ZigBee Sees Strong Growth for Energy Management and Efficiency Solutions

ZigBee Sees Strong Growth for Energy Management and Efficiency Solutions

May 14, 2007

New Members and Implementations of ZigBee Solutions for
Consumers and Utilities Dramatically Expands Energy
Efficiency Benefits for Everyone


    SAN RAMON, Calif., May 14 /Xinhua-PRNewswire/ -- The
ZigBee(R) Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies
creating wireless solutions for use in energy, residential,
commercial and industrial applications, today announced its
members are joining forces and leveraging their global
wireless and utility expertise to fight the predicted
global energy crisis.  With this commitment, the Alliance
has increased membership and expanded its ability to
deliver solutions that are helping consumers, businesses
and utilities improve efficiency, reduce the need for new
power plants and save money. 
 
    The Alliance enjoys strong endorsement of its energy
management and efficiency solutions by utility industry and
smart energy grid proponents.  Some of the world's leading
and innovative energy companies, ranging from utilities to
suppliers have recently joined the Alliance and are relying
on ZigBee solutions.  Utilities such as CenterPoint Energy,
Southern California Edison and Sempra Utilities are working
alongside other member companies such as Cellnet, Eaton,
Itron, Phillips, Schneider Electric, Siemens, Comverge,
Control4, DCSI, Golden Power, Johnson Controls, Legrand,
Nivis, Nuri Telecom, Sensus Metering, Silver Spring
Networks, Site Controls, Talon Communications, Trilliant
Networks, Tritech Technology and Viconics to use existing
low-cost and easily installable ZigBee products and
services.  As a result of these Alliance member's efforts,
more ZigBee products are being shipped now to utility
companies around the world than ever before.

    "CenterPoint Energy is one of the leading utility
companies in the United States promoting and deploying
intelligent grid technology.  The ZigBee standard provides
a crucial link to make our advanced metering infrastructure
upgrade an even more robust reality," said Tom
Standish, CenterPoint Energy group president, Regulated
Operations.  "Our AMI program enhances the efficiency
and reliability of our operations and, through the use of
ZigBee enabled equipment in the home, ultimately gives
consumers more ways to manage and use energy in a more
cost-effective and energy-efficient way."

    Alliance members provide consumers, building owners and
the energy industry with interoperable products and an open
and interoperable standard connecting consumer and
commercial devices to the utility grid. The ZigBee Advanced
Metering Infrastructure (AMI) Profile will take advantage of
other ZigBee application profiles for Home and Commercial
building automation products, filling a critical gap and
integrating Home Area Networks (HAN), or in-premise
networks, to smart energy grids. The ZigBee AMI Profile
provides the critical "last foot" connection from
a smart meter to existing ZigBee networks conducting home
and commercial building automation.  It also provides a
standards-based approach for utility programs such as
demand response and demand-based pricing programs which
will drive global energy efficiency to unprecedented
levels.

    In the U.S. alone, progressive utility companies and
state legislatures are expected to deploy new smart meters
in approximately 30 million homes over the next few years. 
Southern California Edison selected ZigBee as the standard
in its HAN technology for its five million smart meter
upgrade program.  Many countries and U.S. states are
considering legislation to provide incentives and encourage
the deployment of AMI to offset the predicted energy crunch,
avoid building new power plants and help slow global carbon
emissions.

    "ZigBee is the best answer for utilities looking
to deliver innovative services that bring value to both
consumers and businesses while also introducing energy
efficiency programs designed to offset the rising tide of
global energy consumption," said Bob Heile, chairman
of the ZigBee Alliance.  "ZigBee has a global standard
which lets product companies and utilities alike focus their
time and energy on promoting energy efficiency programs
rather than engineering country-by-country or
state-by-state products.  ZigBee provides immediate energy
efficiency savings because it lets home and building owners
use their ZigBee home area networks to participate in
programs that reduce energy consumption.  Ultimately, it
pays to remember the cleanest energy is energy not
generated in the first place. 

    ZigBee Home Area Networks

    ZigBee HAN, or in-premise networks, enable two-way
communication and control of ZigBee devices inside the home
and serve as the key entry point for smart energy grids. 
This communication and control is possible because ZigBee
is a global wireless language that connects dramatically
different devices.  Because ZigBee is a global wireless
standard, it provides the scalability and reliability
needed to support an infrastructure as demanding as smart
energy grids.  ZigBee links devices starting with the
utility meter and reaches thermostats, household
appliances, HVAC, pool pumps, water heaters, lighting
systems and other household or building systems creating
the HAN.  For utility companies, ZigBee enables a standards
based approach to energy efficiency programs such as demand
response, time-of-use pricing programs, energy monitoring,
pay-as-you-use and net metering programs, enabling home
owners use of distributed generation products like solar
panels.  These new energy management programs directly
impact consumers and businesses as utilities grapple with
meeting growing power demand while reducing the threat of
rolling blackouts during peak usage periods.  

    Global Energy Issues

    -- Increased energy efficiency is driven today by
global macro trends like 
       scarce energy resources, increased competition for
resources and global 
       warming
    -- According to the International Energy Agency
forecast, worldwide 
       electricity demand will rise to 30,116 billion
kilowatt-hours in 2030, 
       more than double the 2003 level
    -- In the next decade, the United States will need to
build an 
       additional 160 large power plants to meet demand
according to the North 
       American Electric Reliability Council
    -- Asian energy demand growth will be stronger than
other regions at 
       around 2.0 percent per year despite high energy
prices through 2030
    -- Energy efficiency and demand response represents a
5th fuel -- an 
       alternative to coal, natural gas, hydropower and
nuclear fuel -- and is 
       the cheapest, fastest and most effective way to
secure the world's 
       energy supply

    ZigBee: Wireless Control That Simply Works

    The ZigBee Alliance is an association of companies
working together to enable reliable, cost-effective,
low-power, wirelessly networked monitoring and control
products based on an open global standard. The ZigBee
Alliance membership comprises technology providers and
original equipment manufacturers worldwide. Membership is
open to all. Additional information can be found at
http://www.zigbee.org .


    For more information, please contact:

     Kevin Schader
     ZigBee Alliance
     Tel:    [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]

     Tommy Tse 
     GolinHarris
     Tel:    [phone]
     Email:  [e-mail]