Home Systems

  • Sprint makes home energy management tools available
    According to BusinessWire, Sprint is working with Proliphix and SmartLabs to make energy management tools available and easy to install for end users, including businesses and consumers. Sprint also announced that the Proliphix IMT-550 Internet Managed Thermostat is now available with Sprint wireless network connectivity and that SmartLabs INSTEON will be available in late 2011 with embedded Sprint network connectivity. Power to the People (9/14)
  • Is your robot helper at hand?
    Willow Garage, a unique startup in Menlo Park, California, has designed a robot called the PR2 that bears some resemblance to the Jetsons’ beloved Rosie. It’s still under development, but already the PR2 can fold clothes, fetch a drink from the fridge, set the table and even bake cookies. Ottawa Citizen (9/13)
  • Google may leverage YouTube to provide video rental service
    Google may be targeting a new market: Offering digital rentals of movies and television shows, supported by advertising. Ralph Schackart, media analyst with William Blair & Co., notes that the search giant is locking up streaming rights to various films and TV shows, which could possibly lead to a revamp of YouTube that would in turn position the online video site as a platform for digital content rental competing with Amazon Prime and Apple's iTunes. Google did not provide comment on the analysis. Home Media Magazine (9/12)
  • Samsung looks beyond smart TVs to mobile devices, PCs
    Samsung Electronics is expanding its "Free the TV Challenge" program for application developers beyond apps for smart television sets to software that connects TVs with PCs, smartphones and tablet computers. The Korean company looks to emulate Apple by promoting connectivity among its full consumer-electronics line, according to this analysis. GigaOm/NewTeeVee blog (9/12)
  • Polymer gel batteries on the way for smaller electronics
    The trend toward shrinking the thickness of notebook computers and smartphones is forcing consumer-electronics manufacturers to find new ways to power those products. One approach is a polymer gel developed at the University of Leeds and licensed to American Polystor Energy. Pocket-Lint.com (9/12)
  • Survey looks at the scope of installation firms in the U.S.
    A survey conducted by Parks Associates found that 17,500 to 18,500 companies in the U.S. provide installation of consumer electronics. The report also estimated that 2,500 to 3,500 security/alarm system companies operate in the U.S., along with 1,250 to 2,250 electrical contractors. Dealerscope (9/9)
  • Microsoft to update the Xbox 360's user interface
    Microsoft this fall will revise the user interface of the Xbox 360, making it more like the Metro UI of Windows Phone 7 and Windows 8, according to Albert Penello, the company's director of platform marketing. In an interview with Gamasutra, Penello said the Xbox update, its biggest in three years, will better tie together the console's controller and its Kinect module. Gamasutra.com (9/9)
  • Upgrade lets most Android users stream Netflix video
    An upgrade released Friday allows Android 2.2 and 2.3 users to access Netflix on their wireless devices, meaning more than 80% of Android customers can now stream video from the service. That's a marked increase from the five devices that supported the application when it debuted in May. MobileBeat (9/11)
  • Gartner slashes forecast for PC market growth this year
    Gartner has revised downward its outlook for the global PC market, saying it now expects 3.8% growth this year, down from 9.3%. It cited tablet demand and lingering economic issues. "Worrisome for the long term is that Generation Y has an altogether different view of client devices than older generations and are not buying PCs as their first, or necessarily main, device," Gartner Research Director Ranjit Atwal said. Reuters (9/8)
  • ZigBee RF4CE standard is aimed at remote controls, set-top boxes
    GreenPeak Technologies, a fabless semiconductor manufacturer, announced that many of the world’s leading cable and satellite TV providers are in the process of introducing interactive features and home entertainment capabilities that leverage a new generation of remote controls thanks at least in part to an industry standard known as ZigBee RF4CE. Vision2Mobile.com (9/7)
  • Smart refrigerators now feature apps
    Samsung demonstrated at the CEDIA Expo last week in Indianapolis a refrigerator with a built-in 8-inch Wi-Fi LCD screen with several kitchen-specific apps preloaded. By touching the Epicurious icon, for example, families can quickly find recipes for dinner. Other apps include Weatherbug, AP News, Google Calendar, Pandora, Twitter and Picasa Photos. Electronic House (9/9)
  • CEDIA announces 2011 Electronic Lifestyles® awards winners
    The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) recognized the outstanding work of its members at the annual Electronic Lifestyles® Awards Banquet Saturday night. The honorees included over 40 winning projects in the Designer Awards competition, 16 Manufacturers' Excellence Awards winners, three inductees into the CEDIA Fellows program, and the 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Also honored were the year's top volunteers. CEDIA (9/11)

