Smart Meter Momentum in Europe Gives Z-Wave a Running Start in the U.S.

(Marketwire - June 2, 2009)- The Z-Wave Alliance has extended its position in the rapidly growing global smart meter market. Manufacturers in Europe have recognized the considerable potential of the Z-Wave Advanced Energy Control (AEC) Framework and are using the technology for smart metering solutions, such as:

--  UK-based advanced metering equipment manufacturer, Horstmann, has
   already produced smart meters for the European market, with its H-series
   and SG-series product lines. The combination electricity and gas meters
   feature displays that provide consumers with an overview of their hourly,
   daily and monthly energy consumption. The SG-series uses GSM/GPRS to
   transmit data to the energy supplier for an improved and transparent
   billing process.
--  Kamstrup, a leading global manufacturer of system solutions for energy
    metering, plans to integrate Z-Wave technology into its metering modules
   during the second quarter of 2009, allowing the meters to transmit
   consumption data to smart energy displays, home control centers and
   utilities.
--  Danish energy supplier Modstrøem, which has been providing an
   innovative solution for reducing electricity costs since 2008, uses Z-Wave
   to provide active assistance to its customers in their efforts to reduce
   energy consumption. The savings made can then be either credited to the
   household or invested in CO2 certificates.
   

"As the building of the Advanced Metering Infrastructure in the U.S. accelerates with the availability of federal stimulus funds, Z-Wave is well positioned to play a leading role given its success overseas," said Bill Ablondi, director of Home Systems research with Parks Associates.

The Z-Wave AEC framework allows energy suppliers and smart meter manufacturers to develop an intelligent and advanced domestic energy management system that is designed to help homeowners better understand and manage their home energy use. According to a recent study from the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), fifty-six percent of consumers show interest in "smart energy meters" that provide information on optimum times to run appliances for utility bill savings. Unlike other technologies on the market, Z-Wave fulfils the requirements of energy suppliers and smart meter manufacturers while simultaneously offering affordable products to consumers that can be used to make domestic energy consumption transparent and easily manageable.

There are more than 300 Z-Wave certified products on the market, providing an end-to-end solution that allows the homeowner to manage and adjust lighting, thermostats, appliances and other devices to reduce energy consumption and spend.

"With the Obama administration calling for massive investment in and stimulus funding for energy saving technologies, smart meters are becoming more than a buzz word and Z-Wave's success in the European smart meter market with the likes of Modstrøem, Horstmann and Kamstrup gives it a significant competitive advantage as energy conservation and management takes center stage in the U.S.," stated Ken Lowe, EVP Strategy at Sigma Designs.

About Z-Wave

Z-Wave is an award-winning, proven and interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers and security systems. Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life including remote home monitoring, home healthcare, safety and security, and energy conservation. Z-Wave certified products are currently available from leading consumer brands in more than 300 products. Z-Wave is the recipient of the Wall Street Journal Technology Innovation Award in the wireless category, the CNET "Best of CES Award" in the enabling technologies category, along with PC World's World Class Award. For more information about Z-Wave, please visit www.z-wave.com.

About the Z-Wave Alliance

Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, FAKRO, Ingersoll-Rand Leviton, Sigma Designs, Wayne-Dalton, and Universal Electronics Inc. (UEI). Its members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security. Z-Wave technology is the foundation of all products manufactured by the Alliance members. For more information about the Z-Wave Alliance, visit www.zwavealliance.org.

Z-Wave® is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs, Inc. and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

http://www.marketwire.com/press-release/Z-Wave-Alliance-998230.html

Z-Wave Smart Utility Metering Application by the danish Modddtroem

Moddstroem un utilies Danois experimente differentes technologies et usages autour du compteur. Interessant !

"Modstroem, an exciting new Danish utility company, is guaranteeing its customers savings on their electricity bill with their innovative core product offering. Combining with Z-Wave based tools to monitor energy use; Modstroem can advise consumers on how to reduce their energy consumption. The savings can then be returned to the household or it can be reinvested in CO2 quotes that Modstroem buys and destroys. An ordinary household with an average consumption of 4000 kWh per year can thus save the environment at least two tons of CO2 per year. After successfully conquering the Home Control market and building up an impressive eco-system of products, Z-Wave is now equally strongly entering the utility market.

