With the global smart home market set to grow dramatically by 2025, window and door manufacturers are looking to add smart capabilities to their products.
It seems like only yesterday that smart homes really became a thing, but the concept has captivated homeowners’ imaginations ever since inventors presented the idea at the 1933 World’s Fair. The technology wouldn’t become commonplace until 50 years later, seen in the form of garage doors, home security systems, thermostat controls, and other smart appliances. Now we can lock our doors with a voice command, program our window shades to open at a specific time via our phones, and order groceries from a connected fridge.
The global smart home market is projected to grow nearly 18 percent by 2025. As connected technology and smart appliances evolve, the goal for manufacturers is as much about convenience as it is peace of mind. It’s something that’s increasingly popular with homeowners in all income ranges, and that’s why window and door manufacturers like JELD-WEN are finding ways to install those features at the factory.
“Everyone wants to control things with phone or voice assistant,” says JELD-WEN senior product engineer, Chris Graetsch. “The ability to adjust windows and doors from anywhere is appealing, and we’re very interested in pursuing it.”
Internet-enabled windows and doors offer programmable features made to fit the homeowner’s lifestyle.
We’re seeing this already with large sliding glass doors. Motors made opening them effortless, but some models have since added connected controllers that can sense when someone with a fob or device approaches so they can open automatically. As the homeowner crosses the doorway and walks farther into the home, the door senses the growing distance and closes.
This connected tech has also reached window glass. With Low-E becoming a standard ask to reduce energy costs and maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, companies have made glazing and glass that automatically adjust to light and heat. Imagine you’re sitting comfortably in your living room, and a cloud moves that was blocking the sun. The sun is now beaming in through your windows, and it’s getting hot. With smart glass, your windows would respond to those rays and darken to block some of that light and minimize heat transfer.
There’s a lot of innovation to keep track of in the smart home space, and windows and doors are looking like the next big arena.
“No one wants to give up those benefits,” says Keri Brookshire, industrial/aesthetic designer for JELD-WEN. “That’s why we’re taking our time. When we do release products with new technology, they will be so seamless that you won’t notice them.”
For assistance with window and door specifications or installation, visit JELD-WEN’s professional portal.
