2010 Mark of Excellence Categories

2010 SUPPLIER AWARD CATEGORIES and DESCRIPTIONS
Products must be available in the U.S. by January 31, 2008 - December 31, 2009.

Audio Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved residential product that originates, amplifies, switches, reproduces, and/or decodes audio content. Entries may include analog or digital devices and may consist of audio receivers, amplifiers, processors, sources, and other audio specific products.

Control System Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved completely-integrated automation solutions that perform full home control. Systems can be IP-based, wireless, and/or based on a proprietary network. The winning product combines seamless integration with numerous subsystems.
 
Multi-Room Audio Video Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved product in the distributed multi-room/multi-zone/multi-source audio and/or video content category. Entries may include switches, wireless or hard-wired products. The winning product embodies performance and ease of use.
 
Green Product of the Year
This award recognizes a manufacturer of a product with a focus on sustainability and improving the environment. Submitted products should be environmentally friendly and should reduce or empower a homeowner to reduce energy consumption, emissions and/or natural resources. Eligible products include engineering designs with exceptionally low current draw, as well as devices that monitor, log or control energy consumption.

Human Interface Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and or improved human interface. Entries in this category may include keypads, touch panels and hand held remotes.  The winning product embodies state-of-the-art ergonomics coupled with cutting-edge technology to make the human interface intuitive, functional and user friendly.

Installation Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved software and/or hardware tool used to install and service products typical of a new or existing home automation system. Entries may include design software, programming software, cable-marking systems, signal test equipment, and/or diagnostic tools. The winning product will demonstrate originality, ease of use, time saving capability, and/or broad market application.
 
Lighting Control Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved lighting control system or product. The winning solution will provide tangible benefit to the homeowner. Entries may include distributed wireless, hard-wired lighting systems, scene control devices, unique switch designs, controlling technique and/or the manufacturer's communication protocol.

Media Server of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved media server. The winning product will effectively manage and distribute digital content within the home. Entries may include devices specifically designed for audio content or video content; and may include combination devices that manage audio, video, and/or still image photographs.

Security Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved residential security product. Entries in this category may include wired, wireless, digital, and/or analog-based products designed to secure residential properties. The winning product will demonstrate integration features with other sub-systems including ease of use ensuring peace of mind for the homeowner.

Software Application of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and or improved software application. Entries in this category may include Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs), system set-up or configuration applications, calibration tools and applications that enhance dealer proposal generation, efficiency, or business management.  The winning product embodies state-of-the-art solutions coupled with cutting-edge technology to make the dealer's job easier, more productive or more profitable as well as add value to or simplify the end-users life.

Freestanding Speaker of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved freestanding speaker designed for use in a home entertainment or distributed audio/video system.  The winning speaker will excel at aesthetic design, installation features, display exceptional innovation, and/or sound quality.  

In-Ceiling/In-Wall Speaker of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved in-ceiling or in-wall speaker designed for use in a home entertainment or distributed audio/video system. The winning speaker will excel at aesthetic design, installation features, display exceptional innovation, and/or sound quality.

Speaker System of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved speaker system designed for use in a home entertainment. The winning speaker will excel at aesthetic design, installation features, display exceptional innovation, and/or sound quality.

Subwoofer of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved subwoofer designed for use in a home entertainment or distributed audio/video system.  The winning speaker will excel at aesthetic design, installation features, display exceptional innovation, and/or sound quality.

Structured Wiring Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved structured wiring solution. Entries may include products that support multiple communication platforms as related to the cabling and infrastructure within today's digital home. The winner of this category will enhance twisted-pair, RF, IP, communications, and/or the distribution of audio/video content.

Video Component of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved residential video source component that originates, reproduces, and/or decodes video content. Entries may include Digital Video Recorders (PVRs), DVD players/burners, high definition receivers, and other video source equipment.
 
Video Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved residential product that displays, originates, switches, amplifies, reproduces, and/or decodes video content. Entries may include analog or digital devices and may consist of video displays, projectors, processors, sources, and other video specific products.

Wireless Product of the Year
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved wireless product. One which provides solutions for networking PCs, handheld devices, security systems, or media distribution.

2010 SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR AWARDS CATEGORIES and DESCRIPTIONS
Residential projects must be completed within the U.S. between January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2009. 

Multi-Room Audio Video Project of the Year
This award recognizes the best multi-room audio, integrated A/V and/or networked media application throughout the home. The entry should highlight A/V sources, as well as the user interfaces installed to access audio and/or video throughout the home.

Home Theater/Media Room Project of the Year
This award recognizes the best designed and installed dedicated entertainment system, including video display, surround sound, multiple sources and control. The winning entry should demonstrate ease of use, integration with the room's environmental systems (lighting, window coverings, and temperature) and/or other house systems (security, cameras, access control, distributed audio/video, etc.)

Innovation Award
This award recognizes an innovative achievement of a specific application. The winning integrator, large or small, will have created a solution that best demonstrates a unique application of technology for an unusual challenge.

