[Buffalo, NY — December 20, 2012] — ZENO Controls LLC, developer of the ZENO wireless gateway and universal controller, and provider of energy savings and management solutions to the hospitality industry, looks to build upon its banner year with new products, system designs and strategic partnerships. Due in large part to its recent acquisition of Verve Living Systems, ZENO heads into the new year with a fortified portfolio of 27 new products and one of the best -- and proven -- investment returns in the industry. ZENO customers are typically seeing returns-on-investment of less than two years.

"With the economy still in a state of flux, it's been difficult for hotel companies, especially those in the vendor community, to boast about business growth. ZENO is proud to be an exception," said Matthew Moose, ZENO Controls Director of Operations. "With Verve now powered by ZENO, we are delivering an in-room solution for energy management like no other. Our technology is bringing affordable energy savings to owners while reducing the costs and complexities of installation. And, this is all being offered without any compromise to guest comfort."

Studies show that ZENO's new line of wireless and battery-less room controls are reducing a hotel's energy consumption by 30 percent or more, and delivering a return on investment of about two years. Because the products are self-powered, they expedite energy-management installations and eliminate on-going battery maintenance. A hotel room can be equipped with the Verve Keycard Switch in under 30 minutes. The system is so easy to install that it can be done using in-house staff to further cost savings. Through its Mesh communication with the front desk, the ZENO network not only turns in-room systems on and off, but it also can detect which 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.

ZENO Controls' Brian Mead demonstrates the Verve Keycard Switch at IHM&RS in November.

Portfolio and Product Line Growing
In November, Salvatore's Grand Hotel enlisted ZENO to implement an energy-management strategy which enables front desk and remote control of guestroom utilities. The Carvi Hotel in New York City has already installed an occupancy-based control system by ZENO and is forging ahead with the next phase of extended functionality (details of the installation will be released in January). Additional brand-wide deployments and independent hotel installations of the Verve powered by ZENO technology will take place in first quarter 2013. Also to be announced in Q1 2013, ZENO will unveil a new product line designed to shave energy costs while also delivering a quick return on investment.

"2013 will be an exciting time for hotels to partner with ZENO," said Joshua Alper, ZENO Controls general manager. "Not only do we support both EnOcean and ZigBee technologies to deliver the most flexible, wireless performance platform on the market; but we operate in the cloud, bringing a variety of in-room controls products online without a heavy investment in application engineering and software programming. Hotel owners and building managers looking to use low-power consumption technology to communicate with in-room control systems, including lights and door locks, and improve energy management based on occupancy, should look no further than ZENO. Not only do we have the affordable solutions they need in 2013, but we will deliver an ROI never before achieved."

About ZENO and Verve
ZENO Controls 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 an existing building controls. ZENO is headquartered in Buffalo NY. Verve Living Systems manufactures energy-efficiency control products that enable simple and affordable control of lighting, temperature and electrical loads in new and existing buildings. Based on both wireless and energy harvesting technologies, Verve sensors are wireless and battery-less, making them cost effective and eco-friendly. Verve product solutions can provide an effective return on investment through energy savings without compromising occupant comfort. Verve Living Systems is headquartered in Buffalo NY, with offices in Chicago, Florida, Utah and California.