The Integrated Home Competition is seeking connected gas and electric water heaters that demonstrate energy savings. While it is not expected that entries will include all of the following, desired qualities and capabilities include:

• Meet the CEE Residential Water Heating Specification Tier 1 criteria for Electric HPWHs or Gas-Fired Water Heaters, or ENERGY STAR^® Version 4.0 or Version 5.0 Program Requirements, if applicable. Products that meet CEE Tier 2 or CEE Advanced Tier criteria will be awarded additional points.
• Energy management, which encompasses features that reduce the product’s overall energy consumption levels either through core product functionality or influencing customer behavior.
  • Energy consumption information for users, including remote access via an app, website, or home energy management system.
  • Programmable settings, such as vacation, away, or nighttime modes that reduce energy use.
  • Sensing capabilities to optimize water heating operation.
  • Ongoing, active management of settings through features like automatic scheduling or learning-based schedule creation based on consumer preferences and habits.
• Ability to receive and respond to a utility or third-party signal (i.e., pricing signal or curtailment signal).
• Demand response (DR) capabilities, defined as the ability to delay, curtail, or increase operation to enable load shifting from peak use or low supply periods to low use or high supply periods.
• Data sharing with consumers and consumer-authorized third parties, including operational status and energy consumption reporting.
• Consumer customization, such as the ability to input preferences and parameters related to product operation and the ability to tailor notifications for events like system failures, power surges, planned device shutdowns, servicing requirements, or upcoming DR events.
• Ability to remotely verify quality installation (QI) or quality maintenance (QM) and share results with consumers and consumer-authorized third parties like installers and utilities.
• Ability to collect and analyze water heater performance data that enables ongoing energy savings measurement and verification (such as through automated fault detection and diagnostics), while being mindful of consumer personal privacy concerns.
• Ability to operate seamlessly with other connected devices, systems, and platforms within the home.
• Simplified device set up and use, including installation and account set up.
• Intuitive consumer operation through multiple interfaces.

It is not expected that entries will include all of the above capabilities; rather, products should include measures that save energy and provide a positive consumer experience. Additional capabilities beyond this list will also be considered in the judging process. Products with greater functionality generally receive more points.

(see the Judging Criteria for more information)