It starts with one plant on a sunny windowsill then morphs into an impenetrable jungle. You may feel you need a machete to reach each individual plant to water and tend. Clear the way to improved growing conditions and convenient care while showcasing every plant with style.

Group plants with similar light and watering needs to make maintenance easier for you and increase humidity levels something tropical plants need to thrive. Set plants on attractive trays filled with pebbles to capture excess water. The pebbles elevate the containers above the water to avoid root rot. As the water in the tray evaporates, it increases the humidity around the plants.

Grow cacti and succulents in a cool, sunny location for winter.Give each plant enough room to capture the sunlight it needs and to show off its unique form and color.

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Expand your indoor growing space and enjoy greenery throughout your home by adding artificial lights. New furniture grade LED light fixtures like theBamboo Mini LED Grow Light Garden(gardeners.com) fit into small spaces and look great on countertops, work desks and shelves. Youll save energy with LED lights and add a bit of style to your home dcor with these attractive light gardens.

Increase your success with the popular fiddle leaf fig and other floor plants. These beauties are often used to decorate a bare wall, corner or other space in need of a focal point. Oftentimes these areas do not receive sufficient light for the plants to grow and thrive. Soon leaves begin to yellow and drop. Keep them healthy and beautiful with supplemental light. Hang a pendant light above or set a plant light stand beside these large plants. Many are trendy decorative fixtures similar to those used to light your home.

Save time and increase success by growing houseplants in self-watering containers. These pots have built-in water reservoirs that extend the time between watering. They also help reduce the mess of water spilling over the saucer and onto wood or carpeted floors.

Take the hassle out of watering with an indoor coil watering hose and sprayer. These coiled hoses hook up to the faucet, allowing you to water houseplants and seedlings up to 50 feet away. Youll eliminate the need to fill and lug watering cans from plant to plant, leaving a trail of water along the way.

Maximize time spent tending your plants by using the proper tools. Many indoor gardeners use old silverware or try adapting outdoor tools for indoor garden use. Having the right tool for the job provides better results in less time. Indoor garden tool sets have perfectly sized tools for pruning, transplanting and tending houseplants. Many come with an attractive built-in case for easy storage and a tray for corralling the mess of potting and transplanting. Youll waste less potting mix and spend less time sweeping up debris.

Increase your growing space and show off your plant collection with one or more plant stands. Many provide multiple tiers, allowing you to display plants of different sizes while positioning them in the light they prefer.

Set large plants on wheeled caddies or a collection of pots on a wheeled tray to move them out of the way when cleaning or hosting a gathering. Then wheel them back in place once your company has left.

Adding some convenience for easy care will allow you to spend less time keeping your plants looking their best and more time enjoying the individual beauty each plant provides as you grow them in style.

Melinda Myers has written more than 20 gardening books, includingSmall Space Gardening.She hosts The Great Courses How to Grow Anything DVD seriesand theMelindas Garden MomentTV & radio segments. Myers is a columnist and contributing editor forBirds & Bloomsmagazine and was commissioned by Gardeners Supply for her expertise to write this article. Her web site iswww.MelindaMyers.com.

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Grow Houseplants with Style and Convenience in Mind - TAPinto.net

A new market study is released on Global Indoor Plant Lighting Market with data Tables for historical and forecast years represented with Chats & Graphs spread through 123 Pages with easy to understand detailed analysis. The study highlights detailed assessment of the Market and display market sizing trend by revenue & volume (if applicable), current growth factors, expert opinions, facts, and industry validated market development data. The research study provides estimates for Global Indoor Plant Lighting Forecast till 2025*. Some are the players that are considered in the coverage of this study are Philips, Osram, General Electric, Easy Agricultural, Illumitex, Fionia Lighting, Lumigrow, Kind LED Grow Lights, California LightWorks, Spectrum King Grow Lights, Valoya, Weshine, Apollo Horticulture, Kessil, Cidly, Heliospectra AB, LEDHYDROPONICS, Ohmax Optoelectronic & Zhicheng.

Browse for Full Report or a Sample Copy @:https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/2444562-global-indoor-plant-lighting-market-7

Relevant features of the study that are being offered with major highlights from the report :

1) Which companies are profiled in current version of the report? Can list of players be customize based on regional geographies we are targetingConsidering heat map analysis and based on market buzz or voice the profiled list of companies in the the report are Philips, Osram, General Electric, Easy Agricultural, Illumitex, Fionia Lighting, Lumigrow, Kind LED Grow Lights, California LightWorks, Spectrum King Grow Lights, Valoya, Weshine, Apollo Horticulture, Kessil, Cidly, Heliospectra AB, LEDHYDROPONICS, Ohmax Optoelectronic & Zhicheng. Yes, further list of players can also be customized as per your requirement keeping in mind your areas of interest and adding local emerging players and leaders from targeted geography.** List of companies covered may vary in the final report subject to Name Change / Merger & Acquisition Activity etc. based on the difficulty of survey since data availability needs to be confirmed by research team specially in case of privately held company. Up to 2 players can be added at no additional cost.

2) What all regional break-up covered? Is it possible to add specific country or region of interest ?Currently, research report gives special attention and focus on following regions: North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc.), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia etc.), South America (Brazil, Argentina etc.) & Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.)

3) Would inclusion of additional Segmentation / Market breakdown is possible?Additional segmentation / Market breakdown is possible subject to data availability, feasibility and depending upon timeline and toughness of survey. However a detailed requirement needs to be prepared before making any final confirmation.** An additional country of your interest can be included at no added cost feasibility test would be conducted by Analyst team of HTF based on the requirement shared and accordingly deliverable time will also be disclosed.

Enquire for making customized Report @https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/2444562-global-indoor-plant-lighting-market-7

To comprehend Global Indoor Plant Lighting market dynamics in the global market, the worldwide Indoor Plant Lighting market is analyzed across major geographical regions. HTF Market Intelligence also provides customized specific regional and country-level reports, see below break-ups.

North America: United States, Canada, and Mexico. South & Central America: Argentina, ,Chile, LATAM, and Brazil. Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and South Africa. Europe: UK, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, BeNeLux, and Russia. Asia-Pacific: India, China, Japan, South Korea, Indonesia, Thailand, Singapore, and Australia.

2-Page company profiles for 10+ leading players is included with 3 years financial history to illustrate the recent performance of the market. Latest and updated discussion for 2019 major macro and micro elements influencing market and impacting the sector are also provided with a thought-provoking qualitative remarks on future opportunities and likely threats. The study is a mix of both statistically relevant quantitative data from the industry, coupled with insightful qualitative comment and analysis from Industry experts and consultants.