Integrated Security Project of the Year
This award recognizes the finest integrated security system, including security controllers, sensors, cameras and access devices. The winning entry should demonstrate how technology was used for fire and intrusion protection, property monitoring, door entry control, and/or emergency detection such as water leakage, as well as integration with other home technologies, including lighting, HVAC controls, distributed video and/or home automation.

Lighting Control Project of the Year
This award is given to the integrator who has completed the best residential lighting control system.  The entries are judged on the integration of the lighting system with other technologies in the home, and/or the distinctive features of the lighting application within the home to include artificial lighting, natural light and/or shading.

Retrofit Project of the Year under $100,000
This award recognizes the ingenuity of an integration project where a new system has been installed into an existing residential structure, where the home or section of the home is not under construction. The entry must demonstrate how an existing home was upgraded with new technology. The entry should include the hardware used, the wiring or wireless approach, the installation methodology, customer requirements, ease of use, and how the most difficult install challenges were overcome. Creativity and expertise should demonstrate your retrofit prowess.

Retrofit Project of the Year over $100,000
This award recognizes the ingenuity of an integration project where a new system has been installed into an existing residential structure, where the home or section of the home is not under construction. The entry must demonstrate how an existing home was upgraded with new technology. The entry should include the hardware used, the wiring or wireless approach, the installation methodology, customer requirements, ease of use, and how the most difficult install challenges were overcome. Creativity and expertise should demonstrate your retrofit prowess.

Universal Design Home of the Year
This award acknowledges a home the best utilizes technology to facilitate the principles of Universal Design within a home. The winning entry epitomizes Universal Design by fulfilling specific needs of the homeowner that include an adaptable living environment, simple and flexible user interface solutions, communication of critical user information, low demand for physical effort, and a high tolerance for the users capabilities. This project may also highlight technology solutions that anticipate the needs of the future/current homeowner by helping the home evolve with the user's abilities and desires for decades to come.

Home of the Year (installed price up to $35,000)
This award recognizes how an integrator's technical expertise is applied to deliver the best integrated system for a multi-disciplined within an installed price (to the end user) no more than $35,000. The entry must show how the provided hardware and programming solve problems improve lifestyle and/or deliver a user-friendly experience in a complex home with many high-tech systems. This year the award encourages integrators to submit both remodel and new construction projects.

Custom Home of the Year (installed price between $35,000 - $100,000)
This award recognizes how an integrator’s technical expertise is applied to deliver the best integrated system for a multi-disciplined within an installed price (to the end user) between $35,000 and $100,000. The entry must show how the provided hardware and programming solve problems improve lifestyle and/or deliver a user-friendly experience in a complex home with many high-tech systems. This year the award encourages integrators to submit both remodel and new construction projects.

Luxury Home of the Year (installed price between $100,000- $300,000)
This award recognizes how an integrator's technical expertise is applied to deliver the best integrated system for a multi-disciplined within an installed price (to the end user) between $100,000 and $300,000. The entry must show how the provided hardware and programming solve problems improve lifestyle and/or deliver a user-friendly experience in a complex home with many high-tech systems. This year the award encourages integrators to submit both remodel and new construction projects.

Ultimate Home of the Year (installed price above $300,000)
This award recognizes how an integrator’s technical expertise is applied to deliver the best integrated system for a multi-disciplined within an installed price (to the end user) costing more than $300,000. The entry must show how the provided hardware and programming solve problems improve lifestyle and/or deliver a user-friendly experience in a complex home with many high-tech systems. This year the award encourages integrators to submit both remodel and new construction projects.

TechHome Integrator of the Year
This award recognizes the best systems integrator company in our industry. The company receiving this award exhibits outstanding business success and comprehensive technical skills, shows exceptional quality in their professional installations, and is an example of leadership within their community and/or industry.

2010 TECHHOME INDUSTRY CATEGORIES AND DESCRIPTIONS
Residential projects must be completed within the U.S. between January 1, 2008 - December 31, 2009.

Training and Support Program of the Year
Education and support are cornerstones for improving our industry and building the success of our TechHome integrators and manufacturers. This category is open to all submitters including integrators, manufacturers, designers, consultants and the media. Entries include classroom education, field support programs, industry publications, warranty programs, books, Internet training, product seminars, CD-ROMs, videotapes, DVDs, and manufacturer training programs. Entries are evaluated based on the direct benefits to promoting business revenue opportunities, product applications, client adoption, adherence, and promotion of standards; professionalism and how the program positively affects our industry.

Green Service or Corporate Policy of the Year
This award recognizes manufacturers or system integrators for a corporate policy that best promotes environmentally friendly business and/or construction practices.  The entry may speak to a specific corporate initiative or practice and may encompass a wide variety of policies or programs including recycling, reduced travel, support or promotion of green building standards (i.e. LEED), or sustainable manufacturing processes.