Major corporations have access to energy-saving components that link sensors and control devices. A new, less expensive product from Echelon may accomplish the same goals for small buildings, according to this PCWorld article.
Echelon's LonWorks 2.0 platform updates a range of componentry that goes into the manufacture of lighting controls, security systems and HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) systems, among others. A transceiver and processor are set to ship in volume in August, according to the article, and by next year an operating system and development and installation tools will be available.
The new system will enable multiple kinds of sensors and control devices to share a single network and data exchange.
President Obama's economic stimulus contains $4.5 billion in funding for "smart grid" technologies.