The platform, proposed by Electrolux, Enel, Indesit Company and Telecom Italia, will offer control of consumer smart appliances, communication with broadband networks, and communication with Automatic Meter Management system. The platform will create value added services designed to help European consumers better manage energy use in their homes. These energy services will also give Europeans the ability to lead the way in the global energy efficiency challenge.

“Energy@home is focused on increasing consumers’ awareness of their energy consumption, while also providing them with new tools to better control their energy use wherever they might be and at any time at all times,” says Steering Committee of Energy@home member Fabio Bellifemine.

“The ZigBee Alliance has done work by developing a variety of standards that will play an integral role in our proposed platform.”

“The collaboration with Energy@home will increase the scope and value of ZigBee Home Automation,” says ZigBee Alliance chairman Bob Heile.

“Energy@home recognises the tremendous value of the growing family of standards developed by the ZigBee Alliance and we look forward to helping Energy@home seize the numerous time-to-market advantages our standards offer because improving the use of energy is a global issue.”

ZigBee Smart Energy is the world’s leading standard for home area networks used by Smart Grid programs to boost energy management and efficiency in homes around the world. ZigBee Telecom Services provides telecommunication network operators with a variety of value added services through the use of mobile devices. ZigBee Home Automation creates smart homes with more control conveniences that improve comfort, convenience and efficiency. ZigBee Gateway offers a global device standard for connecting ZigBee networks seamlessly to the internet with service providers, including telecom operators.