A small digital camera is mounted on the meter to read energy usage. Modstroem customers are able to view their home’s energy use on a website. Thanks to Z-Wave, the control of devices to reduce energy is possible through the same wireless technology and the same gateway that is used for the energy monitoring. Furthermore, by avoiding having to replacing the electricity meter, Modstroem enjoys a much simpler rollout and thereby enables accelerated adoption of its new service.

“With its undisputed strength in interoperability and its range of available products, Z-Wave does not only provide for the simple communication from an electricity meter to a gateway and a wireless display in the home. It also enables the control of devices in th home that actually consume the power. Especially this second aspect is essential for Modstroem’s advanced service and key to actually achieving energy reduction without compromising comfort for the consumer”, says Roar Seeger, CEO of Modstroem."

www.modstroem.dk Via http://www.automatedhome.co.uk

Z-Wave Alliance in the Smart Metering market with Kamstrup

L'alliance Z-Wave à annoncer l'arrivée d'un nouveau membre Kamstrup, un fournisseur de solution de comptage danois. Selon une autre source (portel.de) Kamstrup prevoit pour le deuxième trimestre 2009, l'implementation de cette technologie dans les modules associés aux compteurs.

The Z-Wave Alliance has announced its newest member: Kamstrup, the Danish manufacturer of metering solutions, which now joins the leading industry consortium in the field of home control solutions. With the addition of Kamstrup, the Z-Wave Alliance further reinforces its major role in the integration of energy-saving and smart metering solutions into intelligent home networks.

Kamstrup is a globally active hi-tech company specialising in the field of system solutions for energy metering. It serves energy suppliers with sustainable technologies that automatically collect and administer data regarding energy consumption in electricity, cooling, heating, water and gas units, in a clear and cost-saving manner.

Z-Wave technology is the leading 2-way wireless communications protocol for smart metering products, with over 300 home control products already on the market. Z-Wave’s Advanced Energy Control (AEC) Framework allows energy providers and smart metering manufacturers to establish an intelligent, forward-looking and environmentally-friendly energy management system for households. Kamstrup is planning to integrate Z-Wave technology into its meter modules in the second quarter of 2009. This will allow energy consumption data to be sent to smart energy displays, home control centres and energy suppliers.

"As a leading international company in the field of metering solutions Kamstrup knows the importance of integrating Z-Wave technology”, says Lis Muusmann, Marketing Manager at Kamstrup.

“Companies like as Kamstrup enrich the Z-Wave ecosystem with Smart Metering solutions, which will bring consumers an important step further towards reducing their energy consumption”, comments Raoul Wijgergangs, Chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance.

Z-Wave as a key to energy conservation
The Z-Wave AEC represents the latest advances in the field of domestic energy management. It is the industry’s largest ecosystem, as it combines and guarantees interoperability between over 300 products from the areas of smart metering and home control. Investments in Z-Wave technology are future-proof, for both consumers and energy utilities. Z-Wave technology lets homeowners obtain a clear overview of the energy consumption of their electric and heating devices. This new level of usage transparency allows consumers to make effective decisions on reducing consumption. Z-Wave integrates functions such as smart metering, consumer notifications, automated load shedding and whole-home control. This enables real-time energy management that reduces consumption and costs, and provides active control of all energy-consuming appliances. The Z-Wave ecosystem makes it possible to view the current status at any time and from any place in order to ascertain, for example, at what time the most resources are used, and allow adjustments as required. Furthermore, homeowners can also make the most of the availability of various billing methods, such as billing in accordance with duration of use or in accordance with certain tariff times. This allows consumption to be reduced at peak times, and also gives energy providers the opportunity to adjust their production levels to actual demand.

Secure transmission to the provider
Assurance of security is central to metering applications: data transmissions to providers contain personal information about consumers along with the readings and settings from the meters. Z-Wave provides a secure, dynamic and scaleable end-to-end data transfer between metering devices and energy provider. The Z-Wave AEC standardises the communication and/or the remote automated meter reading (AMR) process that occurs between the meter in the building and the energy supplier. The method of transmission is specially configured for AMR, which means that the accuracy and security of the data can be guaranteed. AES 128-bit encryption is used to enable provision of secure access to metering devices from any computer via the internet.

Source: Press Z-wave