Collaboration Between LonMark, OpenADR Alliance Boosts Smart-Grid Adoption

LonMark International and the OpenADR Alliance, a nonprofit corporation created to foster the development, adoption, and compliance of a smart-grid standard known as open automated demand response (OpenADR), announced they are working together to improve interoperability between certified products to enable commercial buildings to better manage energy use.

Today, more than one-third of U.S. commercial buildings have some form of energy management and control systems installed, which makes them ideal candidates to participate in utility-mandated demand-response programs using standard interfaces such as OpenADR.

“In order for buildings to benefit from OpenADR, they must have automated control systems that can be programmed to respond to price and demand-response event signals without negatively impacting comfort or productivity,” said Girish Ghatikar, a member of the OpenADR Alliance board of directors. “Having access to energy management systems based on technology like LonMark standards can help people better manage their energy consumption.”

LonMark allows buildings connected to the smart grid to utilize granular automation and enhanced control strategies to better maximize energy efficiency, without impacting client comfort and productivity.

Buildings participating in an OpenADR program can leverage the existing building automation systems and protocols through a well-defined, standard interface to accept the OpenADR signal using a common language over any existing IP-based communications network. Through a pre-programmed set of events, the building automation system can reduce load according to the messages it receives. In addition, it may bring real-time energy consumption information back to the utility or service provider.

“One of our primary goals at LonMark is to help all buildings -- whether commercial, industrial or residential -- enjoy a more secure and intelligent energy infrastructure,” said Tracy Markie, chairman of LonMark International. “Working with OpenADR and other organizations with similar goals facilitates this process, making ubiquitous energy conservation and management much more obtainable by all.”

For more information about LonMark International, visit www.lonmark.org.

For more information about the OpenADR Alliance, visit http://www.openadr.org/