrete, brick, wood, marble, glass, and metal. With several installation options, integrators can locate security devices where they can be accessed conveniently and perform optimally.
WALL-SMART and Josh.ai Partner, Offer a Flush Wall-Mount for Josh.ai Touchscreen
Earlier this year Josh.ai released the Josh Touchscreen, adding a physical interface to its voice-control platform. Now, through a partnership between Josh.ai and WALL-SMART, systems integrators can recess the 8-inch touchscreen flush with the wall surface for a more sophisticated, finished appearance. Customized by WALL-SMART for the new Josh Touchscreen, the new mount affords integrators a simple way to minimize the appearance of a home control interface. Rather than protruding from the wall, the Josh Touchscreen blends right into it. The mount enables full functionality of the Josh Touchscreen, including JoshGPT.AI integrations, voice control via a tap-to-talk button, and proximity and light sensors. The Josh Touchscreen mount is available from both WALL-SMART and Josh.ai, and will be exhibited at each company’s CEDIA Expo booth (Josh.ai Booth #2928 and WALL-SMART Booth #4015). WALL-SMART also offers mounts for Josh.ai Nano and Micro voice assistants.
WALL-SMART Rolls Out Flush-Mounts for Latest Keypads and Touchpanels from RTI, and Vantage
Well-established alliances with leading home control manufacturers give WALL-SMART an edge in the development of its own customized mounting products. Recent additions to its extensive lineup, which will be showcased at CEDIA Expo, Booth #4105, include custom flush mounts for new touchpanels from RTI and keypads from Vantage and Crestron. The mounting hardware recesses devices flush with the wall surface, providing a clean sophisticated look while maximizing functionality. WALL-SMART’s new flush wall mounts for Vantage accommodate the company’s Trimline II trims, which contain EasyTouch keypads, RP Touch keypads, SquareTouch keypads, and wiring devices. The mounts are also compatible with Vantage’s Equinox Touchscreens and adorne Touch keypads and devices. WALL-SMART follows RTI’s recent introduction of its IST-10 (10-inch) and IST-5 (5-inch) high-res touchpanels with two new custom flush mounts.
WALL-SMART Re-introduces Systems Integrators to Uni-INwall Universal Flush Mount
No matter which brand Wi-Fi device, switch, sensor or other tech component a systems integrator selects for a project, the award-winning Uni-INwall mount from WALL-SMART achieves a seamless fit and finish with the surrounding surface. This inclusiveness enables remarkable design and installation versatility that renders otherwise obtrusive technology less perceptible, or completely hidden when the included matte white cover is applied.
Uni-INwall mount features the same moisture-resistant, ventilated construction as other mounts in WALL-SMART’s vast line of concealment solutions. This exceptional design and build quality protects the residing equipment from damage, enables ease of use, and ensures uncompromised performance—all without impacting the architectural or design integrity of the home or business.
Where to See WALL-SMART Custom Flush Mounts at CEDIA Expo 2024
CEDIA Expo 2024 attendees can see WALL-SMART’s latest technology concealment solutions at Booth #4015. For more information about WALL-SMART, its growing list of manufacturer partnerships and products, and to view installation videos, go to wall-smart.com.
About WALL-SMART Ltd.
WALL-SMART is the leading designer and manufacturer of custom flush ceiling and wall mounts for smart home devices, including tablets, touchscreens, Wi-Fi access points, security cameras, voice assistants, and more. Dedicated to providing cutting-edge concealment solutions for technology in new and existing homes, WALL-SMART inspires homes that are both technologically advanced and exceptionally beautiful. A wide range of products, combined with simple installation, and fast, hassle-free worldwide shipping, poises WALL-SMART as a valuable smart home resource for home systems integrators, home builders and contractors, architects, and designers.
For more information about WALL-SMART, please find and follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, or more information, please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (406) 446-1283 or emailing [email protected].
All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
by Kyle Glass | Aug 16, 2024 | News, R_volution
Supporting a wide range of physical, mobile, and streaming content; engineered for exceptional AV performance, and priced affordably, R_volution’s next-generation universal media players satisfy the diverse media appetites of today’s tech-savvy consumers.
