Home Systems

• BOSCH helps EcoPlusHome Testhouse achieve energy efficiencies
  EcoPlusHome technology partner Bosch has helped improve the energy performance of the EcoPlusHome Testhouse. With the support of Bosch technologies, the New Brunswick concept home withstood extreme temperatures ranging from -31 degrees Fahrenheit (-35 degrees Celsius) in winter, and up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit (+35 degrees Celsius) in summer. The overall reduced dependence on fossil fuel makes EcoPlusHomes virtually immune to fluctuating fuel prices that can increase during peak demand seasons, allowing a more accurate forecast of the homeowner's budget. EcoHomePlus (9/15)

• FTTH Council to seek new president
  The Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council, an organization dedicated to expanding the deployment of high speed all-fiber networks, announced that its president, Daniel O'Connell, will leave the organization in October to take a senior position at a major telecommunications company. The Council's board of directors has appointed Joe Savage, who led the organization for five years until 2010, to serve as the interim president while the organization conducts a nationwide search for a new president. Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) Council (9/20)

• Best Buy to sell home energy management gear
  Best Buy plans to start selling home energy management products in stores later this year, creating a channel to introduce consumers to emerging grid technologies. The consumer electronics retailer in late October will start a trial in which three stores will have dedicated areas to demonstrate and explain a range of home energy technologies, said Kris Bowring, senior director and platform lead for home energy at Best Buy, at the GridWeek conference. CNET (9/14)

• Video: South Korea smart grid pilot
  On the island of Jeju, South Korea, 2,000 homes are currently hooked up to a smart grid pilot that's changing the way electricity is supplied. See the project close up in this Al Jazeera video. SmartGridNews.com (9/12)

• U.K. home outfitted with 42 automated shades
  Installation company James Robertshaw was contracted to manufacture and install 42 automated shades into a U.K. home. Somfy was the company’s motorized mechanism of choice. They combined LS40 motors with a System 40 barrel and 14 different Moco 220-240V A/C motor control boxes, which were already part of the home’s Lutron control panel. Electronic House (9/16)

• Consumers give high marks to CE sector, Apple
  Consumers surveyed for the American Customer Satisfaction Index gave Apple a score of 87 on a scale of 100, tops among computer manufacturers. Consumer electronics got a score of 85, tops among the 47 industries followed by the index. TWICE (9/20)

• Microsoft is in discussions with Comcast, Verizon
  Sources told Digiday that Microsoft is in negotiations with Comcast and Verizon about turning its Xbox 360 game console into a set-top box. While Microsoft had previously announced that it would add a live TV service to the Xbox this year, it hasn't shared many details about that rollout. VentureBeat/MediaBeat (9/19)

• Google Wallet makes its debut
  Google has made its Google Wallet application available on the Samsung Nexus S from Sprint Nextel. The tool, which will allow consumers to pay for purchases by tapping their mobile phones, launched with MasterCard but expects to add Visa, Discover and American Express in future versions. CNET (9/19)

• Netflix CEO apologizes for how rate hike was handled
  Netflix issued an apology for the way it handled a recent price increase and announced in a blog post by CEO Reed Hastings that its DVD rental and streaming businesses will be run as separate units. Netflix's DVD services will soon be known as Qwikster. Netflix shares have fallen by nearly half since the company announced its new pricing structure, which increases fees for subscribing to both services by 60%. Deadline.com (9/18)

• Study: TV is best for videos; viewers prefer tablets to smartphones
  PwC has released a study saying that two-thirds of the American adults surveyed prefer to watch premium video content on their home television sets. Still, a majority of respondents said they were becoming more open to viewing movies and TV shows on other products, preferably tablet computers. MediaPost Communications/Online Media Daily (9/16)

• Video game stock prices move on game reviews, analysis finds
  The reviews of video games can have a substantial effect on the stocks of game companies, according to this news analysis. Investors often turn to websites such as Metacritic, IGN.com and GameStop's Game Informer to check the trends in reviews of new game titles, Reuters reports. Reuters (9/16)

