09.06.2008 — Honeywell’s new Energy Internet Connection Module (ICM) not only helps homeowners conserve up to 15 percent of their energy use by managing their consumption online, it’s extremely simple for custom installers to retrofit.

With the module, dealers no longer have to worry about digging through walls to fish a Cat 5 cable to the thermostat from the home Web router.

At the furnace, integrators simply run the three-wire thermostat connection to the module, and then run a Cat 5 from the Energy ICM to the router.

By logging onto a secure Web site, users can remotely access information about the amount of energy being expended through heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Parameters can cover temperature ranges, time of day, seasons of the year, etc. The system can communicate with home alarm systems and send email notifications when the temperature deviates from the parameters set. It also stores reports for the homeowner.

The icing on the cake for dealers is that there is a recurring monthly revenue component to the Energy ICM. Homeowners must pay $49.95 per year to receive the reports from the Web site. Dealers can earn up to 25 percent of that. For homebuilders, the Web site portal can be branded under the builder’s name or a community.

“Customers are accustomed to receiving energy-savings tips on their monthly statements after they’ve expended more energy than necessary,” says Tim Trautman, senior product manager for Honeywell Cable and Custom Electronics.

“The Energy ICM is designed to provide tips in real time, allowing people the opportunity to curb consumption and noticeably reduce their monthly utility bills.”

The Web site also provides tips for adjusting the system to conserve energy and save money.

The product is being OEMed by In2Networks.

This simple installation could be a breakthrough for dealers to start selling more smart thermostats in existing homes.

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