Leaders and influencers from GE Lighting, Quirky, The Home Depot and CNET joined together Friday for a panel discussion on the future of smart home technology and how the “Internet of Things” is changing the face of the home industry.

The Home Depot, the world's largest home improvement retailer, announced on October 9 that Cree won the retailer's 2013 Innovation Award for its LED light bulb. The annual award recognizes the most revolutionary new products that provide true benefits to consumers and the companies that exceeded expectations in sales, service and program execution. Mohawk Soft Spring Carpet received first runner-up honors for Soft Spring Carpet, and Plantation Patterns Patio won second runner-up honors for its Create Your Own Collection patio furniture. Cree, Inc. introd...

As the incandescent will gradually fade out from lighting stage, Home Depot is ready to help people to adapt this change. All Home Depot stores are hosting how-to workshops the next two Saturdays at 10 a.m. to teach people about fluorescent and LED lighting. Managers say their employees have been trained to answer whatever questions come up. The deadline for the switch to more energy efficient bulbs is in September, but leaders at Home Depot say the phasing out will happen earlier.  They aren't ordering anymore and will soon be out of stock....

As incandescent bulbs will disappear in the future, the Home Home Depot‘s  electricians are letting everyone adjust the tendency. According to Electrician Steve Benz, they are putting on an energy efficient clinic just educating the customers on the benefits of fluorescent to incandescent and the new products, LED. Fluorescent and LED bulbs can last anywhere from 10 to 40 years. That's much longer than the average 6 months with the old incandescent bulbs. “When these incandescent bulbs get phased out in the next year or so we're going to see the p...