10.05.2009 — Nearly 25 years ago, Tom Pickral, Brian Yokum and Jay McLellan founded New Orleans-based Home Automation Inc. (HAI). Its first product, the Model 1503, offered homeowners a programmable solution that consolidated the control of their burglary and fire security systems, as well as lighting and appliance systems.

The company continues to offer CE pros a growing home automation and entertainment solutions. McLellan, who serves as the company's president and CEO, is leading HAI's effort to integrate green-friendly benefits into products.

With the possibility of the recession winding down, what's next for HAI and its dealers?

We are a company that very much believes in a more fundamental business [approach], even though we compete with AMX, Crestron and others.

Do you really need a huge touchscreen or a fancy controller? Where HAI always approaches the market is that HAI wants to give you the biggest bang for the buck — security, energy management, lighting control and remote access to the home. In my mind as you add on options like touchscreens, home theater control, built-in audio — which we provide — you are going from the basic requirements to the more fun and entertaining aspects of home automation.

Many components are wireless and can be added easily. That's my message to the dealer base: Offer a solid system that can be upgradeable.

How will eco-friendly technologies help the company?

Our systems have always been focused on eco-friendly and energy conservation. Push a button as you leave the house to secure it and put it in energy savings mode. Furthermore, the motion detectors can turn off lights when a room is unoccupied and you have remote control of the house using your mobile phone.

We also recently launched a smart grid product line that communicates with the utilities smart meters. They allow the consumer and the utility to adjust energy consuming devices inside the home. All of this will be necessary as the load increases on the grid [McLellan cites the example of the prototype General Motors' Chevrolet Volt electric car charging on the grid], and more variable sources of electricity like solar come on line.

One way to get more capacity is to conserve and that's what smart grid is all about, and it is what HAI does through its in-home devices for smart grid.

What should HAI dealers be telling their clients about the company's product line?

It's the essentially the same message as before the recession. We have a good-better-best product line and, if you are buying, building or renovating, it's time to put in something smart for energy conservation and security.

HAI and its dealers deliver great value and you can build on it. Since home automation has many facets, we have simplified our message a bit. This is reflected in our new consumer literature available to dealers for proposals and discussion with customers.

HAI announced partnerships with Cartell and Sensus. Why are these important?

We work with other manufacturers for products that work well with ours. Cartell is a great example. Many of our customers use Cartell's driveway sensors to signal clients that cars are approaching and if it's dark, activate additional lighting. HAI and Cartell verify that the systems work well together and promote it as such.

Sensus represents an important partner in the smart grid business. We provide products that work with Sensus' FlexNet RF system to connect thermostats, water heaters and pool pumps to Sensus' smart meters and utility load control programs. Both are important to the company's strategy.

What impact will these partnerships have on your dealers?

Most are available through our distribution network, and we provide applications notes and knowledge-base articles on how to connect these [solutions] together. So it's an immediate opportunity to expand an HAI system. Smart grid is in its early stages and as it rolls out, HAI systems are already able to work with programmable thermostats and smart meters that are connected to the utility.

The home control category is broadening for mainstream consumers. How does HAI fit in?

It's a complicated answer; our product line continues to evolve to address the growth of the mainstream audience. We believe that a full home automation system is a custom install product, with sales, service and support provided locally by professional system integrators.