Echelon Simplifies Installation of LonWorks Based Building Automation Systems

SAN JOSE, Calif., April 30, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON), the world's leading energy control networking solution provider, today announced that its customer, Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, is transitioning its Lon based MircoNet Series of controllers from the Echelon FT 3150 to the Echelon FT 5000 smart transceiver. These products include VAV, Unitary, and Fan Coil Unit application specific controllers.  These controllers are used in Schneider's industry-leading building management systems for commercial buildings, including TAC I/A Series and SmartStruxure solution.

Commercial buildings consume roughly 23% of all electricity globally. Leading building automation providers such as Schneider Electric claim that with the right system, building owners can significantly reduce heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) costs without compromising safety or comfort. Given the attractive return on investment associated with building energy management, Pike Research, a leading energy consultancy, estimates that the market for commercial building automation systems will double over the next decade, increasing from $72.5 billion in 2011 to $146.4 billion by 2021. 

Over the years, the scope of building systems has increased to encompass virtually any device or data source within the building. Schneider Electric's Lon based MicroNet series of programmable controllers comply with the ISO 14908 standard, also called LonWorks^®. This allows Schneider Electric's customers to easily extend their control system with LonWorks compatible devices from other manufacturers, and allows the company and its integration partners to customize the control system to meet project specific requirements.

"Coordinated control across all facility systems can provide up to 30% reduction in overall energy usage, achieving significant cost reductions in operation and maintenance of facilities," said Ralph Box, Director, HVAC at Schneider Electric. "We have used Echelon technology in several of our products to add LonWorks-based control networking capabilities. Migrating to the FT 5000 smart transceiver allows us to offer our customers the latest interoperable control networking technology with simplified credit-free installation."

"Schneider Electric's choice to update its products with the FT 5000 is a testament to the proven performance of Echelon's technology and to the open extensibility of the ISO 14908 LonWorks standard," said Anders Axelsson, senior vice president, Strategic Accounts & Business Development at Echelon. "The real winners are the customers that will have a robust ecosystem of easy to install and easy to integrate building automation systems."

About Schneider Electric
As a global specialist in energy management with operations in more than 100 countries, Schneider Electric offers integrated solutions across multiple market segments, including leadership positions in Utilities & Infrastructures, Industries & Machine manufacturers, Non-residential buildings, Data centers & Networks, and in Residential. Focused on making energy safe, reliable, efficient, productive and green, the Group's 130,000 plus employees achieved sales of 22.4 billion euros in 2011, through an active commitment to help individuals and organizations make the most of their energy.
www.schneider-electric.com/company

About Echelon Corporation
Echelon Corporation (NASDAQ: ELON) is an energy control networking company, with the world's most widely deployed proven, open standard, multi-application platform, selling complete systems and embedded sub-systems for smart grid, smart city and smart building applications. Our platform is embedded in more than 100 million devices, 35 million homes, and 300,000 buildings and powers energy savings applications for smart grids, smart cities and smart buildings. We help our customers reduce operational costs, enhance satisfaction and safety, grow revenues and prepare for a dynamic future. More information about Echelon can be found at http://www.echelon.com.

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Echelon, LonWorks, and the Echelon logo are registered trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in the United States and other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.

This press release may contain statements relating to future plans, events or performance. Such statements may involve risks and uncertainties, including risks associated with market acceptance of Echelon's technology by itself or combined with other applications or offerings, including offerings by Schneider the risk that Echelon's offerings by themselves or combined with other applications or offerings do not perform as designed or do not offer the expected benefits and savings; risks associated with international sales; the timing of orders and the possibility that pilot orders may not expand into full deployments; and other risks identified in Echelon's SEC filings. Actual results, events and performance may differ materially. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Echelon undertakes no obligation to release publicly the result of any revisions to these forward-looking statements that may be made to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Contact:
Colleen Martell
+1 (408) 832-0147
[email protected]

SOURCE Echelon Corporation