The ZigBee Alliance and the Thread Group announced they are collaborating to enable the ZigBee Cluster Library to run over Thread networks. By working together, ZigBee and Thread can jointly provide an interoperable solution to help streamline product development and improve the consumer’s experience in the connected home.

Trane® Air-Fi™ wireless technology eliminates the need for wired building controls, allowing installations to be completed quickly, with less disruption to occupants. The self-repairing mesh technology features redundant signal paths to prevent communication failures.

According to an ON World survey with over 1,000 U.S. adults, over a third believe they will have wireless sensors in their home within five years and 20 percent of the likely adopters expect to have 50 or more wireless sensors installed within the next five years. 

The Thread Group announced that it has opened membership and will begin accepting applications from companies interested in using the Thread protocol in their products. The group was established in July by seven companies to develop Thread, a new IP-based wireless mesh networking protocol designed specifically for the home.

As building automation and information technology converge, wireless technology is offering a range of benefits for commercial buildings, notes Navigant Research. According to a new report from the firm, shipments of wireless control nodes for commercial buildings will grow from 12.9 million in 2014 to 57.4 million by 2023.

Seven companies announced that they’ve joined forces to form the Thread Group and develop a new IP-based wireless networking protocol for home automation called Thread. Founding members include Nest Labs, Samsung Electronics, Big Ass Fans, Yale Security, Silicon Labs, Freescale® Semiconductor, and ARM.

It’s no secret sensors play a critical role in building automation operation and efficiency. Their impact and effectiveness will depend on how the sensors correlate with other devices and components across the greater HVAC system. This requires some emphasis on effective design attributes and integration strategies.