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Of the 6 High Tech hotels listed, Evolve systems are installed in 2 of them.
The Inn at Penn, a Hilton Hotel on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia, has introduced technology and interior design updates to enhance the guest experience, slash energy consumption by nearly 30 percent, and reduce both operational costs and the hotel’s carbon footprint. The price tag for all the property updates is in excess of $10 million.
“Most of our clientele is directly or indirectly affiliated with some aspect of the University of Pennsylvania, a leading-edge Ivy League institution,” said Greg Stafford, the property’s GM. “Our primary customers are heavy users of technology, concerned about environmental and sustainability issues, and appreciative of a bit more contemporary design.”
Operationally, Stafford said the updates would save on electric and natural gas heating bills, as well as help with maintenance and housekeeping efficiencies.
“But the big thing is the energy,” he said.
The 243-room Inn at Penn received a $100,000 government energy conservation improvement grant to help with the cost.
Completed earlier this year, the retrofit project entailed installation of a customized automatic temperature control and lighting system from Evolve Guest Controls. Hotel rooms were retrofitted with special keycard readers, radio frequency-enabled light switches, smart thermostats and switching wall outlets. Each component communicates with the other using Z-Wave technology.
After the electronic keycard opens the guestroom door, the guest places it in an interior, wall-mounted slot adjacent to the door. This triggers “comfort mode” action that controls the lighting and heating/cooling system. Immediately, two lights – one in the entry, another in the room – come on, as does the heating or air conditioning.
The hotel presets the guestroom temperature so it never rises or falls above a certain level, even when unoccupied.
That prevents a guest from arriving in August in the heat of a summer to a hot room. After the guest enters, the system further cools the room an additional 5 degrees. A similar process occurs in winter for heating. Guests may override the system if they prefer the room a bit cooler or warmer.
As guests enter the bathroom, they’ll see a wall-mounted liquid crystal display five-button controller that they can use to turn on the bathroom’s nightlights, as well as vanity and shower lighting. The guest can turn on certain lights individually or easily push “all on” or “all off.”
That same controller is also customized by Evolve for hotel use. Property management can use free-form text and program such adjustments as lighting, service or privacy alerts for housekeeping, control of individual devices, temperature levels and so on.
“It has a lot of flexibility depending on how you program it,” Stafford said.
When the guest leaves the room, lights and televisions are turned off and the heating/air conditioning system returns to “energy efficient” mode, again a difference of 5 degrees from the “comfort mode” temperature. However, since guests bring smartphones, iPads and laptop computers that require charging, appropriate electrical outlets remain on after the guest has left the room.
For guests ready to check out, a 10-second delay also is built into the system so the departing guest may remove the key card, gather his or her luggage and still have a lighted pathway out the door.
Founded in 2008, Evolve Guest Controls sprang from Mason Contract Products LLC, a manufacturer of bedding, window treatments and motorization for the hospitality industry. Evolve’s technology platform is expandable should the property desire such other features as a centralized management system to save energy on hotel floors not in use.
A return-on-investment analysis is under way to see if that system makes sense, and, while no decision has been yet made, Stafford said “it probably does.” He said the Inn at Penn is also looking at a potential bedside application that would reside on new Apple iPads provided to guests for hotel information and guest services. That type of app would allow guests to control lighting and heating/air conditioning from the comfort of their bed.
Other newly installed technology enhancements? Guests can play their own music and movies through TeleAdapt MediaHubs; those connect electronic devices and laptops directly to high definition LCD televisions. New 55-inch flatscreen televisions were installed in all suites, and all rooms will receive flat screen televisions by 2012. Guests also now enjoy free wireless Internet access.
Interior design firm RD Jones & Associates shepherded the updates. Hallways boast new carpeting, wallcoverings and sconces. Guestrooms now reflect a more contemporary look and the hotel added new desks, ergonomic chairs, chaise lounges and artwork depicting the Philadelphia area. New spa-like bathrooms feature backlit electric mirrors, glass-enclosed showers and European-style shower heads.
The Hilton’s recent upgrades have a strong sustainability focus. Guestroom fabrics, wall coverings and bathroom tiling contain recycled content. Blackout shades and fluorescent lighting support energy efficiency. Front-desk employees wear new eco-friendly uniforms manufactured from recycled plastic bottles.
Evolve Guest Controls installs wireless energy management technology into 1,455 Amsterdam Hospitality guest rooms
Evolve Guest Controls’ guest room energy management technology is being installed in 1,455 of Amsterdam Hospitality’s guest rooms.