Global Indoor Plant Lighting Product Types In-Depth: , Incandescent, Fluorescent, LED & Others

Global Indoor Plant Lighting Major Applications/End users: Greenhouses, Houseplants, Hydroponics & Indoor Gardening

Market Sizing by Geographical Break-down: North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico), Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Russia, Spain etc.), Asia-Pacific (China, India, Japan, Southeast Asia etc.), South America (Brazil, Argentina etc.) & Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.)

To ascertain a deeper view of Market Size, competitive landscape is provided i.e. Comparative Market Share Revenue Analysis (Million USD) by Players (2017-2018) & Segment Market Share (%) by Players (2017-2018) and further a qualitative analysis of all players is made to understand market concentration rate.

Competitive Landscape & Analysis:Major players of Indoor Plant Lighting Market are focusing highly on innovation in new technologies to improve production efficiency and re-arrange product lifecycle. Long-term growth opportunities for this sector are captured by ensuring ongoing process improvements of related players following NAICS standard by understanding their financial flexibility to invest in the optimal strategies. Company profile section of players such as Philips, Osram, General Electric, Easy Agricultural, Illumitex, Fionia Lighting, Lumigrow, Kind LED Grow Lights, California LightWorks, Spectrum King Grow Lights, Valoya, Weshine, Apollo Horticulture, Kessil, Cidly, Heliospectra AB, LEDHYDROPONICS, Ohmax Optoelectronic & Zhicheng includes vital information like legal name, website, headquarter, its market position, distribution and marketing channels, historical background and top 4 closest competitors by Market capitalization / turnover along with sales contact information. Each company / manufacturers revenue figures, growth rate, net profit and gross profit margin is provided in easy to understand tabular format for past 3 years and a separate section on market entropy covering recent development activities like mergers &acquisition, new product/service launch, funding activity etc.

Buy Full Copy Global Indoor Plant Lighting Report 2018 @https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=2444562

In this study, the years considered to estimate the market size of Global Indoor Plant Lighting are as follows:History Year: 2014-2018, Base Year: 2019, Forecast Year 2019 to 2025

Key Stakeholders / Target Audience Covered:In order to better analyze value chain/ supply chain of the Industry, a lot of attention given to backward & forward Integration Indoor Plant Lighting Manufacturers Indoor Plant Lighting Distributors/Traders/Wholesalers Indoor Plant Lighting Sub-component Manufacturers Industry Association Downstream Vendors

Actual Numbers & In-Depth Analysis of Indoor Plant Lighting Market Size Estimation, Business opportunities, Available in Full Report.

Thanks for reading this article, you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, LATAM, West Europe, MENA Countries, Southeast Asia or Asia Pacific.

About Author:HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.

Contact US :Craig Francis (PR & Marketing Manager)HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837Phone: +1 (206) 317 1218sales@htfmarketreport.comConnect with us atLinkedIn|Facebook|Twitter

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The Continuing Growth Story of Indoor Plant Lighting Market? - The Market Journal

Los Angeles | $899,000A 1937 Spanish-style house with three bedrooms and two bathrooms, on a 0.14-acre lot

This house is in the Park Hills Heights section of southwest Los Angeles, a 25-minute drive from downtown and a 30-minute drive from Venice Beach. Hyde Park Elementary School is within walking distance, and the main campus of the University of Southern California is six miles east. The neighborhood is a mix of single-family homes and, to the north, the larger estates of View Park and Baldwin Village.

The owner, an interior designer, was intrigued by the houses distinctive wooden front door, which resembles that of her primary residence nearby. She soon discovered the two houses shared a builder, and began a renovation aimed at highlighting her new homes Spanish style, including the addition of intricate Moroccan tiles that lead from an arched portico to the front entrance.

Size: 1,598 square feet

Price per square foot: $563

Indoors: The front door opens to an airy living room, connected to the dining room and kitchen by a series of wide, arched doorways added during the renovation.

The living room features a wood-burning fireplace opposite the front door. One picture window faces the street, while two others flank the fireplace. A pair of exposed beams run along the ceiling.

The dining room opens, through another arch, into a new chefs kitchen with a breakfast nook and a space meant to be used as a small home office or work area. Wrought-iron light fixtures have been installed throughout the house.

A hallway leads to the master suite, where the bathroom includes a double vanity and oversized walk-in shower with a side-facing window. The deck and backyard are accessible through the master bedroom.

The owner installed a custom vanity in the guest bathroom to maximize space, and a deep bathtub surrounded by vibrant green tile.

Outdoor space: A sizable backyard includes a small deck and space for a firepit or garden. A detached garage sits to the side of the yard.

Taxes: $6,922 (estimated)

Contact: Obie Nwabuzor, Pacific Playa Realty, 310-200-4649; pacificplayarealty.com

A circa-1910 neighborhood in the hills of San Diego, Kensington has a small-town feel. Its main drag is a five-block collection of shops and restaurants illuminated by the neon Kensington sign, erected in 1953, designated a historic landmark by San Diegos Historical Resources Board in 2008 and replaced, because of the cost of repairs, by a copy in 2010. This home is a five-minute walk from the heart of Kensington and about 10 miles from San Diego International Airport. The night life hot spots of the Gaslamp Quarter are about 15 minutes to the south by car.

Size: 1,156 square feet

Price per square foot: $774

Indoors: The living room is at the front of the house, with an original fireplace and built-in cabinets for storage and display. A new barn door separates the living space from the master suite, which extends to the back of the house.

In the master bedroom, a set of doors, flanked by another set of built-ins, open to a small balcony looking out into the canyon.

On the other side of the living room, a kitchen is equipped with recently replaced appliances and additional built-ins. A breakfast bar, dining nook and window seat offer a number of seating options.

Beyond the kitchen, a hallway leads to two smaller bedrooms and a white-tiled bathroom. The hardwood floors throughout the house are original.

Outdoor space: A tiered backyard offers ample space from which to enjoy unobstructed canyon views. Off the kitchen, a small deck includes space for an outdoor dining set.

Taxes: $6,802 (estimated)

Contact: Patrick Mercer, Mercer Properties, 619-846-2083; forsale.homesbymercer.com

Considered the gateway to California wine country, Santa Rosa is the seat of Sonoma County and has a population of about 178,000. This single-story house is 10 minutes from downtown Santa Rosa, the Charles M. Schulz Museum and the Russian River Brewing Company.

Rather than work with a traditional homebuilder, the owners contracted a Sebastopol-based designer who specializes in elementary schools to realize their vision of a contemporary space with midcentury influences.