(August 16, 2024) R_volution is elevating the home entertainment experience with the introduction of three new high-performance, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision-compliant 4K and 8K multimedia players, plus a storage hub with multi-room distribution capabilities, at CEDIA Expo 2024, Sept. 5-7, at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO. Designed and engineered to function as the primary source component of a home theater system, R_volution’s flagship player, the PlayerOne 8K, smaller PlayerMini, and more advanced PlayerPro 8K intelligently retrieve, consolidate, process and deliver AV content of various file formats from a wide range of physical, mobile, and digital devices, including computer hard drives, Blu-ray disc players, online streaming services, and more. R_volution complements this impressive line with the R_volution NAS, which provides additional content storage and distribution to media players located throughout a residence.
R_volution Debuts Next-Generation 4K and 8K Multimedia Players at CEDIA Expo 2024
Consumers are all too familiar and frustrated with the inherent complexities of operating a home theater system. Unification of the myriad components and controls lends simpler operation for end-users. R_volution is spearheading this approach with unique technologically advanced yet intuitive home theater components that consolidate all sources, enhance the audio and video quality up to 8K, and categorize the content automatically for quick and easy browsing and selection.
Featured at booth #1144, R_volution’s next-generation multimedia players, the PlayerOne 8K and smaller PlayerMini, give systems integrators an exciting new way to enhance the home theater experience for their customers. The high-performance multimedia players are HDR10+ and Dolby Vision-compliant, meet all current HDMI connectivity and audio and video performance standards, upscale physical and digital content to 4K and 8K, and automatically identify movies and TV shows for easy on-screen navigation. These players don’t just place the content arbitrarily on the menu; they organize it logically by genre and let users search alphabetically, by release date, length, and other metadata.
R_volution Debuts Next-Generation Elite 8K Multimedia Player at CEDIA Expo 2024
Rounding out R_volution’s universal media player portfolio is the most advanced model, the new R_volution PlayerPro 8K. This elite media device supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and boasts a robust linear power supply anchored by a massive toroidal transformer. At its core lies the powerful Amlogic S928X chipset, complemented by a precision TCXO clock. The R_volution PlayerPro 8K comes with a dual HDD enclosure to store up to 64TB of video files. It also offers HDMI 2.1 output, compatibility with AV1 codec up to 8K resolution that delivers stunning picture and sound quality to meet the needs of the most demanding home theater enthusiasts. Complemented by an innovative R_video user interface, the PlayerPro 8K provides the best AI available on the market to quickly and logically organize a large movie library. R_video along with the PC/Mac app offers advanced customization features to create custom categories and specific groups of movies, listen to original soundtrack clips while browsing titles, personalize the home page and add custom signature top banners like Director’s Cut or Pure Audio Blu-ray. The intuitive PC/Mac app can be used to upload custom title page content, movie covers, and backgrounds.
R_volution Offers Digital Storage and Multi-Room Playback System for Physical Discs
Debuting at CEDIA Expo 2024, the R_volution NAS features high-performance video processing technology, dynamic user interface, and multi-room playback capabilities to consolidate, elevate and streamline the performance and control of large DVD, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray Disc libraries. The R_volution NAS stores audio files and videos on its internal hard drive without compression or loss of quality. A single unit can store up to 38,400 DVDs, 6,400 Blu-ray Discs, or 3,200 4K UHD Discs. For larger collections, multiple NAS units can be combined into one system, accessible from any room equipped with an R_volution media player. A system can be quickly and easily configured via the NAS’s plug-and-play installation capabilities. Media is automatically indexed and categorized, along with relevant metadata and cover art. Users can apply filters and sort functions via R_volution’s intuitive onscreen user interface to quickly navigate and retrieve stored content. For clients who want to reconnect with their physical media collections, the NAS affords a simple, effective way to save, store and enjoy this beloved content.
Where to See R_volution at CEDIA Expo 2024
CEDIA Expo 2024 attendees can see R_volution’s advanced multi-media players and storage device at booth #1144. The R_volution PlayerOne 8K, PlayerMini, PlayerPro, and NAS are available to systems integration professionals from Let’s Get Physical Distribution. To learn more about R_volution and the technology and features of its new Ultra HD multimedia players and NAS, please visit www.letsget-physical.com.
