A Home that Demonstrates the Next Generation of Digital Living...

...Contributes to Quality of Life AND the Quality of our Environment

A recent survey by Forrester Research found that 12 percent of U.S. adults – 25 million Americans – are willing to pay extra for "green" home options, including those that help save on energy costs. Echoing this trend toward the "greening" of technological innovations, the 2008 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) has announced that in addition to taking significant efforts to reduce the show’s environmental impact, the show will debut a TechZone dedicated to technologies that have "green" value.

The blending of green benefits with digital living is showcased throughout The NextGen "Ultimate Value" Home. This year's Home Automation Sponsor, Exceptional Innovation, will introduce IBS attendees to Life|ware, an exciting software that integrates everything from a home’s lighting, security, thermostat and appliances, to family photos, TV and music onto one simple interface controlled by touch screen placed around the home.

In addition to dramatically improving convenience, this whole-house integration results in a more efficient home. For instance, homeowners can use Life|ware to:

• Create customized programs, such as a program that puts the house "to sleep" when you lock the front door – turning off all the lights and lowering the thermostat to a pre-set level;
• Provide peace of mind. Did you leave home and forget to set the alarm? Turn off the oven? Close the blinds? Turn down the thermostat? No problem. Now you can access almost any feature of your home from any PDA, PC or laptop, anywhere in the world – no more worrying, and no more wasting energy.

The NextGen "Ultimate Value" Home also includes an amazing feature that provides an added level of protection for a home's technological investments. The PowerTower by Gaia ensures that sags, surges and interruptions in service won’t damage high-end home electronics, while providing an indefinite supply of backup power that reduces generator runtime and fuel consumption by up to 75 percent.

Experience the latest in digital living for yourself at the NextGen "Ultimate Value" Home, located in Parking Lot D2 of the 2008 International Builders' Show.