AUSTRALIAN HOMES KEEP GETTING SMARTER

Nearly a third (29%) of new Australian homes built last year had installed Smart Wiring - the national standard for home intelligence-triple the rate of take up just four years ago.

The survey of 700 of the country's biggest builders by the Housing Industry Association and Copper Development Centre also showed a third of all home renovation work across the country included Smart Wiring.

While NSW and Victoria continue to lead on home IQ, states like Western Australia and Queensland-which now has 7 times the uptake it did in 2004-are fast closing the gap.

"Fast broadband is coming and it will revolutionise how we live at home," John Fennell, CEO of CDC.Australia-a member of the Smart Wiring Consortium-said. "And that?s now recognised by builders, content providers, consumer electronic companies and home owners."

"A wired home is still seen as the most reliable and secure way to handle tomorrow's digital technology, particularly as we enter the era of movies on demand, telecommuting and automation."

"While most people are keen to be able to handle data better at home, this year's survey showed that intelligent lighting is also an emerging priority as people look to manage energy better."

"In a smart world we can no longer afford dumb houses and that message is beginning to hit home."