Source: Zeno Controls, LLC

ZENO Controls LLC to replace existing in-room air conditioners with a wireless mesh network that centrally controls room temperature and property lighting at Sharma's Oasis Inn in Kissimmee, Fla.; Hotel project could transform a struggling part of Osceola County into a tourism mecca that 'generates hundreds of jobs on Disney's doorstep'

ZENO offering National Pricing Program and 25% Guaranteed Rebate to AAHOA Members; Visit ZENO Controls/Verve Living Systems in Booth #229 at AAHOA Annual Convention March 26 to 29 at George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston

[Buffalo, NY — March 27, 2013]
ZENO Controls LLC has recently been selected by Australian hotel developer Peter Sharma to provide energy-savings through guestroom temperature and lighting controls for his new, high-profile hotel project in Kissimmee, Fla. Renovations to the newly acquired Oasis Inn, located at 4736 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Hwy, include upgrading the antiquated air-conditioning system to a point-to-point, wireless environment that will be upgradeable to the ZENO Controls mest newtork, complete with Verve Living systems' guestroom switches, sensors and thermostats, as well as HVAC, lighting and load controls.

"This hotel project is significant on so many levels," Sharma said. "Not only are we breathing new life into this struggling part of Osceola County by introducing travelers to a fresh, new hotel on seven acres in one of the most sought-after tourist destinations, but county leaders intend to showcase this project and apply for a federal grant that makes millions of investment dollars available to help modernize other properties along the 15-mile stretch of Rt. 192. With all eyes in the business community upon us, we can't make any mistakes. That's why it was critical for us to find the right technology partner to implement a wireless guestroom control infrastructure and set us on the right path to saving energy and the planet.

"In a very short amount of time, we anticipate that lighting costs will drop by about 85 percent due to a new line of LED bulbs being offered by ZENO that we will use throughout the property," he said. "Adding wireless controls and these LED lights will make the property eligible for rebates, which will drive even more money to our bottom line. We anticipate a very quick ROI from this investment, but the impact on our guest comfort and satisfaction will be instantaneous."

Verve uses self-powered wireless sensors, switches and controllers to affordably generate energy-saving solutions for controlling HVAC, lighting and miscellaneous electric loads in guestrooms. ZENO wirelessly connects intelligent devices in rooms to central controls. Through its Mesh communication with the front desk, the ZENO network will turn heating and cooling systems on and off based on room occupancy, and also detect which in-room devices have low battery levels; which rooms have constant occupancy; which rooms have problems with network connectivity; and which are not communicating properly with the hotel PMS and other systems. It tracks and reports equipment run-time which helps in a property's preventive maintenance processes and calculates the energy savings being achieved.

Wireless control and LED systems typically pay for themselves in less than two years through energy and maintenance savings. Utility rebates are commonly available but rarely collected. ZENO's in-house rebate specialists are well versed in utility processes and typically will secure incentives that cover 25 percent to 50 percent of the project cost.

"ZENO Controls is very pleased that Peter Sharma and Nina Oasis LLC selected Verve Living Systems for this property transformation," said Josh Alper, ZENO Controls general manager. "This hotel project is generating a lot of buzz in the greater Orlando community, and all eyes are on us to scrutinize the environmental and financial effects from this installation. We welcome the attention. By equipping rooms at The Oasis Inn with a wireless occupancy sensor and an entry door sensor, hotel management is able to reach a quick energy payback while providing exceptional control over room temperature. Couple this with our new Illumra lighting program, and The Oasis Inn will soon see the lighting upgrade too pays for itself. Our energy and maintenance savings are documented, and on average, hotels which select ZENO Controls and Verve Living Systems are conserving about 30 percent more energy and receiving an investment return of about two years."

EXCLUSIVE Pricing and Rebates Offer for AAHOA Members

As a five-year Allied Member of the Asian American Hotel Owners Assn. (AAHOA), ZENO Controls and Verve Living Systems is offering an exclusive program to AAHOA members during the 2013 Annual Convention this week in Houston. In addition to a National Pricing Program, ZENO will guarantee a 25 percent rebate to hotels that sign up for its energy solutions during the show in Booth #229 at the George R. Brown Convention Center.

"We all live on this planet, and it shouldn't take a global catastrophy in climate change for hoteliers to do their part in operating smart," Sharma said. "The ZENO/Verve solution is the responsible way to save energy and stop financial waste. We truly believe in this technology and soon everyone in Osceola County will be believers too."

Video coverage from WFTV Channel 9 of The Oasis Inn project can be seen by clicking here.

About ZENO Controls LLC and Verve Living Systems®

ZENO Controls LLC is a company providing wireless gateways that connect families of intelligent devices to central controls. ZENO provides packaged solutions that include pre-configured, pre-scripted and pre-linked lighting and HVAC system controls. The end-devices, hardware/firmware and software components perform as a Complete Building Management System, or as a Wireless Device Gateway to existing communication protocols such as BACnet. ZENO is headquartered in Buffalo NY. Verve Living Systems® provides energy-efficiency control products that enable simple and affordable control of lighting, temperature and electrical loads in new and existing buildings. Based on wireless and energy harvesting technologies, Verve Living Systems® sensors are wireless and battery-less, making them cost effective and eco-friendly. Verve Living Systems® product solutions can provide an effective return on investment through energy savings without compromising occupant comfort. Verve Living Systems® is headquartered in Buffalo, NY.

Joshua Alper
(312) 296-8910