Large Building Automation
  • Lighting market report predicts strong growth for LED lighting
    The worldwide lighting market will grow to approximately $159 billion in 2020, with 80% of that total from general lighting, according to a report from McKinsey & Company. McKinsey was commissioned by Osram, Siemens’ lighting division, to examine the worldwide lighting market and to investigate the adoption patterns of SSL through the year 2020. LED Magazine (9/13)
  • Solid-state energy storage moves forward
    The technology boom best represented by the rise of microelectronics has a weak point: the battery. The pace of advancement in battery life is glacial compared with that of the electronic components' battery power. Labs around the world are pushing hard to catch up, improving and inventing strategies to provide long-lasting energy storage for devices ranging from on-chip nanocircuitry to entire power plants. Energy Harvest Journal (8/29)
  • Hydro One wins Utilimetrics AMI/smart grid excellence award
    Utilimetrics, the world's premier utility technology association announced that Hydro One is the 2011 recipient of the Utilimetrics Excellence in Project Management Award. "This prestigious award honors a utility that demonstrates superior achievement in innovation," said Joel Hoiland, Utilimetrics CEO. "The Awards Committee received many impressive entries from utilities whose AMI/Smart Grid projects are under way or complete." BusinessWire (9/9)
  • Honeywell releases Rapid Eye Driver software
    Honeywell and integration software maker Tridium Inc. introduced a software tool that allows integrators and security dealers to more easily incorporate digital video surveillance capabilities into larger building control systems. The Rapid Eye Driver enables Tridium’s Niagara Framework to communicate with Honeywell’s flagship line of Rapid Eye digital video recorders (DVR). Rapid Eye DVRs are used globally by organizations across various industries to record, store and search for video evidence needed for investigations. SecurityInfoWatch.com (9/13)
  • Singapore sees multi-billion dollar opportunities in green buildings
    Singapore represents a S$300-billion opportunity for construction and allied industries as it embarks on a national programme to convert its existing built-up space to green buildings. With the government setting a target of upgrading 80 per cent of the built-up space to at least the minimum level of Green Mark Standards of the Singapore Green Building Council by 2030, there is a huge opportunity in upgrading construction and revamping the electrical and mechanical components. Hindu Business Line (8/31)
  • Lighting Science Group unveils ultra-efficient, sustainable glimpse LED downlight
    Leading the ultra-efficient lighting revolution, Lighting Science Group LSCG -1.54% introduced its GlimpseLED downlight. Mimicking the form of a BR bulb in a downlight, the Glimpse maintains the same unrivaled lumen (light) output and top-tier performance that has come to differentiate the company's LED products, while offering an improved, innovative thermal design that dramatically reduces the amount of raw materials needed for assembly. MarketWatch (9/6)
  • Empire State Building gets gold for green-ness
    After lavishing $106 million on a series of upgrades designed to make the Empire State Building more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly, the famous spire was awarded a LEED Gold rating from the U.S. Green Building Council recently, the second-highest level available. Crain's New York Business (9/13)
  • Video: Enter Siemens video contest to win $15,000
    Electronics and electrical engineering giant Siemens is calling on all filmmakers worldwide to enter its Changing Your City for the Better video contest .'Sustainable Cities' is the topic of the contest, and all contestants are urged to prove that they can use technology to overcome humanity's challenges. Contestants can either focus on energy supply (power generation, power transmission and distribution, smart grids, electro-mobility), urban infrastructure and mobility, or efficient and intelligent buildings. bizcommunity.com (9/13)
  • Singh360 offers “free apps” for HVAC and refrigeration engineers
    Singh360, a full service facility management consulting firm, offers “free” Windows and iPhone applications for refrigeration and HVAC engineers. These applications are handy tools for calculating “pressure-temperature” for various refrigerants (such as R404A, R22, propane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, etc.) typically used in commercial and supermarket facilities. The iApp supports both English and SI units. PR.com (9/14)
  • University of Oregon sets goal for energy efficiency