Amsterdam Hospitality has selected the Ameritania, Bentley, Berkley, Blake, Marcel and Moderne hotels located in New York City, New Jersey, and North Carolina as sites to install Evolve’s systems. To further improve upon Evolve’s ROI, each New York and North Carolina property has also qualified for energy efficiency rebates through NYSERDA and Duke Energy.
Each of Evolve’s devices are built on an expandable platform. This allows for the future addition and integration with existing and new products and technology, and would enable its EvolveNet back office system to assist housekeeping, engineering, and the front desk access all room information “in the cloud”.
Evolve is expanding upon its existing Keycard system, Director Series, and EvolveNet products by introducing a sensor based system and the Evolve AI interactive guest experience. Evolve will be displaying these new systems at the HITEC Hospitality Trade Show in Austin, TX on June 20th, 2011.
About Evolve Guest Controls:
Evolve Guest Controls, an affiliated company of the Mason Family of Companies, was created to enhance energy efficiency and guest control in the Hospitality Industry. Evolve’s solutions target each of the three main energy consumers in a guest room, including lighting, HVAC, and the television.
Hoteliers can expect a 25%-40% savings on their guest room energy costs with an approximate ROI of 2 years. Evolve’s versatile energy management systems have been installed in hotels ranging from 28 rooms to as large as 2,700 rooms, and qualifies nationally for federal and state energy efficiency rebates.
Web: http://www.eguestcontrols.com
E-Mail: info@eguestcontrols.com
Source: Evolve Guest Controls, Inc.
June 08, 2011 | by D. Craig MacCormack
After winning the bid to automate the Wynn Resort in Las Vegas in 2010 and wowing both owners and guests with a dazzling array of gadgets, Evolve Guest Controls moved on to another marquee project it hopes will deliver similar reviews.
Work on The Inn at Penn, a flagship Hilton hotel on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, included a complete renovation of 275 rooms, including upgraded HVAC systems, new lighting controls, new TV power controls, and retrofitted wiring.
Balancing Act
The first phase of the project wrapped up at the end of 2010, and Hilton has received more than 250 positive comments about the upgrades with no negatives so far, says Avi Rosenthal, VP of technology for Evolve. The hotel staff has reported already seeing a savings in its electricity since the first phase wrapped up.
Photos: Evolve Guest Controls Conquers Another Hotel
“The main challenge was working in an active hotel,” he says. “Usually, we get in and we get out, and we can do it in about 45 minutes per room. For this project, it took us about three months to do what would normally take a week. There was so much else going on in the building.”
Each room at The Inn at Penn now includes a key card-based energy management system that activates the room, setting the thermometer and triggering a welcome scene.
Evolve used light fixture module (LFM) and an LED director system to reconfigure the lighting control system to allow guests to control the three switches separately in the bathroom while still limiting the amount of space the controls ate.
More Opportunities Ahead?
While Evolve wasn’t allowed to work on late nights, early mornings or on weekends, they were fine with the schedule they developed with hotel management, saying it was in everyone’s best interest to agree since Hilton is a large chain with hotels across the world.
“It’s all about having a good relationship with the management,” Rosenthal says. “The good news for us is it went very smoothly. What we learned is we have to be a little more flexible than maybe we were in the beginning.”
Evolve also hadn’t used LFM in its previous commercial work, Rosenthal says, but that will definitely change going forward, as “it’s become a problem-solver.”
The Inn at Penn “is doing a good job of marketing itself as a ‘green’ hotel,” he says, and they are working on getting the building LEED-certified.
Rosenthal is confident that with Evolve’s on-time and first-class work at The Inn at Penn, it could lead to more opportunities across the Hilton chain, or with other large hotel operators.
Evolve Guest Controls Joins the Z-Wave Alliance as Principal Member
MILPITAS, CA – The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies dedicated to establishing Z-Wave as the standard in wireless home control, today announced the addition of Evolve Guest Controls as its newest principal member. Evolve Guest Controls, a leading provider of energy management solutions, joins an impressive list of industry leaders on the Z-Wave Alliance board of directors including: 2Gig Technologies, Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, Fakro, Ingersoll Rand, Leviton and Sigma Designs.
Evolve offers a comprehensive solution to its hospitality customers via Z-Wave energy and device management tools for in-room control options, including: lighting, TV, electronics and thermostat products. To date, Evolve Guest Controls has installed the largest Z-Wave commercial installation project with more than 65,000 Z-Wave enabled devices in a single hotel.
