Arrow Electronics has partnered with Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver to complete the country’s first affordable smart-home neighborhood in Aurora, Colorado. Every residence in this groundbreaking community includes integrated smart technologies designed to improve safety, boost energy efficiency, conserve water, enhance indoor air quality, and lower utility costs.
For Adrienne, a first-time homeowner living in the Mountain View Community Homes with her adult son, the experience still feels surreal. “It’s like a dream,” she said.
Smart-home features are often challenging to incorporate into budget-friendly housing due to high prices and connectivity barriers. However, Arrow helped overcome these obstacles by coordinating a network of suppliers and customers who donated essential hardware and technical expertise.
Resideo—an ongoing supporter of Habitat—supplied a suite of smart devices, including Honeywell Home thermostats, air-quality systems, First Alert video doorbells, and water leak detection equipment.
Residents can control and track the performance of these devices from their phones or through iPads donated by Silicon Labs, one of Arrow’s suppliers. “If I’m in bed and it feels cold, I can just adjust the temperature from my phone,” said homeowner Gladys.
Many homeowners highlighted the video doorbells, leak detectors, and automatic water-shutoff valves as key features that bring added security and reassurance. They also praised Rachio’s smart sprinklers and timers—donated by an Arrow customer—for helping reduce water usage and potentially lowering their monthly bills.
Beyond water and energy savings, residents are expected to spend less on upkeep because of improved heating and cooling systems. Some may even qualify for lower insurance premiums since the sensors and security devices help prevent incidents that could lead to claims.
All smart-home technology was provided at no cost to the homeowners, with no hidden fees for usage or operation.
Arrow employees also volunteered nearly 700 hours to help construct the Mountain View homes. The success of this initiative may now pave the way for future Habitat projects seeking to integrate smart-home features into affordable housing.
“Arrow brought the vision, technology, and dedication that made this smart-home community a reality. Their efforts demonstrate how smart solutions can deliver the four S’s—safety, security, savings, and stability—for homeowners,” said Jaime G. Gomez, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver.
For Adrienne, a first-time homeowner living in the Mountain View Community Homes with her adult son, the experience still feels surreal. “It’s like a dream,” she said.
Smart-home features are often challenging to incorporate into budget-friendly housing due to high prices and connectivity barriers. However, Arrow helped overcome these obstacles by coordinating a network of suppliers and customers who donated essential hardware and technical expertise.
Resideo—an ongoing supporter of Habitat—supplied a suite of smart devices, including Honeywell Home thermostats, air-quality systems, First Alert video doorbells, and water leak detection equipment.
Residents can control and track the performance of these devices from their phones or through iPads donated by Silicon Labs, one of Arrow’s suppliers. “If I’m in bed and it feels cold, I can just adjust the temperature from my phone,” said homeowner Gladys.
Many homeowners highlighted the video doorbells, leak detectors, and automatic water-shutoff valves as key features that bring added security and reassurance. They also praised Rachio’s smart sprinklers and timers—donated by an Arrow customer—for helping reduce water usage and potentially lowering their monthly bills.
Beyond water and energy savings, residents are expected to spend less on upkeep because of improved heating and cooling systems. Some may even qualify for lower insurance premiums since the sensors and security devices help prevent incidents that could lead to claims.
All smart-home technology was provided at no cost to the homeowners, with no hidden fees for usage or operation.
Arrow employees also volunteered nearly 700 hours to help construct the Mountain View homes. The success of this initiative may now pave the way for future Habitat projects seeking to integrate smart-home features into affordable housing.
“Arrow brought the vision, technology, and dedication that made this smart-home community a reality. Their efforts demonstrate how smart solutions can deliver the four S’s—safety, security, savings, and stability—for homeowners,” said Jaime G. Gomez, CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Metro Denver.