News

Echelon Technology Makes Transforming Residences into 'Intelligent' Homes as Easy as Plugging in a Power Cord (24/11/2006)

Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ:ELON), a global networking company providing technology and solutions for controls, smart metering, and energy and environment management, announced today that its technology has been incorporated into low-cost home automation devices manufactured by Secyourit GmbH, a German home control company. Secyourit's SIENNA(R) sensors and actuators, which control electrical devices ranging from window blinds to lights, are aimed at meeting increasing consumer demand for energy conservation management and home automation features. Secyourit is an inaugural member of Echelon's Digital Home(R) Alliance -- a consortium of consumer goods manufacturers and service providers that is enabling the worldwide mass market for open and interoperable networked home control using Echelon's technology. See today's separate Digital Home Alliance announcement for further details.

"The SIENNA product line makes the intelligent home a reality for everyone, with devices that are affordable and easy to install," said Stefan Radig of Unielektro, a major distributor with 50 outlets in Germany. "For the first time, home automation products that deliver real value are accessible to everyday consumers, enabling home owners to reduce energy costs and increase comfort and security." SIENNA products allow direct control of lights and other electrical devices in a home that contribute to the bulk of a homeowner's electricity bill. Control and monitoring of such devices allow homeowners or service providers to actively reduce energy use when energy is expensive or scarce -- energy saving behavior that helps consumers adopt a green lifestyle for saving money and helping the environment.

The devices play an important role in Europe, where new home construction has declined, prompting more homeowners to take on do-it-yourself renovation projects. Catering to cost-conscious homeowners who demand non-technical installation, the SIENNA products can be added to existing homes without ripping open walls or installing new wiring. Even better, the devices are easy to install -- the only tool required is a screwdriver -- making a true home automation system simple enough for any homeowner to have. The SIENNA products are designed to be scalable to accommodate typical consumer buying habits, allowing homeowners to start with just a few components and later expand to a full automation system for a completely intelligent home.

Secyourit's SIENNA system utilizes Echelon's power line communications technology to communicate over standard, in-house power lines and works with all commercially available switches and power outlets. A key feature of Echelon's platform is its Interoperable Self-Installation (ISI) technology, which provides a simple, automatic discovery process for home devices and appliances to communicate with each other. Devices equipped with ISI software are ideally suited to the home environment because they do not need specialized software or programming to work. As soon as power is applied, the devices discover one another and configure themselves into fully functional control systems, making installation as easy as plugging in a power cord. System changes, such as the addition of a new device or changing a lighting scene, can take place at any time without any expertise or training on the part of the user. The SIENNA products cost from as little as 50 euros per module to 100 euros for modules that perform multiple functions, well within the reach of the average home owner, and will become available in the U.S. after technical modifications are made.

"Echelon's technology is enabling companies worldwide to develop control automation systems that are reliable, cost-effective and easyto install -- useful in any industry but critical requirements for the home automation market," said Anders Axelsson, Echelon's senior vice president of sales and marketing. "Home owners are becoming more energy conscious and want to be able to automate their homes without the hassle of complex installation. Our technologies are also allowing people to do this, transforming more residences into intelligent homes."

www.echelon.com
www.secyourit.com