Size: 1,895 square feet

Price per square foot: $474

Indoors: The house has 16-foot vaulted ceilings and clerestory windows intended to make maximum use of light from the south. The kitchen, dining and living spaces are laid out in open-plan style, with large windows facing the backyard and a Danish modern Rais fireplace dividing the living and dining areas.

In the kitchen, open shelving is set off by bright blue tile and quartz countertops. A cobalt-blue island offers additional storage and counter space.

A hallway leads to three bedrooms. One wall in the master bedroom is accented with gray-and-white-patterned wallpaper. In a guest room, wood-patterned paper covers one wall; a third room, styled as an office, is decorated with metallic wallpaper. Each bedroom has a ceiling fan.

The master bathroom includes a walk-in shower, while the guest bathroom is equipped with a 1950s-inspired rounded tub with shower. A laundry room, painted a cheerful green, contains appliance hookups and a stainless steel sink.

Outdoor space: The back doors open onto an 890-square-foot deck surrounded by grass and gravel landscaping. The oversized lot includes double-gated fencing, a two-car garage and gravel parking for additional vehicles or RVs.

Taxes: $6,743 (estimated)

Contact: Melissa English, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 707-479-3261, or Michelle Gilbreaith, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 707-708-1440; coldwellbanker.com

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$900,000 Homes in California - The New York Times

Beat the blues with green: 4 houseplants to grow this winter

Frigid temperatures, messy roads, and darkness before the dinner hour are a few of the top reasons the winter season is least favoured by many.

One great way to combat the dreaded winter blues: add a bit of green. Indoor plants are known to have a myriad of benefits, from purifying the air to brightening up your living space.

Studies have also linked indoor plants to a smoother healing process among surgical patients, reducing anxiety and pain while combating stress.

Although the winter season has a bad rap when it comes to exercising your green thumb, there are plenty of indoor houseplants that thrive during the cold and dark months.

Here are the top 4 tropical houseplants you should grow this winter.

Image Courtesy: Toronto Botanical Garden

With its vibrant colour and texture, the spider plant is an excellent way to brighten up your home.

Paul Zammit, director of horticulture at the Toronto Botanical Garden, says its both the look and modest care requirements that make the spider plant one of his top picks for indoor houseplants.

Who doesnt love a spider plant? Theyre great for hanging they have that wonderful texture that comes down and wonderful colour: particularly the variegated selections that have two colours in their leaves, Zammit tells The Weather Network.

Another great characteristic of the spider plant: its great for sharing.

They can easily be grown by children you can take off those pups, root them very easily, and share them with a friend.

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Image Courtesy: Toronto Botanical Garden

The Chinese evergreen is another popular option that comes in a variety of textures and colours.

You can get some that have silver leaves, some that have green leaves, [and] newer selections have pink and are fused with cream, Zammit says, adding that the Chinese evergreen is also quite easy to care for in terms of light levels and moisture.

Theyre also quite easy to care for, in terms of the light conditions. Theyre tolerant of fairly low light levels particularly some of the greens and the silvers. . . . and in terms of moisture, theyre pretty forgiving because they can take being slightly on the dry side.

Image Courtesy: Toronto Botanical Garden

Dracaenas are another great tropical indoor houseplant that are customizable to the look of your home. Their variety is one of both colour and size, ranging from small, bushy tabletop varieties, with some that can grow to nearly 2 metres in height.

Some new selections are a brilliant chartreuse, to wonderful dark greens, and then lime greens there are all sorts of wonderful combinations, Zammit says.

Dracaenas are also very tolerant of low water levels and dry conditions as well perfect for the arid indoor climate we so often develop during Canadian winters.

Image Courtesy: Toronto Botanical Garden

Besides being a sight for sore eyes during the dormant season, peace lilies make a great choice of tropical houseplant because in tune with the others on this list theyre also very easy to care for.

Keeping on top of the moisture is key, Zammit says.

Peace lilies are also recommended for lower light levels, but Zammit says he recommends slightly higher light levels, because that encourages them to flower more.

Aside from their elegant white spaths (or blooms,) peace lilies have beautiful leaves that are sure to stand out in any home or office.

[With] big, bold, dramatic, rich, dark green foliage peace lilies really give you a sense of the tropics, Zammit says. I love that green . . . particularly inside during the winter months.

Do you have any of these tropical plants in your home or office? Share your recommendations for indoor plants this winter season in the comments below!

Read the rest here:
Beat the blues with green: 4 houseplants to grow this winter - Yahoo News Canada

Seasonal affective disorder, commonly called SAD, is a type of depression. People experience it more frequently when autumn transitions into winter. Scientists dont know exactly what causes people to get SAD, but they believe SAD is associated with a decrease in the amount of daylight. The symptoms of SAD include irritability, cravings for carbohydrates, weight gain, sleep changes, feelings of sadness or hopelessness and withdrawal from socializing and favorite activities. If you think you have SAD, a visit to your doctor is in order.

There are several treatment options for treating SAD during cold and dreary weather, and here are some of them that might help you.

Light Therapy

When theres less daylight, light therapy is an option to give your body more exposure to the full spectrum of light. Before buying any equipment, check with your doctor in order to make sure that light therapy is a good choice for you. People who take certain medications that cause photosensitivity should not use light therapy. Your doctor can recommend a type of light bulb or a lightbox for you to use at home. You could also replace your regular light bulbs with full-spectrum units. These provide a softer glow that is more like sunlight. Ask your doctor when to use light therapy and for how long to use it.

Regular Exercise

Regular exercise is a proven way to treat all types of depression, including SAD. If youve gained some weight because of SAD, exercise helps burn some of those extra calories. People who have been sedentary should check with their doctor before starting an exercise regimen.

If you have been exercising on a regular basis, try something new. Branch out and challenge yourself. If you usually swim, try water aerobics. If you typically use a treadmill or elliptical exerciser, find a friend to play racquetball or shoot some hoops. Consider a trip to an indoor rock climbing wall. An indoor trampoline park or laser tag facility could also be fun, and you could bring along some friends.

Going Outdoors

Even if its cold outside, go outdoors. Bundle up in your warmest winter apparel, put on a pair of sunglasses and just get outside. On a cloudy day, some sunlight still filters through, and your bodys circadian rhythms can be reset by this sunlight exposure. Consider combining time outdoors with exercise. A brisk walk on a chilly morning could help reset your mood. The movement stretches your muscles. Go to a place that you enjoy, such as a park with nice scenery. If theres an outdoor mall near your location, walk along the pathways and do some people watching.

Avoiding Nighttime Electronics Use

If you have SAD, you may be tempted to stay at home and avoid in-person social interactions. Instead, you might turn to your phone and engage with people on social media. You might play games on your computer or smartphone or spend a lot of time watching shows or movies. Avoid using electronics within an hour of your bedtime. The bright lights of the LED screens stimulate your brain and make it more difficult for you to fall asleep. Poor sleep and a lack of sleep contribute to negative moods, increase your stress and can worsen the symptoms of depression.

