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KNX grows in all regions worldwide and scores with energy efficiency in Europe, Asia and the US (6/5/2010)

As KNX celebrates its 20th birthday, it is indisputably the world leader for home and building automation, thanks to its exceptional versatility and openness. In recent years, KNX has developed particularly strongly in terms of system properties, international standardisation, international prevalence, and product variety. In the context of integrated room automation incorporating lighting, shading, heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems, KNX ensures a high level of comfort and low energy costs (savings of up to 50%). At the same time, the use of KNX in residential construction – which represents a quantum leap in comfort and security compared to conventional electrical installations – has increased dramatically (+55%). Thanks to KNX IP, the scale and networking possibilities of KNX systems have also increased yet further. And with the user-friendly ETS4, the wide range of new KNX applications available, the new KNX specification 2.0, and a sharp increase in the number of KNX manufacturers, the scene is set for the continued above-average growth of KNX.

For applications both large and small, in residential, non-residential and administrative buildings, in Europe, Asia and the USA, more and more building owners, designers, planners and system integrators are opting for KNX – the most comprehensive system available for networked building automation. Whatever the task – and a glance at the winners of the KNX Award 2010 will reveal just how extraordinarily diverse the tasks that KNX can handle are – the wide range of KNX-certified products available means that an ingenious, flexible and efficient solution can always be found.

A strong community

KNX’s success is continuing unabated, underlining its leading role as the worldwide STANDARD for home and building control systems (ISO/IEC 14543). The number of KNX manufacturers has doubled since the last Light+Building in 2008, giving a total of almost 200 KNX members from 28 different countries. More than 40% of the new KNX manufacturers come from countries outside Europe – and particularly Asia. In addition, the number of ETS licences held and the number of active KNX partners have also doubled since 2008. Despite the economic crisis, KNX member companies in some countries experienced up to 60% growth in sales in 2009. New certified training centres are being set up at numerous locations around the world, for example in India, South Africa, Australia, Uruguay and Brazil. KNX is currently used in more than 100 countries worldwide.

Light+Building is the KNX trade fair

83 KNX members exhibited a total of 225 new KNX applications at Light+Building 2010. The latest KNX applications include not just LED and WLAN control, but also – most notably – operation of the full range of KNX technology via iPad, iPhone and iPod. In addition, system integrators from 6 different countries presented 16 innovative KNX applications at the KNX stand (8.0 / F98). And more than 1,000 guests from 54 countries registered for the world’s biggest KNX event – the KNX TOP Event, which took place at the exhibition centre on the fairgrounds.

The new ETS4: fast, simple, open

Engineering Tool Software (ETS), the product and manufacturer-independent standard tool for KNX, is now available in 15 languages, and supports KNX installations for all media: twisted pair, radio frequency, Ethernet/IP and power line. The KNX Association has completely redesigned ETS and equipped it with a wide range of convenient functions. Thanks to the new ETS4, KNX projects can be implemented quickly and easily. Its standardised open interface allows exchange of ETS data with other applications, and the integration of various apps. ETS4 is expected to be available from October 2010. KNX is a “green” technology

Numerous real-life examples have shown that networked home and building control based on KNX allows energy consumption to be reduced by up to 50%. The current overwhelming focus in home and building control is therefore on tackling issues relating to global climate change and future energy shortages: Thanks to certification, KNX is a reliable, “green” standard that offers a high degree of functionality, and thousands of interoperable products. KNX therefore makes an important contribution to energy efficiency, and thus also to reducing CO2 emissions. The wide range of current KNX projects specifically in this market segment testifies to the commitment of investors and building system engineers to using KNX to ensure a sustainable future.

KNX Association is the creator and owner of the KNX technology – the worldwide STANDARD for all applications in home and building control, ranging from lighting and shutter control to various security systems, heating, ventilation, air conditioning, monitoring, alarming, water control, energy management, smart metering as well as household appliances, audio/video and lots more. KNX is the worldwide standard for home and building control with a single, manufacturer independent design and commissioning tool (ETS), with a complete set of supported communication media (TP, PL, RF and IP) as well as a complete set of supported configuration modes (system and easy mode). KNX is approved as a European (CENELEC EN 50090 and CEN EN 13321-1) and an International standard (ISO/IEC 14543-3). This standard is based upon more than 20 years of experience in the market including its predecessors, EIB, EHS and BatiBUS. Over 190 member companies worldwide from different application domains have almost 7000 KNX certified product groups in their catalogues. The KNX Association has partnership agreements with more than 30,000 installer companies in almost 100 countries.

www.knx.org