Sigma Designs has announced today that all utility meters can now communicate with its Z-Wave home control technologies thanks to the addition of the Zonoff Z-Wave Bridge Platform. Z-Wave is an interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment Continue reading →
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Does Z-Wave stand a chance against ZigBee in the home energy management space? No way, ZigBee boosters say — their standard-based technology has a clear lead in U.S. smart meter-home area network plans, with tens of millions of chips and modules being made by multiple vendors for dozens of device partners. via Z-Wave Making a Continue reading →
The Z-Wave Alliance, a pioneer in wireless solutions for home automation, will demonstrate cutting-edge home control devices this April 11-16 at the Light+Building show in Frankfurt, Germany. Member companies – including Remotec, Fujikom, Pepper One and There Corporation – will put their cost-cutting, energy-saving products into action at Agora C17. via Global SMT and Packaging Continue reading →
Two of the finalists in this Thursday’s Greener Gadgets Design Competition that I’ve featured thus far — Rocco, the Energy Pal (a kinetic energy-generating rocking horse for kids made from recycled plastic) and the Automan 500 Subwoofer (a speaker cabinet/ottoman for adults made from recycled car tires) — boast a certain eco-aesthetic appeal: They’re both tech-y, cool looking, and made Continue reading →
With so many smart meters being installed and smart appliances in development, how are they going to talk? A handy new wireless controller could help them speak the same language, and tell you what they’re thinking. BuLogics, a Philadelphia-based company started by two Drexel University electrical engineering grads, recently introduced their Smart Grid Home Controller. Continue reading →
Using the thermostat as a home’s energy meter is gaining popularity. It’s a quick way to add another useful function to an existing system. Ecobee is one such example, but the latest contender is Silverpac's rather massive 7-inch touch-screen thermostat. The thermostat – the SilverSTAT 7 – is a “Smart Energy Thermostat” that gives advanced Continue reading →
Sigma Designs (NASDAQ: SIGM), a leading provider of system-on-chip (SoC) solutions used to deliver entertainment and control throughout the home, today announced the availability of the Z-Wave-to Zigbee bridge reference design aimed at closing the technology gap between smart meters and the Z-Wave Home Area Network (HAN). The reference design will expand Z-Wave’s ecosystem to Continue reading →
BuLogics, Inc., a leading designer of innovative, energy-saving technology products, announced today that it has developed the world’s first Smart Grid compatible Z- Wave wireless controller. The device, named the Smart Grid Home Controller(TM), allows connectivity to future Smart Grid meters by bridging the wireless technology of Z-Wave Home Area Networks (HANs) to Advanced Metering Continue reading →
The rising interest in smart grid is giving a major opportunity to technologies originally developed for home or industrial automation, serving up an application that is attracting major funding and even government mandates. This trend is also highlighting the potential stand-off between two standards efforts for low power, short wave automation networks – ZigBee and Continue reading →
The rising interest in smart grid is giving a major opportunity to technologies originally developed for home or industrial automation, serving up an application that is attracting major funding and even government mandates. This trend is also highlighting the potential stand-off between two standards efforts for low power, short wave automation networks – ZigBee and Continue reading →
Kamstrup’s new line of smart meters gives consumers a potent tool for monitoring and managing energy consumption within the home. Marketed under the slogan “The Green Difference,” Kamstrup’s meters are built upon Z-Wave technology, a standard recognised around the world. The Z-Wave standard guarantees easy integration with intelligent home networks. Once installed, consumers are able Continue reading →
An industry association that’s focused on developing a standard for connecting energy aware consumer products with smart meters says it’s released its first specification for product developers, the so-called “Utility Smart Access Port Bus Specification.” The U-SNAP Alliance – a group of utilities, manufacturers and consultants and that was formed to create and publish a Continue reading →
Members of the manufacturing and utility industries formed the U-SNAP Alliance in 2007 to strengthen efforts towards common connections. The group now developing products compliant with the Utility Smart Access Port Bus Specification that will hit retail shelves later this year. Efforts like this are what the smart grid needs to reach households — otherwise Continue reading →