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Treating Seasonal Affective Disorder during Cold and Dreary Weather - Net Newsledger

The Indoor Generation refers to a growing number of people who spend the vast majority of their time indoors, currently 90% of their lives, living, working, learning and playing, and often in dark, poorly ventilated and unhealthy buildings. This has resulted in an increasing need for innovative and effective solutions that bring increased natural light to the spaces in which we choose to spend the majority of our time.

Whilst we have adapted to living indoors, we are essentially still outdoor animals, and our gene code is designed for us to live in a natural environment. Prior to the arrival of buildings our daily lives were determined by the availability of daylight hours, and the qualities of light that signaled changes in weather and in time. Our physiological systems, especially our circadian cycles were in harmony with these diurnal rhythms of daylight, as were our emotional responses to light and darkness (Source: Heerwagen, 2011).

Light is an acute stimulant that directly alerts the brain and thus can affect energy levels as well as alertness and productivity. A properly functioning circadian cycle also determines patterns of coordination, blood pressure and cardiovascular activity. It affects mood and influences social behaviours and cognitive performance.

Increasingly our circadian cycles are being disturbed advanced or delayed by exposure to light at different times, and our metabolism and behaviour patterns are changing as a consequence. Peter Foldbjerg, VELUX Commercials Head of Daylight, Energy & Indoor Climate, laments that we now live in a social clock society, a 24/7 society, that has become disconnected from the light and dark in nature. We are living and working in buildings where we are removed from natural daylight, where artificial light is often around 200 lux and rarely exceeds 500 lux, levels which are insufficient to regulate our biological rhythms, which require 1,000 lux. Hence the analogy to the dim cave. The inability to provide the occupants of buildings with a well-illuminated environment can result in a detrimental impact on health and productivity, and a substantial burden on the individual, society and the broader economy.

The benefits of working in bright and well-ventilated commercial spaces to our overall wellbeing and performance cannot be overstated.

Research on office buildings has shown that office workers highly value access to a window and to varying degrees of daylight in a study of 7 office buildings in the Pacific Northwest (source: Heerwagen et al, 1992) more than 83% of the occupants said they very much liked daylight and sunlight in their workspace and valued the seasonal changes in daylight. Even in darker locations within a building, the occupants still expressed satisfaction with the daylight level, as long as they could look into a daylit space. In the YouGov survey, 39% of respondents said that daylight significantly impacts on their mood.

To find out more on how to design commercial buildings for improved health and productivity by utilising daylight download your free copy of the whitepaper: Designing daylight solutions for commercial buildings.

Read this article:
Designing daylight in buildings and its impact on the indoor generation - Building Design

On February 26, 2020, top tier business executives, entrepreneurs, and government representatives from Israel and Germany will gather in Berlin to take part in WeTech Berlin 2020, an exclusive innovation conference. The conference will include a series of unique encounters and discussions on topics with a focus on innovation and tech, business ties with Israel, investment opportunities, and more. During the conference, professional speakers will examine the ways in which tech and innovation manifest in various fields, from cyber and property-tech, to finance and artificial intelligence.

PointGrab

Founded: 2008

Founders: Haim Perski, Saar Wilf

Investors: BB Investments, Signify (formerly Philips Lighting), EMV

Funding to date: $10 million

Syte

Founded: 2015

Founders: Ofer Fryman, Lihi Pinto Fryman, Idan Pinto, Helge Voss

Investors: Viola, Magma

Funding to date: $30 million

Syte-Visual Conception Ltd. offers shopping suggestions based on image recognition software. Users can upload an image of an outfit and the companys technology breaks it down to its components, suggesting similar items to those pictured from multiple retailers. Shoppers can also upload photos of their own clothes and receive various styling recommendations from Syte.

Flytrex

Founded: 2013

Founders: Yariv Bash, Amit Regev

Investors: BGV, Btov Partners, Joey Low, Daniel Aegerter, Daniel Gutenberg

Funding to date: $11 million

Drone delivery startup Flytrex Aviation Ltd. provides drone delivery services to various kinds of businesses. The companys device can be attached to the drone, allowing operators to remotely control it using a mobile app. The company's device enables fast deliveries to individuals and businesses and can access areas that are hard to reach by car.

Qsee

Founded: 2018

Founders: Rami Refaeli, Nadav Herz

Investors: Ham-Let Group

Anzu

Founded: 2017

Founders: Itamar Benedy, Ben Fenster, Michael Badichi

Investors: WPP, Axel Springer Digital Ventures, Bitkraft Esports Ventures

Funding to date: $8 million

Agrowing

Founded: 2014

Founders: Ira Dvir, Nitzan Rabinowitz

Investors: Agrichem Ltd.

Funding to date: undisclosed

GOARC

Founded: 2015

Founders: Dror Barak, Haim Srur, Chani Gur-Arie

Investors: undisclosed

Funding to date: $7 million

TriEye

Founded: 2017

Founders: Avi Bakal, Uriel Levy, Omer Kapach

Investors: Intel Capital, Porsche Ventures, Grove Ventures, Marius Nacht

Funding to date: $2 million

Sixdof Space

Founded: 2017

Founders: Mark Goldfarb, Daniel Greenspan, Klony Lieberman

Investors: Israel Innovation Authority

Funding to date: $3.2 million

PERCEPTO

Founded: 2014

Founders: Dor Abuahsira, Sagi Blonder, Raviv Raz, Ariel Avitan

Investors: USVP, NHN, Spider Capital, Emerge

Funding to date: $27.5 million

Continued here:
These Are the Startups Selected to Showcase Their Technology in Berlin (Part 1) - CTech

While it may not have the sheer amount of accessories available as its competitors, Apple's HomeKit smart home platform provides users with an unmatched mix of privacy and convenience. With a limited selection of accessories and manufacturers to choose from, CES is one of the few times a year where HomeKit fans get to join in on all of the smart home fun.

No accessory category sums up the lack of options in the world of HomeKit better than cameras. Whether it's traditional indoor/outdoor cameras or video doorbells, there are only a handful currently available. Thankfully, this looks like it could be changing soon as this year's CES seems to be all about connected HomeKit cameras. Here are all of the accessories that could become part of your scenes and automations before the year's end.

The Abode Smart Indoor/Outdoor Camera is a clever take on the traditional connected camera. This versatile accessory can protect your home while sitting on a shelf, mounted on a wall, or as a replacement for a doorbell. Abode's camera can see it all with its wide-angle lens, and it features IP65 weather resistance, making it a great option both indoors and out.