“The Z-Wave Alliance is pleased to welcome Evolve Guest Controls as a principal member,” said Raoul Wijgergangs, chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance. “We commend Evolve for its success in paving the way to provide commercial scale Z-Wave based energy management solutions to the hospitality industry and their leadership in board activities will be a welcome addition.”
Evolve has deployed energy management and wireless RF systems in tens of thousands of hotel rooms and suites, including Hilton hotels, Westin hotels and The Wynn Hotel and Casino. Throughout the years, hotels have begun adding new technologies to rooms and incorporating energy saving programs to help guests lower their carbon footprint. In fact, according to the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) blog, “in-room technology [in hotels] is positively ‘leaping’ forward.” Whether for convenience or energy management, Evolve is the go-to solution provider.
“Evolve chose to use Z-Wave technology for its hospitality initiative based on two vital factors that the technology offers: interoperability and scalability,” said Avi Rosenthal, Vice President – Technology of Evolve Guest Controls. “We have formed strong partnerships with various Z-Wave Alliance members and we are honored to move forward as a principal member expanding Z-Wave’s global presence.”
About Evolve Guest Controls
Evolve Guest Controls was created to bring energy efficiency to the hospitality industry through its use of wireless RF technology, manufacturing expertise, and ground-breaking software development. Through the years, the Company has expanded its energy efficient suite of products to include a full range of comprehensive lighting control and room automation solutions. With the addition of our back-office system EvolveNet, Evolve Guest Controls has extended in-room automation and monitoring access to the engineering staff, housekeeping, and the front desk. The Company continues its expansion into the OEM arena, in addition to a variety of industries and applications worldwide. For more information about Evolve, please visit www.eguestcontrols.com.
About Z-Wave
Z-Wave is an award-winning, proven and interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers and security systems. Developed by Sigma Designs, Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life including remote home monitoring, home healthcare, safety and security, and energy conservation. Z-Wave certified products are currently available from leading consumer brands in nearly 500 products world-wide. For more information about Z-Wave, please visit www.z-wave.com.
About the Z-Wave Alliance
Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include 2Gig, Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, FAKRO, Ingersoll-Rand, Leviton and Sigma Designs. Its members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security. Z-Wave technology is the foundation of all products manufactured by the Alliance members. For more information about the Z-Wave Alliance, visit www.z-wavealliance.org.
Z-Wave® is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
Addition of Energy Management Solution Provider Immerses Wireless Control Z-Wave Technology Into the Hospitality Industry
Read more: Evolve Guest Controls Joins the Z-Wave Alliance as Principal Member – FierceEnergy http://www.fierceenergy.com/press-releases/evolve-guest-controls-joins-z-wave-alliance-principal-member#ixzz1O93lLT8m
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MILPITAS, CA–(Marketwire – 05/23/11) – The Z-Wave Alliance, an open consortium of leading global companies dedicated to establishing Z-Wave as the standard in wireless home control, today announced the addition of Evolve Guest Controls as its newest principal member. Evolve Guest Controls, a leading provider ofenergy management solutions, joins an impressive list of industry leaders on the Z-Wave Alliance board of directors including: 2Gig Technologies, Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, Fakro, Ingersoll Rand, Leviton and Sigma Designs.
Evolve offers a comprehensive solution to its hospitality customers via Z-Wave energy and device management tools for in-room control options, including: lighting, TV, electronics and thermostat products. To date, Evolve Guest Controls has installed the largest Z-Wave commercial installation project with more than 65,000 Z-Wave enabled devices in a single hotel.
“The Z-Wave Alliance is pleased to welcome Evolve Guest Controls as a principal member,” said Raoul Wijgergangs, chairman of the Z-Wave Alliance. “We commend Evolve for its success in paving the way to provide commercial scale Z-Wave based energy management solutions to the hospitality industry and their leadership in board activities will be a welcome addition.”
Evolve has deployed energy management and wireless RF systems in tens of thousands of hotel rooms and suites, including Hilton hotels, Westin hotels and The Wynn Hotel and Casino. Throughout the years, hotels have begun adding new technologies to rooms and incorporating energy saving programs to help guests lower their carbon footprint. In fact, according to the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) blog, “in-room technology [in hotels] is positively ‘leaping’ forward.” Whether for convenience or energy management, Evolve is the go-to solution provider.
“Evolve chose to use Z-Wave technology for its hospitality initiative based on two vital factors that the technology offers: interoperability and scalability,” said Avi Rosenthal, Vice President – Technology of Evolve Guest Controls. “We have formed strong partnerships with various Z-Wave Alliance members and we are honored to move forward as a principal member expanding Z-Wave’s global presence.”