About R_volution
Founded in late 2023 by Group Archisoft, R_volution wants to bring home the best experience for watching any content in an easy way. Distributed worldwide, R_volution’s distinctive 4K and 8K multimedia players deliver the highest AV quality and best possible entertainment experience for home theater enthusiasts. Designed and engineered for compatibility with current performance standards, including Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos, and DTS X; user-friendly, and within the budgets of most consumers, these universal media players make R_volution a powerful brand in the AV industry.
About Let’s get Physical Distribution Inc.
Founded in late 2022 by Raphael Tabutin, an AV enthusiast with 20 years of experience in home theater installation and consulting, Let’s Get Physical Distribution, Inc. offers a best-in-class portfolio of products capable of reproducing the Director’s intent on screens. Their portfolio now includes Reavon (Blu-ray Disc Players), R_volution (Media Players) and Bridgee Cables (High-End Audio/Video Cables).
R-volution Media Contact
For interviews, reviews, and more information about R-volution please contact Katye McGregor Bennett of KMB Communications at +1-406-446-1283 or [email protected]
All products, product names, trademarks, and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
by Kyle Glass | Aug 14, 2024 | D-Tools, News
D-Tools Payments is a secure, fully embedded payment solution that offers a seamless and elegant user experience, transparent transaction fees, expedient ACH payment processing, and detailed financial reporting, all within the day-to-day workflow of D-Tools Cloud.
August 14, 2024 —D-Tools, the leading provider of core business management software catering to the needs of the systems integration market for over 25 years, today introduced D-Tools Payments, a groundbreaking payments solution for D-Tools Cloud that will transform integrators’ payment processes. D-Tools Payments is a secure, fully embedded solution designed to streamline payment processing directly within the D-Tools Cloud environment.
D-Tools Payments enhances an integrator’s workflow with a seamless, secure, and fully compliant payment system. It features an intuitive and expedient onboarding and underwriting process, transparent transaction fees, and faster time-to-cash for ACH payments. Embedded financial reporting makes it easy to reconcile payment transactions and cash deposits.
“Invoicing and collecting payments is a foundational component of any integrator’s business that is often deprioritized and can be challenging to manage,” said Randy Stearns, CEO of D-Tools. “D-Tools Payments makes it easy for D-Tools Cloud users to simplify every aspect of payment processing – from payment request to bank deposit – without leaving the D-Tools Cloud environment. D-Tools Payments is designed to elegantly support project progress payments, one-time payments, and even automated recurring payments for service and monitoring agreements, all in a manner that is fast and efficient for both you and your clients.”
Among its many features, D-Tools Payments offers:
- An intuitive and straightforward onboarding and underwriting process which enables an integrator to start processing transactions quickly without the typical red tape, complexities or delays.
- Automated issuance and collection of recurring invoices.
- Complete and clean integration with Quickbooks and other accounting solutions.
- Instant in-app notifications alert merchants to potential issues and provide actionable guidance for quick resolution.
- Embedded financial reporting provides payment status and helps integrators better manage the payment lifecycle from invoice to bank deposit from within a unified D-Tools Cloud experience.
- Transparent credit card and ACH transaction fees.
- Quick access to funds when ACH payments are taken.
- Advanced encryption and robust security protocols ensure every transaction is protected.
Integrators Respond Positively; Webinar Scheduled
Access to D-Tools Payments is available at no cost to current and new U.S.-based D-Tools Cloud subscribers. The dozens of integration firms that have adopted D-Tools Payments report having an overwhelmingly positive experience.
Blake Turner, owner of Turner’s Audio Video in South Mills, N.C., says, “The D-Tools Payment Processing has been a gamechanger for me and my business. Integrating payments directly into proposals has saved me time, and having one seamless experience for the customer has increased the quote acceptance as well. I would like to thank the D-Tools team as well… they have been there every step of the way to ensure the beta testing has gone without a hitch! I truly recommend this to any other companies looking for a new way to take payments!”