If you own one of the Abode's security alarm systems, the camera will slot right alongside your other accessories, ready to keep an eye on your home in-tandem with the various sensors that you may already have in your home. Don't worry if you don't have an Abode system already though, this camera can work completely on its own, allowing you to get a taste of the company's hardware without making a full-blown commitment to an alarm.

August is releasing a new version of its smart lock that retains its same iconic design, but shrinks things down by quite a bit. The August Wi-Fi Smart Lock is 45% smaller in total volume, and 20% slimmer, allowing it to be installed on doors with tight accents such as large windows with trim.

The latest smart lock also simplifies connectivity to all of the voice assistants, including HomeKit, by housing all of the necessary hardware inside of the lock, ditching the need for a separate hub. August hasn't provided exact pricing or shipping as of yet, other than it is coming at some point in 2020.

ADT's DIY smart home line Blue is launching a suite of security cameras that will support HomeKit after the initial launch. The company's Smart Doorbell includes all of the connected ringer essentials such as 2-way audio, weather resistance, motion zones, and notifications.

Even though it falls under the ADT umbrella, a subscription is not required for this hardwired doorbell. Of course, ADT does offer additional cloud storage if needed. The company also has a companion doorbell chime that works not only as a way to give you an audible clue that someone is at your door, but it also extends the doorbell's wireless range.

$199 at Blue

The Blue By ADT Outdoor Camera packs in the same weather resistance as the company's doorbell, but does so in a more conventional package. This camera looks just like any other, however, it is completely wireless, running on an internal rechargeable battery.

Video resolution is listed as 1080p HD, which should offer clear and crisp visuals from its 130-degree wide-angle lens. Just like with the Blue by ADT doorbell, cloud storage subscriptions are available, however, the company provides 24 hours of storage for free, and it can save videos locally onto an SD card.

$199 at Blue

Rounding out Blue by ADT's offering is an indoor camera that functions just like you would expect of an indoor camera, giving you eyes on your home from anywhere around the world. While it records video in 1080p and has 2-way audio, the real star of the show is the stuff that you can't see.

The Blue by ADT Indoor Camera can listen in for additional alarms in your home, sending you notifications if your smoke detector is activated. Even if the power goes out in your home, you can still be covered, as there is also a small back-up battery housed inside, keeping things running for a short time.

$199 at Blue

Bosch has been one of HomeKit's biggest holdouts since the introduction of the smart home platform, but things will be changing this year. The global appliance giant announced at CES that it is opening up its Bosch Smart Home System to support select partners, including HomeKit.

Specific accessories for HomeKit have not yet been announced, but we suspect that we will see cameras, thermostats, and lighting hit our homes first. It remains to be seen whether or not the company's range of appliances such as ovens will be brought over, but HomeKit does not currently support these types of categories so it may be a while before that happens.

Eve has been one of Apple's oldest HomeKit partners, with the company's original Eve Energy smart plug being one of the first such device for the platform. While the original Eve Energy can still perform all of the same functions as newer smart plugs, the company's first entry was rather bulky, preventing it from being used in scenarios with another device plugged into the same outlet.

Eve is correcting this design flaw with its newest Eve Energy smart plug. The new compact Eve Energy still sports the classic all-white plastic design and uses a local Bluetooth only connection to your HomeKit hub. The updated model also includes energy monitoring within the Eve for HomeKit app.

$40 at Amazon

As it's name implies, the Eve Water Guard monitors any area that you place it in for potential leaks. The Water Guard works using a 6 and a half foot wire sensor cable that is placed on the surface around potential hot spots such as water heater. This allows the actual brains of the unit to sit far away from liquid, and is plugged into a standard electrical outlet.

If water is detected by the cable, a notification will be sent from either the Eve for HomeKit app, or the Home app installed on your phone. If that wasn't enough, the Water Guard also includes a powerful 100 decibel siren and indicator light to ensure that you are always aware even without your phone.

$80 at Eve

Seeing that Eve is one of the most recognizable HomeKit accessory manufacturers, it was only a matter of time until they jumped into the world of security cameras. The Eve Cam, coming this April, continues the company's focus on providing privacy-centric connected accessories.

The Eve Cam is the first HomeKit camera built explicitly for Apple's HomeKit Secure Video feature in mind. This allows the camera to work without any cloud servers being involved, as video comes in locally through your HomeKit hub. Eve also touts that the camera does not require any kind of account or registration at all, and your video never touches the cloud in any way.

Legrand is bringing HomeKit to your home's electrical panel with the introduction of the Drivia system in partnership with Netatmo. Yep, you read that right, this HomeKit accessory installs directly into your circuit breaker box, which almost definitely requires a call to an electrician.

The Drivia system is comprised of 6 units, including a contactor, relay, gateway and more. Being installed directly at your home's panel allows it to monitor energy consumption for everything that is plugged in around the house. The Drivia also enables owners to toggle power to a complete leg of electrical power to your home, which could be useful if you forgot to turn something off, but don't have it on a smart plug.

Not to be outdone by Sony, LG has also announced its new lineup of 8K capable televisions. LG's offerings include OLED panels that go all the way up to a massive 88 inches wide, and of course support HomeKit, allowing them to work within your scenes and automations.

Along with HomeKit controls, these TV's support AirPlay 2, enabling them to work in tandem with other speakers in your home. This makes creating a surround sound setup as easy as a few taps in Control Center, putting every one of your AirPlay 2 speakers in sync.

LIFX's recently released color candelabra style bulb was their first bulb in the smaller form factor that is usually found in ceiling fans and chandeliers. However, even though it was its first candelabra size bulb, it featured a unique candlelight effect through its "Polychrome technology".

Polychrome technology splits the LEDs inside of the bulb into separate zones, offering a way to display multiple colors at a time. With its newly unveiled white version of the bulb, the company is using the same tech although this time it will glow between different shades of white.

LIFX has jumped on the filament style light bulb craze with its latest white light bulb. The faux filament bulb is completely dimmable, but only provides one color temperature which is a warm white at 2700K.

While LIFX has only shown off one particular style of filament bulb, they do say that other shapes are in the works. The filament bulb will retail for $30 when they hit stores in the spring.

Along with filament style LED bulbs, bias lighting seems to have hit the mainstream market, so naturally, LIFX wants to provide their take on the category. LIFX has introduced two light strip kits, both of which are designed to attach directly to the back of your screens.

The LIFX Z-TV 360 and Z-Gamer Light Strips look like your typical strip light, but these have a clever touch that should make them much simpler to install. Instead of fumbling with cutting strips down to length and purchasing third party connectors that may or may not work, LIFX's strips are pre-cut to TV sizes and come with neat corner pieces that make 90 degree angles much cleaner.