• Survey: Most consumers want to own their digital music
  A majority of 1,000 consumers surveyed by Insight Research Group prefer to buy and own digital music after listening to songs online. Consumers are using music-streaming services to hear new artists and to discover music they are unfamiliar with, according to the survey. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily blog (9/16)

• Microsoft to roll out Xbox TV for holiday shopping
  Microsoft will enter the media box market in time for the 2011 holiday shopping season, CEO Steve Ballmer told financial analysts this week. The Xbox TV product will offer on-demand video content and live broadcast and cable television channels through the Xbox 360 game console, according to Microsoft. Pricing and content details weren't disclosed. Light Reading Cable (9/15)

• Study: Most consumers research online but still buy at stores
  The NPD Group reports that a majority of American consumers do online research on consumer electronics before making a purchase, yet most of them still turn to retail outlets to make their purchases. Only about one-third of consumers surveyed by NPD said they were likely to buy computers and software online, and there were smaller percentages willing to make online purchases of e-readers, digital cameras, smartphones and other electronics. TWICE (9/15)

• IDC: Tablet market stays on a growth path
  Tablet demand continues to skyrocket, with shipments growing 88.9% in the second quarter compared with the first quarter. More than 62 million units will ship this year, research firm IDC predicts. Apple and its iPad lead the pack with a nearly 70% market share. ReadWriteWeb.com (9/14)

• Survey: Use TV, social media to reach affluent consumers
  The news that Honeywell and Opower are joining forces to develop energy management tools to help consumers reduce energy use and save money should put other players in the crowded home energy management space on notice. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (9/13)

• Homes with brains
  The 21st century house doesn't have a Star Trek food replicator or George Jetson's robot maid just yet, but "smart-home" technology available today can text you if there's a break-in or scold toddlers who get too close to the hot tub. Smart-home systems start at around $2,000 and top out above $1 million, offering homeowners remote-controlled lighting, window shades, swimming pools, door locks, thermostats and security cameras -- not to mention cutting-edge sound systems and home theaters, according to CEDIA. MediaPost Communications/Marketing Daily (9/13)

Click here for CABA's Industry Events Update

Large Building Automation

• Tyco International to split businesses into three companies
  Tyco International Ltd. announced that its board of directors has unanimously approved a plan to separate the company into three independent, publicly traded companies. The three companies created through the separation will consist of: the ADT North America residential security business, the provider of security for homes and small businesses; the provider of flow control products and services; and the commercial fire and security business. SDM (9/20)

• Siemens announces 2011 Smartest Building in America contest winners
  Siemens Industry, Inc. announced today it has selected the winners of the 2011 Smartest Building in America Challenge. This year two hospitals will share $40,000 in Siemens products and services. Providence St. Peter Hospital, Olympia, Wash., and Jackson South Community Hospital, Miami, elevated themselves above the other entries to claim Grand and Runner-Up prizes, respectively. Sacramento Bee (9/20)

• Tyco to make $100 million wireless acquisition
  Tyco International Ltd. announced that it reached an agreement to acquire Visonic Ltd., a global developer and manufacturer of electronic security systems and components, for approximately $100 million in cash. The acquisition will strengthen the wireless product and technology portfolio and market presence of the Tyco Security Products business in the intrusion security market. SDM (9/15)

• Cisco joins VideoIQ investors in $7.5 million backing
  VideoIQ this week announced it has added Cisco to its list of investors as part of a $7.5 million package that also includes the company’s original investment group of Atlas Venture, Matrix Partners and Tenaya Capital. The money will be used to further accelerate VideoIQ’s rapid growth and video surveillance product development, according to new VideoIQ president and CEO Ed Bednarcik. Commercial Integrator (9/16)

• Honeywell & Cumberland County Schools launch energy awareness campaign
  Honeywell and Cumberland County Public Schools today announced the launch of an energy education and awareness campaign to teach and promote sustainable practices among students, faculty and the local community. The goal of the Honeywell Act! Earth program is to help the school district cut about $320,000 in energy costs over the next five years and reduce electricity use by an estimated 2.7 million kilowatt-hours — enough energy to power 230 homes for a year. WebWire (9/20)