Mosey Levy, owner at Backstage AV with locations in New York and New Jersey, says he is already addicted to D-Tools Payments. “D-Tools new natively built-in payment system has been amazing for us!” says Levy. “We’ve long used D-Tools for keeping track of project payment status, but now we are able to request a payment from a client and have them pay online without any hassle. We found that it’s been significantly easier for our clients to make payments this way, and we have fewer of our clients requesting to just send us a wire or a check. For us, having everything in the D-Tools’ system makes our lives easier. One less website to check… the more that we can do inside D-Tools, the better for us.”
Bryce Morrow of Area 51 Audio Engineering and Consulting in Tucson, Ariz., adds, “The payment tool offers an intuitive experience for managing transactions, making it a breeze for us to handle billing and payments efficiently. Its user-friendly interface and feature-set have enhanced our productivity.”
“D-Tools Payments completely helps us streamline and collect customer payments more efficiently and accurately,” says Todd Forgan, owner of Modern Media based in Southlake, Texas.
Integrators can find out more about the game-changing D-Tools Payments by registering for a special D-Tools Payment webinar on Tuesday, August 20 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern. The one-hour educational webcast will include a Q&A session with the D-Tools Cloud product team.
D-Tools Cloud End-to-End Capabilities Grow
D-Tools Payments joins an array of new capabilities made to D-Tools Cloud, which now includes service management, project management, intelligent visual quoting, interactive system design, change order handling, sales pipeline and CRM administration, multimedia proposals with e-sign and payment collection capabilities, in-the-field estimating, product procurement using supplier-authorized integrator-specific pricing, as well as scheduling, time tracking, and task management.
D-Tools Payments is ideal for integrators with clients on service or monitoring agreements that require monthly, quarterly or annual invoicing. It enables integrators to accelerate their cash flow by automating collection of recurring invoices. Integrators will spend less time on manual processes, like invoicing and bank deposits, and more time growing your business, secure in the knowledge that your payments are handled timely, accurately and automatically.
To find out more about D-Tools Payments, go to d-tools.com/d-tools-payments. D-Tools will be showcasing D-Tools Payments at CEDIA Expo 2024 in booth 2724 in Denver from Sept. 5-7.
About D-Tools, Inc.
D-Tools, Inc. is a leading provider of business management software for electronics systems contractors worldwide. For more than 25 years, D-Tools’ award-winning solutions have empowered thousands of low-voltage systems integrators to streamline their business operations for greater efficiency and improved profitability. Boasting an integrated product library complete with up-to-date specifications and unique dealer-specific pricing, the D-Tools Cloud and System Integrator™ (SI) platforms enable end-to-end management of the systems integration project lifecycle. From sales and system design through installation and ongoing service, D-Tools’ purpose-built software products ensure accurate detail that directly benefits the bottom line. For more information, visit www.d-tools.com.
Find product updates and related information by following D-Tools on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
Media Contacts
Tim Bigoness, D-Tools, (925) 270-4102, [email protected]
Katye (McGregor) Bennett, KMB Communications, (425) 328-8640, [email protected]
All products, product names, trademarks and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
by Kyle Glass | Aug 1, 2024 | Home Technology Association, News
AUGUST 1, 2024, LOS ANGELES, CA – The Home Technology Association (HTA) is excited to announce a significant update to its industry-leading Technology Budget Calculator. This powerful tool, already used by many top home technology integrators, design and build professionals, and manufacturers, helps prospective clients understand realistic installed cost budget ranges for their home technology projects. Instead of asking homeowners their budget – which often leads to uncertainty and confusion – the HTA Technology Budget Calculator provides a clear, informed starting point for discussions.
New Features and Enhancements
The newly updated HTA Technology Budget Calculator brings several key enhancements, most notably the addition of lighting fixtures. With the expert input of industry professionals Patrick Laidlaw of AiSPiRE/WAC, Mike Libman of DMF, and David Warfel of Light Can Help You, the tool now includes architectural lighting fixtures. This ensures that homeowners, architects, interior designers, and builders are aware of the advanced lighting solutions that can impact the look, feel, ambiance, and wellness of their homes. It also informs them that home technology integrators are a resource for lighting fixtures, which most are unaware of. As part of this upgrade, the HTA also created a consumer-friendly glossary of key lighting terms, accessible at this link.
