More than 70 percent of Americans surveyed in a...

More than 70 percent of Americans surveyed in a Harris Poll smart home study commissioned by Lowe’s said they wished they could control something in the home from bed using a smartphone, according to findings released Wednesday by Lowe’s (http://bit.ly/YXpv8V). Forty-four percent of users listed controlling temperature first, followed by adjusting lights at 39 percent, while 27 percent wanted to turn on the coffee pot before they get out of bed in the morning, the study said. A little over half, 52 percent, said having a smart home is at least “somewhat important” to them, compared with 21 percent who said it was very or fairly important. Half preferred do-it-yourself solutions with no service fees versus 21 percent who would opt for professionally installed technology with a monthly monitoring fee, Lowe’s said. Fifty percent of respondents said security was the top benefit of a smart home system, while 46 percent cited home monitoring while they're away. Lowering energy bills was the top benefit cited by four out of 10 people, followed by convenience at 35 percent. Twenty-nine percent said protection from fire and floods was the top benefit of a smart home, and 13 percent said a smart home would make them feel more tech savvy, Lowe’s said. On purchasing considerations, 56 percent of respondents cited cost or fees as the most important determining factor -- 31 percent named fees and 26 percent cited equipment costs -- 13 percent pegged ease of use as most important and 11 percent cited security concerns as the primary driver for buying a smart home product, said Lowe’s. On protective technologies for parents, 61 percent said they planned to monitor their children aged 3-17 in some way when they go back to school; 35 percent planned to buy their children a cellphone; 19 percent planned to use in-home cameras; 17 percent planned to receive a text informing them their child arrived home from school; and 13 percent planned to put a GPS monitoring device in their children’s backpacks to keep them safe, Lowe’s said. The online study surveyed 2,088 adults ages 18 and older in the U.S., July 10-12.