• Verizon continues its move into the smart grid
  CellReader, Trilliant’s advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) technology for commercial and industrial (C&I) utility metering, has been certified as compatible with the Verizon Wireless network. The combination of Verizon’s wireless network and Trilliant’s CellReader communications module offers utilities an easy-to-deploy two-way AMI solution that allows scheduled and on-demand access to all meter data. Telecompetitor (9/15)
  

• Broadband Forum delivers fiber solution set
  The Broadband Forum has brought widespread deployment of superfast broadband a step closer with the launch of its comprehensive fiber resource - BroadbandSuiteT 5.0 at the Forum's quarterly meeting, held in Shanghai. The new release brings together into one suite the range of fiber-related work that the Broadband Forum has been carrying out in its Fiber Access Networks working group, working closely with FSAN, the Full Service Access Network, with the aim of enabling multi-vendor interoperability. PR Newswire (9/21)

• Stanley closes $1.2 billion Niscayah acquisition, continues global growth
  Stanley CSS announced the completion of Stanley Black & Decker's acquisition of Niscayah. Following the completion of the acquisition, Stanley and Niscayah's leadership will develop the best structure going forward in order to maintain the company's commitment to being the industry's gold standard, the company said. SDM (9/12)

• Consortium invests in energy-efficient building systems
  A business consortium that includes Lockheed Martin and Barclays bank plans to invest as much as $650 million over the next few years to slash the energy consumption of buildings in the Miami and Sacramento areas. It is the most ambitious effort yet to jump-start a national market for energy upgrades that many people believe could eventually be worth billions. New York Times (9/13)

• Energy efficiency major factor in building automation and control systems market
  The green building market is expanding rapidly, and the cost reduction benefits associated with the deployment of building automation and control systems are encouraging growth in the market, according to a new report available on companiesandmarkets.com. MarketWatch (9/21)

• IDC issues assessment of smart building energy analytics vendors
  IDC Energy Insights announced the availability of a new IDC MarketScape report providing a comprehensive evaluation of leading Smart Building Energy Analytics vendors. The report, IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Smart Building Energy Analytics 2011 Vendor Assessment is unique in the market and is intended to help stakeholders in developing a short list of vendors in the Smart Building Energy Analytics market. It includes the following vendors: BuildingIQ, EnerNOC, GridPoint, Hara, IBM, Optimum Energy, SCIenergy (formerly Scientific Conservation), and Serious Energy. MarketWatch (9/21)

• EU commissioner calls for 'green' buildings
  EU environment commissioner Janez Potocnik has stressed the importance of sustainability in the "built environment". Speaking in Brussels celebrating World Green Building Week, he argued that "greening" Europe’s building stock will deliver on the "triple bottom line of people, profit and planet". TheParliament.com (9/13)

• Realty firms turn to facility management outsourcing to reduce costs
  Amid intense pressure to reduce costs and stay competitive, global realty firms are looking to hand over facility management operations to third parties and expect to see substantial growth in outsourcing such jobs over the next 12 months, according to a KPMG survey. Facility management refers to the maintenance and care of commercial or institutional buildings such as hotels, resorts, schools, hospitals or office complexes. The Economic Times (9/7)

• Provide input for a national commercial U.S. buildings database
  The Commercial Buildings Consortium and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is seeking input on your information needs. Your input will help inform the development of a national High-Performance Green Building Clearinghouse, which will be a comprehensive and interactive one-stop-shop on high-performance green commercial buildings; including technical information, case studies, standards, guidelines, tools, and resources. Please submit your responses by Wednesday, September 30, 2011. Commercial Buildings Consortium (9/21)

• Video: Cisco demonstrates converged building technologies in Toronto
  PWC employees will take possession of the first two floors of their new showcase property in downtown Toronto: PWC Tower @ 18 York. When they will walk into their offices, they will not find a light switch on the wall. Instead, they will now be able to turn on, dim and turn off their lights using the Cisco IP phone in the offices, meeting rooms, and quiet rooms. For any technology person this may not seem a big deal, yet it certainly will be a first for the occupants of 18 York. Smart + Connected Communities Institute (9/18)

