Smart Home Trends Builders and Manufacturers Can’t Ignore
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COGNITION Smart Data shows that homeowners are turning to smart devices and AI to simplify daily tasks, lower energy use, and create more comfortable, connected living spaces.
Homeowners are increasingly relying on smart devices and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline everyday tasks, reduce energy use, and enhance comfort. From Alexa-controlled lighting to Wi-Fi-enabled appliances and smart thermostats, today’s homebuyers are looking for homes that not only shelter them but actively support their lifestyle.
Recent insights from COGNITION Smart Data reveal a clear and growing trend: homeowners are continuing to adopt smart technologies at a steady pace. In fact, when asked if they were using smart devices more or less compared to the previous year (on a scale of 1 to 100), the average response was 70, indicating a measurable year-over-year increase in smart device usage.
Over the same 12-month period, 66% of surveyed homeowners reported investing in one to three smart devices. The most popular devices purchased include:
Audio/Visual Equipment: 23%
Smart Doorbells: 21%
Smart Doors & Windows: 20%
Centralized Hubs: 19%
Energy Monitoring Systems: 19%
In addition to acquiring new devices, homeowners are integrating them into daily routines:
58% have connected a smart thermostat to a smartphone, giving them more control over energy consumption.
58% also report using a smart control app to monitor and manage hot water usage.
What This Means for Builders and Manufacturers
The opportunity for builders is clear. By integrating smart infrastructure into projects, you can meet rising consumer expectations, differentiate your homes, and position your brand as future-ready.
Just as builders have an opportunity to integrate smart systems from the outset, product manufacturers can stand out by prioritizing interoperability. Homeowners are often frustrated when devices from different brands don’t “talk” to each other. Builders and suppliers who offer cohesive, unified platforms, or who prioritize compatibility with major systems like Alexa or Google Home, can significantly enhance homeowner satisfaction.
This connected ecosystem is especially important for Millennials and Gen Zs, a demographic actively seeking smart homes but unwilling to deal with the hassle of managing multiple devices and apps. Builders who offer a fully integrated smart home experience from day one will appeal strongly to this influential group.
COGNITION Smart Data, Green Builder Media’s pioneering suite of market intelligence and data services, uses cutting-edge cognitive learning technology to deliver the insights you need to align products, messaging, and innovation with what homebuyers actually want.
COGNITION is the only market insights platform specifically engineered for the building industry’s sustainability transformation. We track evolving consumer behaviors, emerging technologies, policy shifts, competitive benchmarks, and market demand signals so you can adjust faster, sell smarter, and grow revenue—confidently.
Victoria Muharsky is an ESG specialist at Green Builder Media, where she leads the ESG for Building Working Group. Under her guidance, the group has successfully overseen the release of the groundbreaking ESG Defining Principles. Crafted collaboratively by industry experts, these guidelines are revolutionizing the homebuilding sector's approach to ESG and sustainability.
Smart Home Trends Builders and Manufacturers Can’t Ignore
COGNITION Smart Data shows that homeowners are turning to smart devices and AI to simplify daily tasks, lower energy use, and create more comfortable, connected living spaces.
Homeowners are increasingly relying on smart devices and artificial intelligence (AI) to streamline everyday tasks, reduce energy use, and enhance comfort. From Alexa-controlled lighting to Wi-Fi-enabled appliances and smart thermostats, today’s homebuyers are looking for homes that not only shelter them but actively support their lifestyle.
Recent insights from COGNITION Smart Data reveal a clear and growing trend: homeowners are continuing to adopt smart technologies at a steady pace. In fact, when asked if they were using smart devices more or less compared to the previous year (on a scale of 1 to 100), the average response was 70, indicating a measurable year-over-year increase in smart device usage.
Over the same 12-month period, 66% of surveyed homeowners reported investing in one to three smart devices. The most popular devices purchased include:
In addition to acquiring new devices, homeowners are integrating them into daily routines:
What This Means for Builders and Manufacturers
The opportunity for builders is clear. By integrating smart infrastructure into projects, you can meet rising consumer expectations, differentiate your homes, and position your brand as future-ready.
Just as builders have an opportunity to integrate smart systems from the outset, product manufacturers can stand out by prioritizing interoperability. Homeowners are often frustrated when devices from different brands don’t “talk” to each other. Builders and suppliers who offer cohesive, unified platforms, or who prioritize compatibility with major systems like Alexa or Google Home, can significantly enhance homeowner satisfaction.
This connected ecosystem is especially important for Millennials and Gen Zs, a demographic actively seeking smart homes but unwilling to deal with the hassle of managing multiple devices and apps. Builders who offer a fully integrated smart home experience from day one will appeal strongly to this influential group.
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About COGNITION Smart Data
COGNITION is the only market insights platform specifically engineered for the building industry’s sustainability transformation. We track evolving consumer behaviors, emerging technologies, policy shifts, competitive benchmarks, and market demand signals so you can adjust faster, sell smarter, and grow revenue—confidently.
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By Victoria Muharsky
Victoria Muharsky is an ESG specialist at Green Builder Media, where she leads the ESG for Building Working Group. Under her guidance, the group has successfully overseen the release of the groundbreaking ESG Defining Principles. Crafted collaboratively by industry experts, these guidelines are revolutionizing the homebuilding sector's approach to ESG and sustainability.Also Read