    The University of Oregon has set a goal of building out its campus without expanding energy use. Meeting the goal of no net increase in the amount of power for campus buildings and grounds could cost the university as much as $10 million in a decade when it expects more than a million additional square feet of construction. New campus buildings would have to meet higher energy efficiency requirements, at least 35 percent more efficient than required under state building codes. Bend Bulletin (9/13)
  • Project Frog secures $22 million to expand smart-building kit sales
    Project Frog, a San Francisco-based business that offers a system for building efficient, prefabricated and sustainable structures, has secured a $22-million investment to help it expand its sales pipeline and fulfill orders. Led by GE’s Energy Financial Services, the investment round was also joined by Claremont Creek Ventures, Greener Capital Partners and RockPort Capital Partners. The amount contributed by each investor was not disclosed. Greenbang (9/7)
  • Echelon works with APEC to bring smart grid to Asia Pacific
    Echelon Corporation, a global leader in energy control networking for smart grid applications, is a proud sponsor and member of the steering committee that is hosting meetings of Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) senior officials in San Francisco September 11-26, 2011. The meetings will host diplomats to discuss trade expansion, economic growth and energy efficiency for a region that produces 55% of global GDP. MarketWatch (9/13)
  • Panasonic to integrate Sanyo's HVAC group
    Panasonic Corporation of North America today announced that the HVAC products group of Sanyo North America's commercial solutions division will officially be integrated into Panasonic's North American operations on Oct. 1. The unit, which is responsible for sales and service for commercial and consumer HVAC products, will be called the Panasonic air conditioning group. TWICE (9/8)
  • Middle Atlantic Products introduces its RackLink™ power management system
    Middle Atlantic Products introduced its practical Web-enabled power management system at CEDIA that sets a new standard for cost effective capabilities. Set it up in less than five minutes and it will monitor the power and temperature conditions of your system, log and alert you to any irregularities, and even take action to correct problems on its own. The firm has made it easy to set up and operate, with an open architecture that integrates seamlessly with leading control systems – even with smart phones – and is compatible with ‘cloud’ based services but is not dependent on them. Middle Atlantic Products (9/8)
Member Press Releases
  • Encelium Technologies Expands Product Offering with New Line of Occupancy Sensors
    Encelium Technologies, a leading technology development company specializing in integrated lighting control systems for commercial buildings, has introduced its new family of low-voltage occupancy sensors. This product line includes a full range of passive infrared (PIR) and dual technology (Ultrasonic/PIR) low-voltage sensors available in both wall mount and ceiling mount configurations.
  • Other Items
CABA Research Spotlight
  • Internet matters: The Net’s sweeping impact on growth, jobs, and prosperity
    As with electricity, the Internet has influenced every corner of the world, not just those countries that first developed it. It transformed the way we live, work, play and socialize, and almost $8 trillion exchanges hands each year through e-commerce. This report provides new insights from a holistic perspective that examines a range of players from enterprises & consumers to companies that form part of the Internet supply chain and those that leverage the technologies for their own business needs. It equates the Internet with wealth creation and describes it as one of the biggest drivers of global economic growth. Read the full report as published in CABA's Public Research Library. Paid CABA membership provides you access to the world's largest collection of connected home and intelligent building research: CABA Member Research Library.
Education & Training
  • Webinar: Intelligent Buildings: Current and Emerging Trends
    The Continental Automated Buildings Association recently commissioned two market study and research projects titled “Intelligent Buildings Market Sizing North America” and the “Intelligent Buildings Roadmap.” In conjunction with CoR Advisors, CABA will conduct a webinar session on Friday, November 4, at 12:30pm that will review the key findings of this research and provide an overview of current and future trends in intelligent buildings. Konkana Khaund, from Frost & Sullivan, and Jeremy Towler, from BSRIA, and others, will define an intelligent building and its components, review the benefits of intelligent building solutions for all stakeholders, and present a summary of the business opportunities and market size for intelligent building solutions. You’ll learn about the influence of technology advances for building energy efficiency, automation, IT convergence, renewable energy solutions, and integration with the smart grid.

