Smart Panels, Smarter Homes: How Leviton is Powering the Future of Modular Construction

Smart home technology is no longer a luxury—it's quickly becoming a necessity, especially as modular and offsite construction continues to expand. One area where innovation is truly taking center stage is in lighting and power distribution. To learn more about what’s powering the homes of tomorrow, we sat down with Kent Anderson from Wesco and the team from Leviton, live from the Leviton Live experience center in Lake Nona, Florida.

“We're here today with some amazing people to talk about what smart technology really means, especially for builders in the modular construction space,” said Kent. “From convenience to safety to sustainability, these innovations are changing how we think about powering homes.”

The Power of the Smart Panel

Greg Rhodes from Leviton compared the smart electrical panel to something many of us use every day: a car dashboard.

“What if you didn’t have turn signals or notifications about low oil?” Greg asked. “Why should your home—which costs 10 times more than a car—not offer the same level of visibility and control?”

Leviton’s smart panel gives homeowners real-time insight into their power usage, enabling faster decisions and better energy management. It’s about putting control back into the hands of users—whether they’re onsite builders or future homeowners.

Solar-Ready and Future-Focused

With sustainability top of mind, Leviton’s load centers are also “solar-ready” and “battery-ready,” meaning they can easily integrate alternative energy sources like solar panels or battery walls down the road.

“Electrification is a huge topic right now,” said Rick Gavenda. “There are more electrical loads in homes than ever—heat pumps, EV chargers, and smart appliances. Our panels are designed to manage that efficiently while giving homeowners the choice to scale up in the future.”

Instead of requiring a complete overhaul, Leviton’s modular panel system makes it easy to add or upgrade components as needed. For builders, this means fewer headaches down the line—and for homeowners, it means greater flexibility.

Plug-and-Play Simplicity

One of the key features of the Leviton panel is its “platform approach.” Builders can start with a traditional panel and expand it as needed. Want to track solar production or monitor battery usage? Just plug in a smart breaker.

“You don’t need smart breakers for every outlet,” said Greg. “Focus on critical loads like HVAC, water heaters, and pool pumps. The system is designed to be modular and affordable.”

Even the main breaker is swappable, so if plans change during construction—a common occurrence even in modular builds—upgrading from a 150-amp to a 225-amp service is simple.

Designed for the Factory—and Beyond

For modular builders, installation time is everything. Leviton’s panel supports factory-based installation, where all conductors can be torqued down in advance. Then, when the unit is delivered, the correct breakers can be added on-site.

“The modularity helps at every stage,” said Rick Gavenda. “From the factory floor to the final walkthrough with the homeowner.”

And that support continues after move-in. As homeowners add generators or additional systems, their electricians can easily swap in new breakers without tearing out the entire panel.

A User-Friendly Revolution

Traditionally, breaker panels are intimidating—gray boxes filled with switches that may or may not be labeled correctly. Leviton’s panel changes that by making it simple, smart, and safe.

“We added LED indicators—green for normal, red for a trip,” said Greg. “You don’t even have to open the door. If something’s wrong, you can call your electrician and give them precise information.”

It’s that kind of thoughtful design that sets Leviton’s system apart.

Building the House of Tomorrow

As Audree from Offsite Dirt Network put it: “We're talking about the house of tomorrow—and that starts with making smart decisions today.”

Smart power distribution isn’t just about convenience—it’s about building sustainable, adaptable, and future-proof homes. With partners like Leviton and Wesco, modular builders now have the tools and support they need to meet evolving demands and expectations.

“This is about giving homeowners control over something they’ve never had control over before,” said Greg. “And that’s a game-changer.”