Everyone that has followed LIFX has pretty much known that the company would eventually make its way into the connected light switch market at some point. So it is of no surprise that the LIFX Switch was announced as coming soon at CES this year.

Instead of replacing a single switch like most options on the market, the company's first offering is designed to replace the larger 4-gang switch boxes in your wall. Since it is replacing 4 switches, the price is a little steep, coming in at $120 later this year.

The Caseta Wireless line from Lutron is one of our favorite lighting accessories thanks to its rock-solid reliability and lighting quick response times. We love the system so much, that we wished that the company branched out to other product categories, which just so happens to be what Lutron announced at this year's CES.

As its name suggests, Lutron's Caseta Wireless Smart Motion Sensor acts as a hands-free way to toggle on and off our lights based on activity within a room. Lutron states that their sensor is up to 3 times faster than competing sensors, and can pick up motion up to 60 feet away. The best part though? this motion sensor also works with the company's HomeKit enabled Serena window shades.

Announced at CES a year ago, Nanoleaf's Unified Hexagon light panels are finally set for release in the spring of 2020. The 6 sided hexagon design provides more opportunities for panel placement than its predecessors, allowing them to function as both a piece of art, and just as neat decorative lighting.

As with Nanoleaf's Canvas line of light panels, each Unified Hexagon tile reacts completely to touch. And while not specifically mentioned, this could mean that each tile could act as a HomeKit button either at launch or down the road, giving owners a crazy amount of options when picking up a set.

Nanoleaf's Smart Learning Series is a suite of accessories that the company claims reacts to each other using various sensors and algorithms to learn from your preferences and needs. While specifics are scarce at the moment, potential accessories in the line include a smart light switch, light bulbs, buttons, and what looks to be a motion sensor.

All of these accessories seem to be standards within the smart home world, but Nanoleaf is positioning its latest technology as being the "anti-smart bulb" as they feel that current methods are not truly smart.

Netatmo's Smart Door Lock is a sleek lock that not only looks good, but it also houses some serious smarts. This door lock uses Bluetooth and NFC for a strictly local connection that doesn't connect to the cloud, but with the power of HomeKit, you can still access it remotely if needed.

Included with the lock are "smart keys" which look somewhat like a traditional barrel type key, however, they are not "keyed" for a specific lock and all have the same design. The magic behind this is built-in NFC, which allows the keys to activate any door lock that it is assigned to. This means you can keep the same key and use it for all of the locks that you may have around the house.

OneLife has introduced an air purifier that according to the company "removes more harmful substances including the smallest PM 1.0 particles than any other air purifier". The purifier has a clean modern design to go along with the ability to work with Alexa, Google Assistant, and Siri.

Features include a sleep mode for quiet operation at night, as well as an automatic mode that ramps up or down according to the amount of particulates in the air. The included filter can be rinsed out when needed, and even can survive trips through a dishwasher for easy cleaning. Like most CES announcements, pricing and availability have not yet been disclosed.

Even though the Resonate light come in a rectangular form factor, these outdoor lights actually create triangles of light. What's more is that the light from them comes out both the top and bottom creating a distinct look.

The Hue Resonate will be available in both a black and stainless steel finish when released later this month. The only downside? They will only be available in European markets.

Just like the Resonate, the Hue Appear projects beams of triangular light from both sides of the outdoor fixture. The Appear however takes on a skinnier cylindrical frame and will only be available in black.

The Appear will be available starting in late January in Europe with a suggested retail price of 139. This light will also make its way to North America starting in mid-March.

Another Europe exclusive is the Hue Attract which features a classic downlight design. This outdoor light has an open glass shade which provides an "arc of light" against the wall that it is mounted to.

The attract will be available at the end of the month, and will have a retail price of 149.

An updated version of the popular outdoor spot light, the Lily XL has also been announced. This larger version include a more powerful spotlight, creating a dramatic effect wherever it is aimed at.

The Lily XL will be available in Europe first, launching in late January, and a North American release will follow in mid-March.

Coming at the end of January, the Hue Daylo is a circular outdoor fixture that comes in both black and stainless steel options. These lights mount directly to a wall which gives it a truly unique look.

Another European exclusive, these lights will start at 114 and 119 depending on the finish.

The newest Philips Hue Impress model features the same design as before, however, this time it comes in a low-voltage option.

Going the low-voltage route allows the Impress to be installed simply by plugging it in, forgoing wiring or a call to an electrician. Look for these in European markets starting later this month.

The Hue Nyro outdoor light comes in both wall mounted and pedestal options, each sharing an all-black angular downlight design.

Both Nyro variants will be available at the end of April, but again, is only being marketed within Europe at this time. Pricing starts at 119 for the wall light, and 149 for the pedestal.

A North America exclusive path light, dubbed the Hue Econic Pedestal, brings the smarts to one of the outdoor staples. These low voltage lights are smaller than the original but still retain the lantern like design.

Available starting in mid-March, the Econic Pedestal will come in a base kit for $149, and an extension kit for $129, but the company did not actually specify the exact number of lights are included in each.

While HomeKit already has quite the line up of lighting products available, the addition of Sengled to the mix adds in quality accessories that are affordably priced. Sengled's smart LED lighting has been around for a while now, and a new HomeKit enabled hub can bring them all into the Home app.

The Sengled 3rd generation hub utilizes ZigBee for fast, reliable connections to light bulbs, light strips, and plugs without bogging down your Wi-Fi network. Although specifics regarding its release date were not announced, the latest update to the company's smart home app details how to set everything up with HomeKit, suggesting it may come sooner rather than later.

Sony's latest high-end OLED televisions crank things up to the glory that is known as 8K. Even more impressive though, is that Sony is making OLED available in a smaller size, all the way down to 48 inches, which for some reason seems to be one of the hardest things to do for TV manufacturers.

As good as the visuals can be on these sets, the star of the show for us is HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support. This enables possibilities such as telling Siri to turn up the volume or to change the channel with just a shout to a HomePod or an iOS device.

TandemLED CES debut came with several lighting products that play well with HomeKit through a connection to a Philips Hue hub. The company's tape light comes in the longest size that we have seen for the category, 16.4 feet.

The adjustable part of the light strip refers to its white color temperature which ranges from 2700K to 500K. This light strip also features an IP65 water resistant coating, as well as customizable sizing with sections that can be cut every inch.

$134 at TandemLED

TandemLED's Lux Puck Lights are a compact option for shelves and under-cabinet installations which come in both white and silver finishes. Like TandemLED's light strip, these lights have adjustable white color temperatures, and can provide up to 300 lumens of brightness.

