Readers of Consulting-Specifying Engineer (CSE) have chosen Siemens Building Technologies, Inc., APOGEE® Wireless to receive a Silver Award in the magazine’s prestigious annual “Product of the Year” competition. A leading resource serving building control and other system designers, CSE is circulated to more than 46,000 mechanical, electrical, HVAC, and fire protection system engineers throughout North American industry.
According to CSE, the Product of The Year (POY) awards were established to provide the magazine's print and electronic subscribers with a compilation of the best, peer-reviewed new products in the major M/E/P engineering system disciplines. Winners were chosen in a 2-step process: first, an independent panel of engineering judges scored all POY entrants. Subscribers and Web users then scored each product in a category from 1 to 10, with 10 being the best. Subscribers began voting in May, 2008 for their choices, casting only one vote in each category for their Most Valuable Product (MVP). Winners were announced in the magazine’s October, 2008 issue.
“Engineers are traditionally very conservative, when specifying building systems. The Product of the Year Awards competition highlights new or refined products that engineers have deemed valuable during those products’ first year on the market. Such products help accelerate the improvement of overall building performance by making them more energy-efficient, safe, healthy, environmentally friendly and, less costly over their lifecycle,” said Michael Ivanovich, the publication’s editor-in-chief.
“Competition was fierce this year and the judges had a hard time narrowing the finalists down to just three in each category. We take this as a sign that manufacturers are investing more in new product R&D, which is a huge win for the buildings industry and the environment,” stated Jim Langhenry, CSE publisher.
APOGEE Wireless made its successful debut in 2005 with the industry’s first Wireless Field Level Network. For the first time, line-powered devices such as HVAC controllers, point modules, variable frequency drives, metering devices and other similar field devices could reside on a wireless network. Readers selected this solution as a 2006 POY award winner.
The second release of APOGEE Wireless in 2007 now enables battery-powered room temperature sensors to also reside on the same wireless mesh network. The mesh network also offers the sensors with multiple redundant paths of communication giving them the same reliability the original line-powered devices enjoyed no matter the environment.
Commenting on the award, Kevin Osburn, vice president, Building Automation Solutions, Siemens Building Technologies, observed, “We’re very proud of the recognition our APOGEE Wireless Building Automation System continues to receive. APOGEE Wireless allows our customers to take advantage of the benefits wireless communications provide while overcoming the RF challenges different facilities present to ensure reliable operation. The technology is proving itself today in a broad spectrum of facility types such as industrial, commercial, institutional and military. The enhancement of the solution to now include sensors demonstrates Siemens’ commitment to remaining a leader in the development and use of wireless technology for an ever-growing customer base.”
Siemens Apogee Wireless
Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 10/1/2008 product of the year