Have you ever heard your air conditioning run on a day when the outside temperature was five degrees lower than inside your house? Maybe you thought, “I should get up and open all of the windows.” But then perhaps you thought, “Yeah, but then I have to watch the temperature and remember to close them.”
That’s just one thought that some window manufacturers hope will drive a wave of interest in automated fenestration and smart home features.
According to the global data and business intelligence platform Statista, global revenue for the smart home market is forecast to increase 72% between 2023 and 2028 , or $96.7 billion. After nine consecutive years of increase, the total number of users for smart home technology is expected to reach 785 million, pushing revenues to an estimated $231.6 billion. It isn’t surprising, then, that door and window manufacturers are aiming to get in on the smart home trend via such things as sensors and automated hardware.
The first smart home tech for windows began appearing in the mid-2010s, with connected sensors that showed whether a window was open or closed and locked or unlocked. But the initial movement failed to expand beyond a few companies—most notably Andersen, with its VeriLock connected sensors, and Pella, with a line of connected technologies known as Insynctive. At the time, other manufacturers planned to introduce similar features, but until recently few came to fruition. Now, a new platform offers to simplify integrations of smart home technologies and apps. With Matter, a freely available connectivity standard for smart home tech, devices such as smart lights, thermostats and security cameras from various manufacturers all can communicate with one another and smart home platforms, such as Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Door manufacturers have also begun to lean on those integrations to offer automated operation and window manufacturers are following suit.
At this year’s International Builders’ Show, Kolbe displayed its VistaLuxe WD line of sliding doors with automated hardware from Summit Automation, including touch-screen operation, and a bank of overhead awnings powered by Assa Abloy’s electronic operators.
CRL offers sliding glass doors with hands-free operation. The system features a smart motion sensor, a concealed motor mechanism, and offers control via a mobile app, voice command and a keypad.
Automated functions have also connected manufacturers to niche markets. For instance, Autoslide, a manufacturer of automated door hardware for residential homes, markets its automatic sliding and swing door operators as “independent living solutions.” The company is targeting consumers of smart home tech with integrations for Google Home and Alexa, while also going after the aging-in-place market and those with mobility issues.
Opening Windows
To tidy up the look of smart home tech for fenestration, window manufacturers are building connected hardware directly into their frames. With Marvin Connected Home, Marvin claims to be the first door and window manufacturer to bring fully integrated, automated windows to the U.S. market. The company’s CEO, Paul Marvin, describes Marvin Connected Home as a “groundbreaking smart home solution that sets a new standard for the industry.” The Connected Home system offers automated skylights, doors and windows, and integrates with smart home platforms like Amazon Alexa, as well as more high-end home automation systems, like Crestron Home or Control4.
In order to automate, window manufacturers must also add additional types of sensors to boost the intelligence of connected fenestration. Rain sensors and magnetic lock controls allow automated windows to react to outdoor conditions and Marvin’s Awaken Skylight has built-in sensors that detect changes in indoor air quality, automatically alerting homeowners via an app so they can take action to reduce airborne pollutants, says Christine Marvin, the company’s chief marketing officer.
Similarly, hardware manufacturer Roto is among the first to suggest that automated windows can play a role in energy efficiency and “room climate.” When a home’s heating or cooling system is active, magnetic sensors concealed within a window informs connected HVAC systems when they are open, so heating or air conditioning output can be reduced. After the window is closed, the system can switch back to a normal temperature setting.
Others have designed their systems to open and close windows when outside temperatures can be used to cool a house, or to activate automated blinds-between-glass or smart glass to adjust solar heat gain.
According to Statista, by 2028 smart home tech is expected to be in use by one third of households. By integrating with the most popular smart home devices and offering an array of useful features, door and window manufacturers hope to automate their way into a slice of the market.
For a more in-depth look at the latest smart home tech for doors and windows, look for an upcoming feature in [DWM]’s July-August edition.