Home control systems manufacturer HAI (Home Automation Inc.) recently announced that it has joined the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), a non-profit industry group committed to expanding sustainable building practices and promoting energy efficiency in new construction. The group’s 12,000 members include building owners, real estate developers, facility managers, architects, designers, engineers, general contractors, subcontractors, product and building system manufacturers, government agencies and nonprofits.

“Saving energy has been a core concern and objective for HAI since its inception in 1985,” explains HAI President Jay McLellan. “Throughout the years we’ve participated in research with various government agencies for enhanced logic thermostats, ‘health’ monitoring for Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, the Zero Energy Homes project, and have worked with the U.S. Dept. of Energy’s Home Energy Monitoring and Building America programs to develop energy solutions for new and existing homes. In addition, HAI is a supporter of the U.S Dept. of Energy’s Solar Decathlon. Joining the USGBC is another step in our endeavor to bring affordable energy saving products to the building and consumer markets.”

Joining the USGBC makes a lot of sense for HAI, which sells more affordable systems that control energy-management and security systems. Automated control systems can help streamline energy needs and demands in a house, but turning systems on when needed and shutting them off when not needed. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for about 56 percent of the energy use in a typical U.S. home.

Steven Castle - Contributing Writer

Steven Castle is Electronic House's managing editor. he has been writing about consumer electronics, homes and energy efficiency topics for two decades. He is also the co-founder of GreenTech Advocates.