• Improving energy audits with technical retro-commissioning
  Technical retro-commissioning (retro-Cx) is the systematic hands-on process that determines building system performance during actual operation. The technical retro-Cx process corrects ventilation- and energy-related problems in existing buildings and is also used to obtain actual operating data for audit savings calculations. Consulting-Specifying Engineer (9/21)
  

Member Press Releases

• CMMS and EAM Software Provider Unveils New Brand and Marketing Launch
  Eagle Technology, Inc., a leading developer of Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) has undergone a complete rebranding with new company and product logos, packaging, and new marketing materials. The rebranding effort also included a comprehensive update of their website, www.eaglecmms.com.

• Other Items

Encelium Technologies Expands Product Offering with New Line of Occupancy Sensors
The Future of "Green" Addressable Lighting Systems Looks Bright for Encelium Technologies
Sept. 22-23: Encelium Technologies to Exhibit at IIDEX/NeoCon Canada
Computerized Maintenance Management Software (CMMS) and Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) Software Developer Opens European Office
AMX Forms Network Media Group
Tridium Announces Appointment of Chief Technology Officer
Schneider Electric to Deliver Transformational Energy Management Capability with Cisco
EMerge Alliance Adds New Members to its DC Power Standards Movement
Cablevision Selects Affinegy Software to Deploy, Manage and Support Optimum Online Boost Plus
Affinegy Announces Home Portal v2.0

CABA members can post their media releases by logging into the CABA Web site.

CABA Research Spotlight

• Behavior and Energy Savings
  This report from the Environmental Defense Fund reports on a study that sought to effect residential energy conservation. The subjects were shown comparisons of their energy usage compared to their neighbors. This led to consumption reductions in range of 0.9% to 2.9% with an average of 1.8%. The key is to target the right conservation program to the right household by size, number of occupants, and age of the occupants. 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: True Value of Grid Reliability
  Register for an Echelon webcast and receive the firms white paper on The True Value of Grid Reliability. The webcast, to be held September 21, 2011 at 10 am ET will provide results of the Duke Ohio’s Auditor’s Assessment and other case studies from around the world where real utilities are performing at 99.7 – 100% levels of reliability daily and achieving the business case benefits of a smarter, future-proof grid.
  
  
• Online event: CEProLIVE!
  Sign up for CEProLIVE!, the first industry-wide virtual event for custom electronics professionals, on October 27, 2011, 10am - 5pm EDT. Jointly produced by CE Pro and CEDIA, CEProLIVE! offers a compelling lineup of dealer education in the hottest new technology areas - with valuable information to help you stay on top of your game.
  
  
• Free audio presentations on connected devices
  Connected Content 2011 is offering two of its best sessions from the Smart TV USA conference held back in June. The first is a debate between Intel, Philips and Rovi about how content and technology players should work together. Secondly, there’s an honest examination of the potential of TV Apps with Samsung and Logitech which is well worth listening to, and it's completely free.
  

CABA News

• CABA Speakers Bureau now recruiting
  The CABA Speakers Bureau is a chance to have your voice heard in the industry. As a speaker, it also allows you to network with organizations and companies and form new business relationships. It also allows you the opportunity to highlight your organization. CABA receives numerous requests each year in regards to recommending CABA members that would be willing to speak at events on various topics regarding home and building automation. The CABA Speakers Bureau is now recruiting and there is no cost to CABA members to register. Register today!
  
  
• CABA President & CEO to attend AUTOVATION 2011
  CABA President & CEO Ron Zimmer will be one of the closing keynote speakers at AUTOVATION, The Smart Utility Conference and Exposition. The conference is scheduled for September 25-28, 2011 in Washington, DC. There will also be a CABA exhibit at booth 225. 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
  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), Victor Berrios (Nomomoto Group), Duncan Bees (Home Gateway Initiative), Derek Phillips (Freescale Semiconductor), Cory Sorice (The Chamberlain Group), 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.