ABB, a leading power and automation technology provider, and Philips, the global leader in lighting, today announced a collaboration to simplify the integration of connected lighting systems and building device control for commercial buildings.
Combining Philips’ wealth of expertise in LED lighting systems with ABB’s knowledge of building automation will benefit systems integrators, commercial building owners, facility managers and the people who work in these buildings.
Philips’ connected lighting system will interface seamlessly with ABB’s automation software to offer the ability to control a commercial environment including lighting, blinds, building access and heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC). The introduction of the solution from ABB and Philips will make it much simpler to reconfigure spaces. In a hotel this could mean altering the lighting scene after combining several separate rooms into a large meeting room, just through one click. Or in a shopping complex, a building manager can simply reconfigure the access, HVAC and lighting when a single unit is split into smaller ones.
Eric Rondolat, CEO of Philips Lighting, said: “Philips’ LED lighting combined with controls can deliver up to 80% energy savings compared to conventional lighting, while providing high quality light for a comfortable, more productive work environment. Together ABB and Philips will support our customers by making it easier to introduce the latest technology to drive energy efficiency and increased functionality.”
Tarak Mehta, head of ABB’s Low Voltage Products division, added: “The future is the ability to reconfigure spaces at the touch of a button, while reducing energy consumption. ABB and Philips will work together to offer a simple, scalable solution to streamline the introduction of this technology in commercial buildings.’’
Currently, reconfiguring different building systems requires entering lines of code for each separate element. By enabling the control of all the different elements of building automation through compatible software, building management is simpler and more affordable to install and maintain.
Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting, constitute 70% of the energy consumption in commercial buildings and the introduction of building device control can improve energy efficiency by approximately 30%. Upgrading to more energy efficient systems represents a significant opportunity for building managers to save on operational costs.
About ABB
ABB is a leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve performance while lowering environmental impact. The ABB Group of companies operates in around 100 countries and employs about 150,000 people.
About Royal Philips
Royal Philips (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHIA) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through meaningful innovation in the areas of Healthcare, Consumer Lifestyle and Lighting. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips posted 2013 sales of EUR 23.3 billion and employs approximately 115,000 employees with sales and services in more than 100 countries. The company is a leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as male shaving and grooming and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter