Most residential and commercial models from Honeywell’s VISTA series of alarm panels now support lighting, shade and temperature control technology from Lutron Electronics, giving security and home-automation professionals a greater range of options when designing connected-home systems for their customers.

Following a successful pilot phase, Dallas-based Monitronics International’s electronic “eContract” application — designed to eliminate the hard-copy paperwork that is traditionally filled out for a new customer contract — is now available in production for its Authorized Dealer program.

Talk-A-Phone has designed a lightweight aluminum construction emergency phone tower for reduced ecological footprint and one-person installation.

Rosewater Energy Group introduced its Residential Energy Storage Hub, designed to allow homeowners to take advantage of renewable energy sources and harness all power that comes into their home.

Optex Co. Ltd. announced that Sloan Security Technologies Inc. integrated Optex sensor/detector products into the GenLux® line of security poles. The platform uses a wrap-around solar laminate to provide reliable off-grid power to sensors and surveillance devices, Optex stated. The sensors/detectors increase the efficiency of the poles by triggering cameras based on detector activity.

A new distribution company, which made its debut at CEDIA Expo 2012 in September, aims to provide professional systems integrators with access to the latest in environmentally friendly consumer and custom electronics products and services.

Energy Squad, a new distribution company on a mission to provide the green technology customers need, made its official debut to the custom installation industry at CEDIA EXPO 2012.

In the past, being environmentally responsible could mean spending more money, but with a unique program from American Communications, Irving, Texas, that is not the case.