CEA and HGTV Partner to Build High-Tech Smart Home

HGTV Smart Home 2013 receives CEA’s TechHome Gold Rating

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)^®, today announced its partnership with HGTV during the unveiling of the HGTV Smart Home^SM 2013, in Jacksonville Beach, Fla. Using CEA’s TechHome Rating System (THRS), HGTV built the first ever high-tech smart home that has the infrastructure in place to support current and future digital needs.

“As emerging technologies continue to propel us toward an ever-connected lifestyle, a home designed with the proper technology infrastructure is critical for seamlessly integrating devices in the home.”

“By partnering with HGTV, CEA can highlight the TechHome Rating System to the winning Smart Home family and the HGTV viewers,” said Laura Hubbard, CEA’s senior manager of division and policy communications. “As emerging technologies continue to propel us toward an ever-connected lifestyle, a home designed with the proper technology infrastructure is critical for seamlessly integrating devices in the home.”

The HGTV Smart Home was built to meet CEA’s TechHome Gold Rating, which provides a whole-house network that distributes audio, video, data, telephone, television, home automation and security signals into multiple rooms.

“The TechHome Rating System is a high-tech guide that explains to consumers, homebuyers and realtors the digital functions a home is equipped to handle,” added Hubbard.

The TechHome Rating System is a nationally-recognized set of build-to specifications developed by CEA’s TechHome Division, that provides guidelines to help identify consumers’ technology needs and determine which applications and products are desired.

The TechHome Rating System defines the level and capabilities of the structured wiring installed in a given home. It was designed to remove the complexity of integrating technology systems and products into a new or existing home. The Rating System is based on the structured wiring present in the home and its ability to achieve the ultimate digital experience for the homeowner. Depending on the amount and the nature of the structured wiring installed, a home can achieve one of three levels: Bronze, Gold or Platinum. The three defined rating levels help provide homeowners with insight into the technology-readiness available for designated living spaces throughout the property – both indoors and out.

For more information about the TechHome Rating System, visit TechHome.com.

About CEA:

The Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) is the preeminent trade association promoting growth in the $209 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry. More than 2,000 companies enjoy the benefits of CEA membership, including legislative advocacy, market research, technical training and education, industry promotion, standards development and the fostering of business and strategic relationships. CEA also owns and produces the International CES – The Global Stage for Innovation. All profits from CES are reinvested into CEA’s industry services. Find CEA online at www.CE.org, www.DeclareInnovation.com and through social media: https://www.facebook.com/#!/CEAfeed, http://twitter.com/ceafeed, http://blog.ce.org/.

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