This week’s Smart Living roundup features a fresh team up with Insteon and Microsoft, Direct Energy’s partnership with Nest, and home automation service providers renewed focus on commercial initiatives.

Insteon Windows apps coming this summer

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Insteon, maker of home automation solutions, revealed that its apps for Windows 8.1 and Windows Phone 8will be available on June 1, 2014.  This is great news for those using Windows-based devices who have been searching for compatible home automation solutions, as most smart home apps  today only support devices running iOS or Android.

The apps come with exclusive features such as Visitor Mode, which allows users to restrict access for kids and guests. They will also come with enhanced camera support that allows users to view multiple cameras at once and multi-house support, to name a few additional perks. Insteon’s efforts take full advantage the Live Tiles on Windows 8.1 Start screen, granting status updates of multiple devices at a glance.

Aside from the availability of the apps, Insteon also announced that its line of home automation solutions will be available in Microsoft Stores.  Microsoft will be offering three unique Insteon kits such as a Starter Kit, Home Kit and Business Kit, and five standalone devices, including the INSTEON Leak Sensor, Open/Close Sensor, LED Bulb, On/Off Module and Wireless Wi-Fi Camera. Prices will range from $29.99 to $79.99, with kits starting at $199.

Direct Energy partners with Nest

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The hottest summer months are fast approaching, and electric consumption is expected to skyrocket as homeowners turn up the AC to stay cool.  To help people stay comfortable without breaking the bank, energy service provider Direct Energy is partnering with Nest, extending the Learning Thermostat to reach key markets in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, New England, and Canada.

In some markets, Direct Energy will offer various incentives for the Nest Learning Thermostat, such as earning rewards for consuming less-than-average energy units.

More information about the offer will be released on June 1, 2014.

CE Pro 100 tops $1.7B in revenue

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CE Pro, a trade publication covering the installation and integration businesses for the consumer market, released its 16th annual list and survey of the 100 largest multi-subsystem residential integration companies.

The list showed that the residential market has recovered from the recession, topping $1.7 billion in residential custom installation revenue, a 12 percent increase from 2012.

The study stated that 87 percent of the 2014 CE Pro 100 reported completing an average of 70 commercial projects in 2013 to establish their presence in a different sector of the residential market.

Best Buy’s custom installation division of Geek Squad/Magnolia Home Theater is the top residential integrator in 2013, with an estimated $755.6 million in custom installation services.  Vivint, which shifted its focus from security to home automation, followed with $305 million, and ADT secures third place with $124.8 million in custom revenue.

“This year’s list shows that residential integrators are trying to diversify and reach more clientele by branching into the commercial sector and offer recurring monthly revenue (RMR),” says Jason Knott, editor of CE Pro.

In all, 87 percent of the 2014 CE Pro 100 reported completing an average of 70 commercial projects last year in an effort establish a presence in a different sector from the ever-fluctuating residential market. Meanwhile, the percentage of RMR per company rose to 16 percent of revenue on average.

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