Press Releases

ZigBee-based multi-vendor solutions will enable better energy management in homes and buildings

Dublin (Ireland), February 13, 2009 – Schneider Electric and Philips will today launch 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.

About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, and data centres/networks, as well as a broad presence in residential applications. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, and efficient, the company's 120,000 employees achieved sales of more than 17.3 billion euros in 2007, through an active commitment to help individuals and organisations “Make the most of their energy™”.
www.schneider-electric.com 

About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 121,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

About the ZigBee Alliance
ZigBee is the global wireless language connecting dramatically different devices to work together and enhance everyday life. The ZigBee Alliance is a non-profit association of more than 300 member companies driving development of ZigBee wireless technology. The Alliance promotes world-wide adoption of ZigBee as the leading wirelessly networked, sensing and control standard for use in energy, home, commercial and industrial areas. For more information, visit: www.ZigBee.org.