Feb 18 2009
Schneider Electric and Philips have launched a new vision for interoperability in home automation and building control at the ZigBee Alliance’s European Smart Energy Forum in Dublin, Ireland. This is the first demonstration from the HOMES programme, a European industry collaboration, and will showcase the programme’s future technology development platform. As part of the launch, Schneider Electric and Philips will demonstrate innovative multi-vendor system components operating seamlessly in ZigBee wireless networks.
The demonstrations are targeted at energy suppliers and infrastructure installers. Highlights include:
- Intelligent energy-efficiency platform
- A new platform that allows end-users and third-parties to manage systems both locally and remotely. It enables new task automation and management solutions to reduce power consumption and increase user convenience. It will allow users to see how energy could be used in a smarter way to promote even greater savings.
- Combined power-line / ZigBee wireless network
- By combining power line technology with ZigBee wireless solutions, power lines can be easily and efficiently re-used for new services.
- World’s first self-powered ZigBee-based wireless switches
- No wires and no batteries, self-powered ZigBee-based switches will enable more flexible and more efficient solutions that need less maintenance.
- The innovations demonstrated use ZigBee wireless technology as it is the only open standard that enables true system interoperability and multi-sourcing for sensor and control applications in home / building network.
“Schneider Electric as the worldwide leader of energy management, need combination of innovations and open standards such as ZigBee to create new products and infrastructures to build solutions meeting the expectations for energy efficient smart homes and buildings,“ says Eric Pilaud, Executive VP Strategy, Customers & Technology, Schneider Electric. “Energy saving and cleaner generation are the best answers to the challenges our planet is facing, and Schneider Electric is committed to helping individuals and organizations to make the most of their energy”.
“Philips wants to be on the forefront shaping the landscape, by developing one single solution that provides a clear standard for all parties involved. We see that markets cannot develop in an optimal way, due to various proprietary technologies instead of one single solution. Having a standard as ZigBee accelerates market development and gives numerous players the opportunity to demonstrate innovative and more advanced applications,” adds Jan Denneman, Philips VP Sustainability & Industry Standards.
The HOMES programme
The Homes programme aims to equip each building with solutions to achieve the best energy performance. Officially green-lighted by the European Commission, it started in September 2008 and brings together 13 industrial and research partners. It is part-funded by OSEO.