  • Webcast: SMB Technical Support Service Best Practices
    This webcast, to be held September 15 at 2 pm ET and co-hosted by Parks Associates and PlumChoice, will examine best practices for launching a national SMB technical support service. The market opportunity for delivering technical support services to the small- and medium-sized business market is sizable. Parks Associates forecasts that U.S. revenues will grow from $9.6 billion in 2011 to more than $20 billion by year-end 2015. The early market entrants in this space have experienced great success; however, the overall market penetration is still low and represents substantial opportunities for service providers to launch national SMB technical support solutions.

  • Webinar: The CIO and the PM: The New Dynamic Duo
    CoR Advisors will hold a webinar on September 16 at 12:30 pm ET focused on information and property management. With the integration of IT into building management and operations, the new building team includes not only the property manager, but now also the CIO. The role of the CIO in commercial real estate is quickly evolving from overseeing the fundamental network operations of the organization to developing the technology strategy for the operations of the buildings. The CIO and the IT team play a critical role in building management, as they are best equipped to automate building systems, obtain data from building controls and devices, and advise on how to maximize building operational efficiency. This session will discuss the importance of the CIO and the PM as a critical new partnership.

  • Webinar: Advanced Energy Design Guide for Small to Medium Office Buildings
    Attend DOE’s webinar on September 15, 2011 at 12pm ET on the 50% Advanced Energy Design Guide (AEDG). This series follows six volumes of award winning 30% guides. The AEDGs are the result of a partnership between DOE, ASHRAE, AIA, IESNA and USGBC, and the next group of publications will provide guidance on achieving 50% savings over ANSI/ASHRAE/IESNA Standard 90.1-2004. The first guide in the new series, 50% AEDG for Small to Medium Office Buildings, is currently available for free download. This no-cost webinar provides an overview of the 50% series and outlines recommendations for energy savings in both small and medium office buildings. More information and register.
CABA News
  • SecurTek Monitoring Solutions Joins CABA Board of Directors
    The Continental Automated Buildings Association is pleased to announce that SecurTek Monitoring Solutions, a SaskTel company, has been appointed to the organization’s Board of Directors. CABA is a nonprofit industry association that provides information, education, and networking to help promote advanced technologies for the automation of homes and buildings. Barry Rogers, President and Chief Executive Officer of SecurTek, will represent the firm.

  • CABA President & CEO to attend M2M Conference
    CABA President & CEO Ron Zimmer will speak and moderate a panel on home automation at the M2M Conference, to be held at the Georgia Tech Research Institute. The conference is scheduled for September 20-21, 2011 in in Atlanta, GA. If you are attending this event, and would like to meet with Mr. Zimmer, please e-mail him directly at zimmer@caba.org.
  • CBS Vision hosts CABA Digital Home Forum: October 26
    Only two days left to save 10% off your registration for the Digital Home Forum. Discount offer expires Friday September 16, 2011! The event will bring together leading companies involved in the integration of consumer electronics and other cutting-edge technology throughout the home. Learn about current trends in the digital and connected home from a wide range of companies working in this space and explore future research opportunities. Here are just a few of our featured speakers: Kristen Bowring (Best Buy), Dave Poltrack (CBS Vision), Ron Zimmer (CABA), John Hall (CABA), David Ainslie (Carbon Café Consulting), Duncan Bees (Home Gateway Initiative), Derek Phillips (Freescale Semiconductor), Konkana Khaund (Frost & Sullivan), Jerry Gouge (Ingersoll Rand), Sandy Bates (Innovation Partners), Michael Clay (Verizon Wireless), and Carole Wiedmeyer (Zanthus Corporation). More details are available here.

    The CABA Connected Home Council (CHC) breakfast meeting will be sponsored by Best Buy and all Digital Home Forum attendees are also invited to attend this complimentary meeting chaired by Michael Clay, from Verizon Wireless. The meeting is scheduled from 8:30 AM - 11 am on Thursday, October 27, in Las Vegas, NV. Seating is limited so please confirm your attendance at the CHC meeting with Tony Disipio at 613.686.1814 x228 or disipio@caba.org, when you register for the Digital Home Forum. Meeting agenda and details can be found here.

    For further information about CABA’s Digital Home Forum and CABA’s Connected Home Council (CHC) meeting, please contact George Grimes, CABA's Business Development Manager, at 888.798.CABA (2222) or 613.686.1814 x226 or grimes@caba.org.  
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