Echelon Corp. of San Jose, Calif., a provider of networking technology that is used to manage and reduce energy consumption, announced that Shenzhen Permay Technology Co. Ltd. has introduced a lighting and appliance control system for consumers in China based on the LonWorks networking platform and Echelon's power line networking technology.

The intelligent lighting solution for homes is available now at B&Q stores in Shenzhen, China, making it the first LonWorks based lighting and appliance control solution for the Chinese consumer market. With over 50 stores, B&Q is China's largest home improvement warehouse store chain.

"We built our home control solution on Echelon's networking platform because Echelon delivers the key attributes that we view as necessary for success in the high-volume retail market —high reliability, great simplicity and low cost," said Wanming Zhang, president of Permay. "Homeowners demand products that are powerful, yet easy to use and install. Building on Echelon's base, our solution makes energy savings and home lighting control a reality for the average homeowner in China. Middle income households are the fasting growing segment of the Chinese population; we see this as an enormous long-term opportunity."

Permay's intelligent home solution offers consumers a convenient, cost-effective, and easy way to save energy by networking lights and appliances in a home. Permay's products consist of intelligent light switches and sockets that use Echelon's power line networking products to communicate over existing electricity wires, meaning that no new wires need to be installed. A remote control enables home owners to turn lights on or off with the simple press of a button or lights can be programmed and controlled by computer to set lighting schedules or appliance schedules.

Power line communication is more reliable and cost effective than radio frequency (RF) technology in homes because it can communicate in all types of structures, including masonry, is not susceptible to noise from other wireless devices, and is low maintenance since it does not require batteries as a source of power. Installation costs are low, even for remodel projects, because no new wires are required. Network communication occurs over the existing power lines, meaning that when a device is plugged into a power outlet, it automatically becomes part of the home automation network.

"With their LonWorks based solution, Permay has created a winning combination of ease of use, high value to the consumer, and convenience," said Mark Rodman, Echelon's regional director for Asia Pacific. "Combined with distribution in one of China's top retail outlets, we believe they have positioned themselves to help launch the Chinese residential home automation market."