The Lux Puck Lights will be offered in jut one size, 2.57 inches, and will be available starting on January 15th for around $40 each.

$40 at TandemLED

The AC Smart Receiver from TandemLED can give your existing lighting a smart assistant upgrade. This tiny receiver installed behind your wall outlets, giving them the smarts without a bulky plug hanging from it.

This design also allows the receiver to work in outdoor settings, powering devices up to 100 watts. Look for this clever solution starting in mid-January.

$119 at TandemLED

The Votion Smart Outlet, offers convenient control over any device that is plugged into it. The plug utilizes Wi-Fi for a direct connection to your home network, enabling it to work with HomeKit scenes and automations.

The plug also features energy monitoring capabilities as well as a status indicator ring and manual toggle button on the front of the unit.

These switches cover both 1 and 2-way installations, but dimming may not be along for the ride. Like the company's smart outlet, they connect to all of the voice assistants, including HomeKit, using Wi-Fi without a hub.

Both light switches can also utilize NFC, which is built-in, allowing users to pair them with a simple tap of their phone. Pricing and availability has not yet been announced.

Details surrounding Votion's LED Light Strip Controller are scarce, but it looks to be more of a traditional light strip and not a box that you connect to an existing device.

The company mentions colorful scenes and automations but important specs such as brightness and potential weather resistance are not available.

Votion's Door and Window sensor is a standard 2 piece contact sensor that attaches directly to a door or window. The sensor uses magnets to determine whether or not things are open or closed and will notify users if an event occurs.

The sensor runs on 2 AA batteries and uses Bluetooth 5 to connect to HomeKit for a secure local connection.

This motion sensor from Votion is a surface mountable compact unit that keeps an eye on its surroundings. If motion occurs, it can put automations into place that can light up the area, or send a notification.

Votion's sensor also includes an onboard LED light which sounds like a handy way to add some path lighting around the home. The sensor is completely wireless running on just 3 AAA batteries.

Another one of Votion's accessories include a water leak sensor that works just like it sounds. Simply place this compact little accessory near a potential hot spot and you will get notified if water touches it.

This tiny sensor talks to HomeKit over Bluetooth 5, and since it is powered by batteries, you can toss it just about anywhere to get a little extra peace of mind.

Not much is known about this sensor, other than it attaches directly to glass doors to keep them safe and secure. If it somehow is able to work its magic on sliding doors, then it could potentially solve one of the bigger problems for the smart home.

We will definitely be keeping our eyes on this one for any other details that come our way.

As its name implies, the Votion Smart Breaker Switch installs directly into your electrical or "breaker" panel. Once installed, the switch gives you the power to turn off parts of your home remotely, and not just one specific plug.

The Smart Breaker Switch could also help with energy savings, helping to isolate parts of the home to track down a large consumer.

Votion's Smart Water Valve attaches directly to a standard hose or spigot to give you control over your watering needs.

Since it uses a pretty universal hose connector, you can attach sprinklers and irrigation lines that can work with any automations or scenes that you build with HomeKit.

This smart sensor installs directly into any spot in your lawn or garden to give you a better idea of when to water. We are not quite sure how HomeKit handles this type of sensor so it will be interesting to see when it is released.

Let's just hope that it can somehow work with the company's water valve though. Having your water needs taken care of completely autonomouosly would just be all sorts of cool.

The Waciao Smart Gateway is the brains that connects some of the company's low powered accessories to HomeKit. The gateway utilizes ZigBee wireless connectivity which is known for providing fast response times and high levels of reliability.

The gateway has an operating distance of around 400 feet and plugs either directly into a home router, or via Wi-Fi.

Waciao's Smart Air Quality Monitor works in combination with the company's gateway to report on the air within the home. The front of the monitor has a small display, providing glanceable information.

Although exact measurement capabilities have not yet been announced, we expect to see the ability to ask Siri for a generalized reading of the situation, which should reply with terms such as "fair" or "unhealthy".

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Every new HomeKit-supported device announced at CES 2020 - iMore

A smattering of power outages happened at the start of a winter storm that Consumers Power officials predicted could be "devastating." As of 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, nearly 750 Byron Township customers were without power, an outage near Spring Lake Township had been repaired, and nearly 1,000 customers living in Muskegon's Lakeside area, south of Muskegon Lake, were in the dark. In all, Consumers' crews were dealing with 44 outages affecting just over 2,500 customers.

Saturday, January 11, 2020 4:19 a.m. EST by Peg McNichol

Editor's note: This story will be updated as the storm progresses. For area cancellations -- and a few beyond this area -- visit whtc.com/cancellations.

HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) -- A smattering of power outages happened at the start of a winter storm that Consumers Power officials predicted could be "devastating." As of 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, nearly 750 Byron Township customers were without power, an outage near Spring Lake Township had been repaired, and nearly 1,000 customers living in Muskegon's Lakeside area, south of Muskegon Lake, were in the dark. In all, Consumers' crews were dealing with 44 outages affecting just over 2,500 customers.

Police and emergency managers, and Homeland Security officials across the state were on alert, too, ready for the affects of rain, ice, snow, travel issues, and power outages. Michigan State Police emailed a statement to media, quoting Gov. Getchen Whitmer, who said keeping Michiganders safe during severe weather is one of her top priorities.

"My office, along with state departments, will be closely monitoring weather conditions as they develop and proactively coordinating with emergency managers to support local response efforts as appropriate," she said. "We are also encouraging Michiganders to be safe and take precautions during these extreme weather conditions that are being predicted this weekend.

The National Weather Service meteorologists out of Grand Rapids predicted 2 to 4 inches of rain, with a transtion to freezing rain and sleet, and snow by late Saturday afternoon.

That makes flooding in low-lying areas likely, continued erosion along the Lakeshore, with the ice creating dangerous travel conditions and power outages.

Tips from the MSP statement include:

During a power outage

To stay safe during a winter storm

Safe winter driving tips

Preparing for a flood

Driving in a flood

Michigan weather is unpredictable any time of year, but especially during the winter months. If you are stranded in a winter storm, do not leave your vehicle. Stay with the vehicle and wait for help.

Motorists are encouraged to check travel conditions and weather reports before driving at http://www.michigan.gov/roadconditions. Major road closures can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/drive. The MSP/EMHSD asks that you tune into local news and/or view these websites rather than calling your local MSP post or 911 for travel conditions.

For more information on how to prepare before, during and after an emergency or disaster, visit http://www.michigan.gov/miready or follow MSP/EMHSD on Twitter at @MichEMHS.

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Greater Holland Area Power Outages, Cancellations | News | 1450 99.7 WHTC - WHTC News

We have not started a new decade. I repeat, we have not started a new decade.

This truth will not affect lazy sports talk show or entertainment show hosts so obsessed with Best of the Decade programs. Seeing the number 20 in the year just drives people bonkers. I can only hope my industry editorial colleagues show some restraint. Nevertheless, we are still in the decade of the 2010s. Do the math, and youll see.

So until this 10th year reaches its completion at midnight, December 31, 2020, you have another year to put a ribbon on this decade of the 10s.

Start by attending the 2020 AHR Expo, Feb. 3-5 in Orlando. Always a great event with which to begin the HVACR industrys new year, this show brings the entire industry together for three days of product news, educational sessions, networking and for this year, you will enjoy the beautiful weather of sunny Florida.

Positive Outlook, Challenges NotedThe International Exposition Company and the AHR Expo management team has again released an industry outlook in advance of the show. And again we see you picked a great industry of which to be a part.

This Annual Economic Outlook Survey of HVACR manufacturers and attendees provides a snapshot actually, it's more like an expansive pan shot of their opinions of the HVACR industry's business opportunities and hurdles to clear as the new year begins.

We all know the economy has been strong, and that's reflected here. Seventy-five percent of the 1,418 total respondents said they expect business to increase; 25% said they expect business to increase by more than 10 percent. Seventy-nine percent said 2020 prospects for business are expected to be good or excellent.

Segment-wise, light commercial, hospital and residential market segment respondents have a "good" or "excellent" outlook, 72%, 67% and 64% respectively. Respondents said the best prospects for 2020 growth are in maintenance/replacement (72%); retrofit/renovation (67%); and new construction (64%).

Opportunities/Issues/Concerns

When asked to list areas of most concern and greatest perceived opportunities, responses were right in line with what we've heard over the past year or two:

Tariffs

Energy efficiency & DOE regulations

Low GWP refrigerants and R22 phase out

Growth of data centers

Regulatory compliance and new standards

Lack of skilled workforce and opportunities to grow the trades

Automation and self- diagnostic controls

Energy considerations

Modularization

Deregulation and implications to competition

Growth of big box retailers

Global market

Short-term implications of a trade war

Consolidation of manufacturers

SEER regulations

IoT, IIoT and system protocols

Digitalization

Outcome of the 2020 Election and resulting economy

Indoor Air Quality and consumer considerations

New Technologies VRF, mini-splits, geothermal, tankless, VRV, green initiatives, etc.

New Product ConsiderationsAmong both show attendees and exhibitors surveyed, both groups named RELIABILITY as the most important consideration when choosing a product, followed by:

For Attendees First Costs Comfort Energy Efficiency Maintenance Indoor Air Quality Sustainability

For ExhibitorsEnergy EfficiencyIndoor Air QualityFirst CostsMaintenanceComfortSustainability

FIND THE ENTIRE SURVEY ON THE AHR SHOW NEWSROOM.

THIS YEAR'S pre-show survey included for the first time commentary from some industry endorsing organizations. Among their detailed comments:

ASHRAE: "Human wellness within the built environment is an area of significant opportunity. ASHRAE's leadership role will expand in IEQ to support the growing interest in wellness and operational success in buildings by incorporatingobjectives into ASHRAE technical activities and working with other organizations to link the built environment to operational excellence." Darryl Boyce, President, ASHRAE

AHRI (Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute: "Our industry continues its steady commitment to increased energy efficiency, environmental performance, convenience and comfort for its products, equipment, and customers." "One of the biggest opportunities is the industry industry coming together to lobby for and get legislation passed that would establish a national phase down schedule for HFCs. This could provide some certainty for manufacturers, distributors, contractors, and others with respect to when equipment using alternative refrigerants will need to be available." Steve Yurek, AHRI President & CEOBACnet:"There is a growing understanding in the industry that the Internet of Things is driving a host of technologies that can improve building controls but the business models and products in consumer IoT do not meet commercial building owner needs.This has led to a broad consensus on the need for a focus on commercial building IoT (BloT) to leverage technologies like cloud analytics and big data without compromising the requirements of building owners." Andy McMillan, BACnet President

CABA (Continental Automated Buildings Association): "The market has seen some cost incentives for the adoption of intelligent buildings technologies in HVACR and this is an encouraging development. Cost incentives recognize that more intelligent and responsive systems are better equipped to support peak demand reduction programs and energy savings during high consumption periods for heating and cooling. For example, advanced occupancy and lighting sensors that work with lighting and heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Ron Zimmer, CABA President & CEO

HVI (Home Ventilating Institute: "There are more code-driven initiatives being operationalized as we complete 2019 and move into 2020. California's Title 24 is prompting questions on how to adequately meet the code. California's energy code is designed to reduce wasteful and unnecessary energy consumption in newly constructed and existing buildings." "New codes being adopted are causing confusion for the designers and installers of HVAC equipment. Education is going to be paramount as manufacturers market their products in different regions of the country." Jacki Donner, HVI Executive Director & CEO

HI (Hydraulic Institute): "With lighting incentives fading out in 2020, building and system owners will find new pump related incentive programs that many utilities are now launching to meet their energy efficiency goals." "2020 will bring an important new regulation requiring energy efficient pumps. In January 2020, approximately 25 percent of clean water pumps between 2-200 hp will no longer be on the market." Michael Michaud, HI Executive Director

NADCA (National Air Duct Cleaners Association: "NADCA is in the final stages of the first round of an Energy Study. Led by Dan Stradford, NADCA Vice President, in partnership with Dr. Mark Hernandez of the University of Colorado at Boulder, this study was formulated to determine if any statistically significant changes in energy usage was associated with systematic HVAC duct and and heat-transfer equipment cleaning. The executive summary of this study is in review, and will be released in early Spring." Jodi Araujo, NADCA Chief Staff Executive

SMACNA (Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association):"Our members are interested in seeing virtual design advances along with new construction concepts and applications. They are eager to see what tools and applications make significant improvements in fabrication and installation processes." Thomas Soles, SMACNA Executive Director, Market Sectors

WHVACR (Women in HVACR): "The possibility of Uberization in HVAC,like Yellow Taxi is a potential wake up call for thousands of HVAC companies nationwide. Today, its more important than ever to continue to build strong and loyal relationships with your customer base. We can tie more loyalty between customers and service providers to maintain a relationship even if big box stores start providing home services like Uber." Danielle Putnam, President, WHVACRSo, is the HVACR industry alive with change, innovation and challenging issues? Yes.

Will you attend the 2020 AHR Expo in Orlando, Florida? Only you can answer that.

Continued here:
10 ways to work on your business in 2020 - Contracting Business