The 2010 Mark of Excellence award categories and descriptions will be available shortly.

2009 SUPPLIER AWARD CATEGORIES and DESCRIPTIONS
Recognizing the best new and/or improved products!

Products must be available in the U.S. by January 31, 2007 - December 31, 2008. 

Best Audio Component
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved residential audio source component that originates, reproduces, and/or decodes audio material. Entries may include audio receivers, amplifiers, processors and sources.

Best Control System
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.
 
Best Distributed Audio/Video Product
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.
 
Best Green Product, Service, or Corporate Policy
This award recognizes a manufacturer for a green product or practice that best saves energy or natural resources or a service or corporate policy/strategy, which promotes environmentally/planet friendly practices. The entry may encompass recycling programs, reduced packaging, technologies to reduce travel and/or supports or promotes state or federal legislation (i.e. Leeds). Manufacturers may submit a product, service, or practice that effectively meets these criteria.

Best Human Interface Product
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.

Best Installation Product
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.
 
Best Lighting Control Product
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.

Best Media Server
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.

Best Security Product
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.

NEW Best Software Application
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.

Best Freestanding Speaker
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 esthetic design, installation features, display exceptional innovation, and/or sound quality.  

Best In-Ceiling/In-Wall Speaker
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 esthetic design, installation features, display exceptional innovation, and/or sound quality.

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

Best Subwoofer
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 esthetic design, installation features, display exceptional innovation, and/or sound quality.

Best Structured Wiring Product
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.

Best Video Component
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.
 
Best Video Display
This award recognizes the best new and/or improved video display. Entries may include traditional CRTs, ultra thin plasmas, DLPs, LCDs, Rear Projection, Front Projection, and of course, screens themselves.

Best Wireless Product
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.

 

2009 SYSTEMS INTEGRATOR AWARDS CATEGORIES and DESCRIPTIONS
Residential projects must be completed within the U.S. between January 1, 2007 - December 31, 2008. 

Best Digital Convergence Project
This award distinguishes the best project in the industry utilizing a convergence of consumer electronic (CE) and information technology (IT) product solutions.  This project demonstrates the simultaneous use of progressive CE and IT technologies coexisting and working seamlessly together to solve specific client requirements.

Best Multi-Room Audio/Video Project
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.

Best Green Project
This award is given to the integrator who has completed the best environmentally friendly “Green” project. The entries are judged on innovative solutions that promote energy efficiency and low environmental impact, which promotes state or federal legislation (i.e. Leeds) while maintaining comfort, intuitive interfaces, and integration of sub-systems.

Best Home Theater/Media Room
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.

Best Integrated Security Project
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.

Best Lighting Control Project
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.  
 
Best Retrofit Project
This award recognizes the ingenuity of the best residential retrofit installation. The entry must show how a home was upgraded with a new technology foundation including the hardware used the wiring approach and how the most difficult install issues were overcome. Creativity, expertise and “mission impossible made possible” should demonstrate your retrofit prowess.

NEW Best Universal Design Home
This award acknowledges a home that 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.

NEW Community of the Year
This award recognizes an Integrator and Builder/Developer team for the strategic partnership through which they promote the use of technology to enhance residences within a production community development. Technology may be offered as standard systems and/or upgrade options on a high volume scale for developments including single family communities, multi-dwelling units (MDU), or hospitality projects. Evaluated by the TechHome Rating System, showing the level of integration and/or value to the consumer, at least 25% of the development must be completed and equipped with the technology enhancements at the time of submission.

Home of the Year (installed price up to $35,000)
This award recognizes a home technology system within an installed price (to the end user) no more than $35,000. The installed price includes the base package offered by the developer and does not include client customizations. Projects within this category are evaluated for their overall performance and or value to the customer regardless of price.

Custom Home of the Year (installed price between $35,000 - $100,000)
This award recognizes a whole-house automation within an installed price (to the end user) no more than  $100,000, designed to meet the demanding needs of today's tech savvy homeowner. The winning integrator should demonstrate how their multiple sub-systems integration creates excitement.

Luxury Home of the Year (installed price between $100,000 - $500,000)
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 $500,000. 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.

Ultimate Home of the Year (installed price above $500,000)
This applications-based award recognizes within an installed price (to the end user) costing more than $500,000, created by integrators whose designs deliver cutting-edge solutions that exceed clients’ expectations and/or exemplify the most advanced and elegant implementation of residential technologies, representing the ultimate integrated experience.

Convergence Integrator of the Year
This award recognizes a system integrator that demonstrates a company-wide commitment to the use of information technology (IT)/ consumer electronics (CE) convergence products in actual installations. This integrator has proven their ability to integrate analog & digital solutions for consumers and have a record of accomplishment in successfully deploying CE products and IT products simultaneously to satisfy the requirements of their clients.

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.

2009 TRAINING AND SUPPORT PROGRAM AWARD CATEGORY DESCRIPTION

Best Training and Support Program
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.