About Evolve Guest Controls
Evolve Guest Controls was created to bring energy efficiency to the hospitality industry through its use of wireless RF technology, manufacturing expertise, and ground-breaking software development. Through the years, the Company has expanded its energy efficient suite of products to include a full range of comprehensive lighting control and room automation solutions. With the addition of our back-office system EvolveNet, Evolve Guest Controls has extended in-room automation and monitoring access to the engineering staff, housekeeping, and the front desk. The Company continues its expansion into the OEM arena, in addition to a variety of industries and applications worldwide. For more information about Evolve, please visitwww.eguestcontrols.com.
About Z-Wave
Z-Wave is an award-winning, proven and interoperable wireless mesh networking technology that allows a wide array of devices in and around the home to communicate including lighting, appliances, HVAC, entertainment centers and security systems. Developed by Sigma Designs, Z-Wave brings many benefits to everyday life including remote home monitoring, home healthcare, safety and security, and energy conservation. Z-Wave certified products are currently available from leading consumer brands in nearly 500 products world-wide. For more information about Z-Wave, please visit www.z-wave.com.
About the Z-Wave Alliance
Formed in January 2005, the Z-Wave Alliance is a consortium of leading companies in the home technology space dedicated to solidifying Z-Wave as the standard for wireless home control products. The principal members include 2Gig, Cooper Wiring Devices, Danfoss, FAKRO, Ingersoll-Rand, Leviton and Sigma Designs. Its members lead the home controls market, providing leading edge products and systems that deliver increased comfort, convenience, energy conservation, safety and security. Z-Wave technology is the foundation of all products manufactured by the Alliance members. For more information about the Z-Wave Alliance, visitwww.z-wavealliance.org.
Z-Wave® is a registered trademark of Sigma Designs and its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.
New Hyde Park, NY – Evolve Guest Controls has completed installation of its fully custom keycard-based energy management system in all of the Hilton Inn at Penn’s 244 guestrooms and suites.
Evolve’s keycard-based EMS system controls all of the lighting in the room, the TV(s), and the HVAC. When the guest enters their room, they insert their keycard into Evolve’s wall-mounted keycard reader and the room activates “comfort” mode. When the guest leaves the room, they take their keycard with them, initiating the room’s “energy efficient” mode whereby all the lighting devices and TV(s) are powered down, and the thermostat is set back 5 degrees.
To further expand on its standard keycard system, Evolve has added a few additional features including a “safety delay” of 10-seconds at the entry when initiating “energy efficient” mode, and a wall mounted LCD 5-button controller in the bathroom for comfort and convenience.
“The ‘safety delay’ feature was designed specifically with the guest in mind,” says Jesse Nercessian, Field Operations Manager of Evolve. “By enabling the entry light to remain lit for 10 seconds after removing their keycard, we are able to provide a completely visible exit path from the room while guests leave with their luggage or other belongings.”
The wall mounted LCD 5-button controller not only adds to the bathroom’s aesthetic look but also provides convenient, targeted control over each room’s vanity lights, shower lights, and night lights. This device has full free-form text and programming capabilities, allowing the controller to be customized by a hotelier to engage lighting scenes, room modes (privacy/service room), adjust temperature, or control individual devices. In the case of the Inn at Penn, the guests may select the “All On” and “All Off” bathroom scenes for quick, easy control over lighting.
About Evolve Guest Controls:
Evolve Guest Controls, an affiliated company of the Mason Family of Companies, was created to enhance energy efficiency and guest control in the Hospitality Industry. Evolve’s solutions target each of the three main energy consumers in a guest room, including lighting, HVAC, and the television.
Hoteliers can expect a 25%-40% savings on their guest room energy costs with an approximate ROI of 2 years. Evolve’s versatile energy management systems have been installed in hotels ranging from 28 rooms to as large as 2,700 rooms, and qualifies nationally for federal and state energy efficiency rebates.
Trade Show Season Special: Evolve is offering free demonstration rooms through June 30th.
Website: http://www.eguestcontrols.com
E-mail: info@eguestcontrols.com
Evolve to show it’s brand new energy efficient suite of products at HD Expo in Las Vegas, May 18-20.
Evolve’s booth number is 3627.
The following link shows a video of Evolve’s Chris Pieper showing the LCD Director Series at EcoFocus in New York City.
http://www.engineeringtv.com/video/Z-Wave-User-Chris-Pieper-of-EVO
