Aug 18 2015
Today at a Terrace Talk titled "Sustainable Green Building Design using SPD-SmartGlass and Intelligent Adaptive Control Systems" presented underneath the largest smartglass roof in the world at the USA Pavilion at Expo Milano 2015, Research Frontiers CEO Joseph M. Harary and Zuli, Inc. CEO Taylor Umphreys showed the latest development in efficient sustainable smart home design.
Using a Zuli Smartplug with its proprietary Presence technology, you can walk into a room with your smartphone, and have the lights and appliances and temperature automatically adjust to your presence, and the glass in your windows change instantly from an energy-saving dark tint, to clear so you can enjoy the magnificent views outside your home. Now, walk into another room and have those lights, appliances and windows adjust too, while the Zuli Smartplug automatically shuts off your devices in the room you had just left to save energy. Zuli also uses proprietary machine learning algorithms that analyze energy usage patterns and help users be smarter about their energy usage.
Zuli has also announced it has started shipping units to customers. Zuli Smartplugs are currently available for purchase on the Zuli website at www.Zuli.io. Zuli Smartplugs give users the ability to control any light or appliance, including their smart windows, from their smartphone without any complex installation or setup. Simply plug in, connect any device, and control it directly using Bluetooth LE. Each device gives you on/off control, dimming control for lamps and smart windows, energy metering and scheduling. Zuli is also the only Smartplug that has been optimized for use with Research Frontiers' SPD-SmartGlass technology. Zuli has also announced partnerships with Nest and Logitech, integrating Zuli Presence with your other favorite connected home products.
Taylor Umphreys, President and CEO of Zuli, Inc., noted: "It's great to be able to participate in the World's Fair and be a part of the discussion about how we better plan for our future and the challenges that lie ahead with global energy demand. It's necessary that we not only develop more efficient energy solutions, but develop solutions that can seamlessly integrate into our lives and make efficiency simple for everyone. With Zuli's partnership with Research Frontiers, we are building towards a home that learns and adapts to you, so that your home is always working in the background to save energy."
Joseph M. Harary, President and CEO of Research Frontiers, noted: "The World's Fairs have often been the launch and early demonstration sites for major technology-based products we use every day from the telephone, the elevator and even the electrical wall outlet. The best products are simple, elegant and provide important functionality to consumers When Research Frontiers made its strategic investment in Zuli in June, we were attracted to the simplicity of installation and use--you simply plug the Zuli Smartplug into a wall outlet, and plug in your SPD-SmartGlass window, light or other appliance into the Zuli Smartplug. Then an easy to use app on your smartphone gives you complete control over your home or office environment. It also gets smarter as you use it more."
The Zuli Smartplug With SPD-SmartGlass
What's a Zuli Smartplug?
Zuli Smartplugs can make every room in your home look and feel just the way you like it. All the things that contribute to your idea of perfect home comfort -- lighting, temperature, your connection to the world outside, and more -- respond to your every move.
Just plug in your Zuli Smartplug, connect any light, appliance, or other electrical device, like a smart window, and instantly get control from your smartphone. Turn devices on or off at the touch of a button, automatically in response to changing conditions, or on a schedule that you set. Dim lights and adjust the tint of your windows to the perfect ambiance. Create schedules for your lights or appliances with just a few taps, and easily monitor your power consumption to get more insight into your monthly energy costs and how to reduce them. With Zuli Presence, any room with a Zuli Smartplug will know when you've entered a room and instantly adapt to your personal lighting, temperature, and shading preferences -- and then have everything turn off when you walk away.
What's SPD-SmartGlass?
SPD-Smart technology allows you to change the tint of your windows and skylights instantly, either at the touch of a button, or automatically. SPD-SmartGlass reduces cooling energy requirements in the summer, and heating energy requirements in the winter, by maintaining a pre-selected ideal level of light and temperature. SPD-SmartGlass also blocks harmful UV rays at all times. By more effectively controlling daylighting, SPD-Smart windows also allow "daylight harvesting," which some independent sources estimate can save 35%-60% on lighting energy. With the growing pressure to reduce the energy use of buildings (which according to various estimates consume over 40% of the energy and over 70% of the electricity used in the United States and Europe), many expect it to be a cornerstone of intelligent building design for years to come. Because SPD-SmartGlass can be retrofitted onto existing structures, even existing building stock can benefit from this green technology. This is significant since approximately 61% of all construction projects are retrofit projects, according to the U.S. Green Building Council.
SPD-Smart technology is the only smart glass technology that gives users the ability to instantly and precisely control the level of shading to any point between very dark and clear. This provides exceptional control over solar energy while also adding to user comfort, security, and protecting interiors. Available in glass or plastic, SPD-SmartGlass technology is currently being used in the automotive, architectural, aircraft and marine industries, and to protect priceless artifacts in museums from damage from visible light. SPD-SmartGlass technology has been selected as the exclusive smart glass for the USA Pavilion at the Milan World's Fair.