ZigBee, a lower power version of Wi-Fi, is a wireless technology used for connecting devices like smart meters, smart lighting, smart thermostats, set-top boxes (STB), remote controls, etc. Regarded as one of the best things to happen to internet of things (IoT) devices, the global ZigBee home automation market has grown significantly over the past few years. In fact, according to analysts at Technavio, the market will grow at an impressive CAGR of over 30% between 2016 and 2020.
Benefits of ZigBee
#1. Reduced power consumption
At a time when the demand for electricity is high, leading to the increase in the prices of raw materials used for power generation and distribution, there is a growing need for products that consume less power and reduce energy costs. More and more households are switching to ZigBee- enabled home automation devices in order to bring down the cost of their utility bills. ZigBee technology controls home devices using minimal power, thereby allowing devices to last for years.
#2. Supports IoT
IoT has become a major part of our daily lives. Also, given the growing trend of connecting home appliances and entertainment systems to a wireless standard, ZigBee is perhaps the best and most streamlined option available. The latest version, ZigBee 3.0, provides seamless interoperability among the widest range of smart devices related to home automation, energy management, and retail. Also, since it uses multi-hop mesh networking, ZigBee easily eliminates single points of failure and expands the reach of networks.
#3. Enhances productivity of HVAC equipment
Centralized heating ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment accounts for the major share of high energy bills. ZigBee-enabled smart thermostats have intelligent sensor systems that regulate energy consumption by adjusting the volume of power consumption based on user patterns. Not only does ZigBee help reduce power consumption and lower energy bills, it also indirectly helps in reducing carbon emissions.
#4. Energy efficient
ZigBee’s wireless technology is based on the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, which makes it a great alternative to batteries and gives it an edge over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi wireless technologies. In fact, ZigBee and ZigBee Pro consume 1/10,000th of the energy required by a Wi-Fi network.
In addition to the above mentioned benefits, ZigBee is scalable, as it supports networks of thousands of nodes. Due to the use of security mechanisms like AES-128 encryption devices, along with network keys and frame counters, it is also one of the most secure devices out there. Finally, ZigBee is built on 2.4 GHz, which is available for unlicensed use around the world.
View the 2016-2020 Global ZigBee Home Automation Market Report
