Foley: We have not been able to mass-produce this product until just recently. It is very available within certain sectors of the space. To get a home with door locks, lights, security, cameras, garage door openers and geo-sensing is very readily available, and we are offering it in some of our communities. As you start to pursue other areas of the space, we don't have the full suite of products available yet but it is absolutely coming. The full Internet of capabilities in the home includes sensors that detect poor air quality or moisture in a wall, or having 30 or 40 cameras that monitor the home. Apple HomeKit, and the new Home app in iOS 10, embody those principles by offering a simple, secure and convenient way to control home automation products such as your lights, door locks, or thermostats. We're excited to begin offering Apple TV and Apple HomeKit-enabled products to new home buyers this year.

GlobeSt.com: What is the demand like for this technology, and what is the overall response from consumers to adopt this technology?

Foley: We surveyed a bunch of people, and you get groups that really want it and another group that is less passionate about technology, but once they get it, they really want it too. I think that segment realizes that they quickly adapt to telling the program to lock their doors or turn their lights on. It is little things like that that you realize are massive conveniences. I don't think we really know what the impact is. My personal opinion is that the impact will be significant. We anticipate that this will be fully integrated into our homes.

GlobeSt.com: What is competition like from other developers in this space? Are there a lot developers looking to integrate technology into the home, or are you in the minority?

Foley: There are a few of us that have put more energy into it than others. We aren't doing it to gain advantage necessarily, but we are doing it because we think this is something that is important. However, there aren't as many developers jumping on this bandwagon, as I would have though.

LOS ANGELES—Smart living is right around the corner, and in some instances, it is already here. The technology can lock doors, operate lights, detect moisture and clean air and generally boost the sustainability of a home while also reliving homeowners of menial tasks (you'll never wonder again if you left the oven on). Brookfield Residential is one of a few home developers dedicating resources to developing and integrating this technology into its homes. Tomorrow, Tuesday January 31, the firm's COO Adrian Foley will join ULI Los Angeles and VerdeXchange for FutureBuild 2017, a discussion of the future of the built environment and how it is impacting sustainability, resiliency and creativity. We sat down with Foley in advance of the event to hear how Brookfield is advancing smart communities and what the future of smart homes looks like.

GlobeSt.com: Tell me about smart homes and smart communities, and how this technology will inform our living environment in the future.

Adrian Foley: Smart homes inform smart communities, which then inform smart networks that serve those communities. That creates smart regions, smart cities and etc., etc. The goal is that we are able to build houses that can communicate their wants and needs and energy consumption, particularly as it relates to the wide region and community. We want to be able to smartly utilize energy in the home so that the community is able to perform more efficiently. I think that when you draw down to the impact of smart homes on consumer lifestyles, that is when there is a real significant change from the customer. I don't think the customer will receive as much direct impact from the knowledge of energy consumption on the community, but that might ultimately pay them back in reduced energy bills over time. In addition to being convenient, this technology will make the home work for you. You will be able to wake up in the morning and tell your home to wake up, and immediately your water heater will wake up, you lighting goes on, you television goes on and then when you leave, your home shuts your house down. You can monitor your house's consumption during the day, and by the time you get home, your energy consumption has been dramatically reduced, but you have also changed some habits that would have otherwise been time consuming.

GlobeSt.com: Is this technology available now?

Foley: We have not been able to mass-produce this product until just recently. It is very available within certain sectors of the space. To get a home with door locks, lights, security, cameras, garage door openers and geo-sensing is very readily available, and we are offering it in some of our communities. As you start to pursue other areas of the space, we don't have the full suite of products available yet but it is absolutely coming. The full Internet of capabilities in the home includes sensors that detect poor air quality or moisture in a wall, or having 30 or 40 cameras that monitor the home. Apple HomeKit, and the new Home app in iOS 10, embody those principles by offering a simple, secure and convenient way to control home automation products such as your lights, door locks, or thermostats. We're excited to begin offering Apple TV and Apple HomeKit-enabled products to new home buyers this year.

GlobeSt.com: What is the demand like for this technology, and what is the overall response from consumers to adopt this technology?

Foley: We surveyed a bunch of people, and you get groups that really want it and another group that is less passionate about technology, but once they get it, they really want it too. I think that segment realizes that they quickly adapt to telling the program to lock their doors or turn their lights on. It is little things like that that you realize are massive conveniences. I don't think we really know what the impact is. My personal opinion is that the impact will be significant. We anticipate that this will be fully integrated into our homes.

GlobeSt.com: What is competition like from other developers in this space? Are there a lot developers looking to integrate technology into the home, or are you in the minority?

Foley: There are a few of us that have put more energy into it than others. We aren't doing it to gain advantage necessarily, but we are doing it because we think this is something that is important. However, there aren't as many developers jumping on this bandwagon, as I would have though.