“The cost of good lighting is the top question clients ask, and HTA’s updated budgeting tool provides an important first step towards real answers,” said David Warfel, founding designer at Light Can Help You. “Little matters more to clients than their budget; the new lighting section in the HTA Budget Calculator is a great tool to get the conversation started. In addition to providing budget ranges for fixtures, controls, and shades, the calculator cleverly introduces the concept of performance fixtures and advanced color technologies. This should enable better conversations from the beginning when it comes to lighting.”
Partners May Embed the HTA Budget Calculator
The following entities can embed the budget calculator on their websites with a unique embed code: HTA Certified integrators, HTA Supporting Brand members, rep firms, and related industry associations. Notably, the NAHB (National Association of Home Builders) has already embedded the HTA budget calculator in the members-only knowledge section of its website.
Comprehensive Update List
- Lighting Fixtures: Provides basic information and budget ranges to start conversations on this complex topic.
- Networks / Wi-Fi Updates: Added a new “Professional” category between “Consumer-grade” and “Enterprise-grade.”
- Emphasis on Lighting and Shades: These topics have been moved near the top of the calculator.
- Emailed Reports: Improved formatting for emailed budget results.
- Embedded Calculator Color Matching: Customizable header color to match the target website’s color theme.
Benefits of the HTA Technology Budget Calculator
The HTA Technology Budget Calculator addresses several critical challenges home technology integrators and their clients face. Many prospective clients experience sticker shock due to a lack of awareness about realistic technology costs, often leading them to shop around. The HTA Technology Budget Calculator helps set realistic expectations from the start, reducing this issue. Asking clients for their budget is often uncomfortable for the client and unproductive; the HTA Technology Budget Calculator provides a more effective way to determine budget ranges through a simple, client-driven process. By prequalifying clients, the calculator saves time and reduces the need for extensive value engineering of proposals. It is also a valuable tool for architects, builders, and designers, helping them gather necessary information and provide accurate estimates to their clients. Integrators using the HTA budget calculator benefit from higher sales closing ratios and more efficient sales operations.
“From the moment the Custom Integration channel started recognizing the lighting category, the most common question from Integrators—and clients, to them-was how much does good lighting cost? This question has now been addressed simply with the Lighting Budget Calculator by HTA”, says Patrick Laidlaw, Director of Business Development-Integration at AiSPiRE & WAC Lighting. “The calculator is easy to use and informative as it defines the differences between four levels of lighting, from best to worst. Clients simply put in the percentage of their home they would like of each level, and it calculates estimated lighting cost ranges right before their eyes. It also expedites the discussions of lighting in the home as part of the technology package”.
Visit https://htacertified.org/app/home-technology-installation-budget-tool/ to see how the HTA Technology Budget Calculator works. If your company would like a branded version of this tool, please reach out to your HTA contact or send a message to https://bit.ly/contact-hta.
About the Home Technology Association
The Home Technology Association (HTA) created the first and only standard of excellence for home technology integration firms. The HTA gives the best-qualified technology integrators a prestigious certification to differentiate these exceptional firms. HTA Certification is a badge of quality, designed to help homeowners get consistently first-rate technology experiences. Homeowners, builders, architects, and interior designers that hire HTA Certified integrators have peace of mind knowing they are working with truly professional firms that have passed the HTA’s rigorous certification process, which focuses on technical competency, first-rate customer service, aftercare support, and a positive business reputation.
The Home Technology Association is also the creator of the HTA Design Partner and HTA Technology Partner programs designed to elevate the role of qualified home technology integrators as technology design consultants that trade partners should include on all their residential projects. In addition, the Home Technology Association actively collaborates with design and build trade associations such as AIBD, ASID, IDS, NAHB, NARI, and the NKBA. The HTA helps bridge the design and collaboration gap between the home technology integration industry and design and build professionals. This is accomplished via educational articles, webinars, classes, budgeting tools, technology assessment forms, a brand Resource Guide, and an integrator finder tool to help them incorporate technology into their projects easier. Learn more by visiting HTACertified.org and by following the Home Technology Association (HTA) on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube & Pinterest.
HTA Media Contact
For interviews or media inquiries, please contact Katye (McGregor) Bennett of KMB Communications by phoning (406) 446-1283 or emailing [email protected].
All products, product names, trademarks and registrations mentioned are the property of their respective owners, all rights reserved.
