Energy management could be the killer app that finally...

Energy management could be the killer app that finally pushes appliance makers into the connected home. Control4 said Thursday that Sub-Zero is the latest company to join the Control4 partner program, enabling consumers to tie Sub-Zero freezers and refrigerators into their home control systems. Control4 President Glen Mella said that the driving force for appliance makers is demand-response programs from utility companies that charge consumers differently for peak and nonpeak energy usage. Consumers can use their Control4 systems to program a refrigerator to make ice when energy is less expensive, he said. The partnership, covering Wolf ovens and Sub-Zero refrigerators and wine-storage units, is the first combining the companies’ appliances and home automation. Although the concept of an “Internet refrigerator” isn’t new, Mella said current trends including consumers’ interest in energy management, concerns over safety and security in the home and effortless entertainment are making connected appliances more relevant. With a connected oven, the user can have an alert sound through the home’s audio system when the temperature has reached a pre-heat setting, he said. Owners of the wine storage unit can receive alerts when temperature or humidity settings change or someone opens the unit without permission.