By Arlen Schweiger, Industry Journalist - Wed, Oct 15, 2025 - Blog
For smart home professionals exploring ways to expand their business, now’s the time to re-energise your power portfolio. Designing systems that incorporate power management, energy storage, backup batteries/generators and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) presents compelling benefits - with energy efficiency becoming an increasingly popular trend among our industry, alongside sustainable living.
Integrators can now deliver end-to-end electrical ecosystems from the rooftop solar array to the garage’s EV charging unit and put the power to control them into the palms of homeowners. Here’s a brief look at why and how dealers should pitch prospects on power management systems and solutions and “own” the entire energy ecosystem, as a way of future proofing their installations:
Customers who hire professional integrators expect their valuable AV, networking, security, lighting/shade control systems, etc. to work flawlessly 24/7 and at peak performance levels - which is why having a carefully thought-out energy management system in place for your clients is crucial.
Devices that provide surge protection and voltage regulation help prevent damage from disturbances such as electrical spikes, brownouts, and failures while delivering clean and reliable power. Power management system products go hand-in-hand with remote management capabilities, and integrators can cut down on service calls while proactively troubleshooting connectivity, freeze-ups, and other issues without rolling a truck for a reboot.
Having remote reboot ability can enable automatic cycling of always-on devices like cable boxes and internet routers during off times such as 3 a.m. when sleeping customers won’t even know the difference. As a bonus, smart home integrators can also push out firmware updates to bolster smart home performance this way.
Dealers can discuss how they can start delivering energy cost savings right at the increasingly intelligent circuit breaker panels. Here, it’s incumbent on smart home professionals to educate homeowners on the benefits of load shedding on power reliability, device longevity, and savings.
Electric, or energy load shedding, is described as an intentional and temporary reduction of electrical power to certain systems, devices, or areas to prevent overloading the electrical grid or a home’s energy infrastructure. In smart homes, electric load shedding is used strategically to reduce demand during peak usage times or when power is limited (on backup power or generators, for instance).
Devices can be prioritised as critical and non-critical so that during power failures or outages, switches automatically transfer to essential products like network, HVAC, security alarm/video surveillance, and refrigerators to maintain connectivity. Systems like home theaters, landscape lighting, and motorised shades can be cycled off or delayed in these instances.
Interested in learning more about power management systems and how you can build the best solutions for your clients? Start by consulting your peers – for example, joining CEDIA to get access to events and online resources. Become a CEDIA member today, and start building a more energy efficient tomorrow.
By providing you with specialized assistance, education, opportunities, and resources, CEDIA membership enables you to realize your full potential and progress both professionally and commercially. Find out more about how to sign up or renew right now.
Join CEDIA