Convia Programmable Infrastructure Lights up NeoCon® 2007

Convia Inc./A Herman Miller Company Wins Two Product Awards for Workplace Innovation and Flexibility

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CHICAGO, June 11, 2007 – Convia Inc./A Herman Miller Company electrified award competitions at NeoCon® World’s Trade Fair 2007 – the premier exhibition for the commercial furnishings industry held annually at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago – earning a Gold Best of NeoCon award in the workplace technologies category as well as the Grand Prize in the workplace flexibility category of Buildings Magazine's Innovations Awards.

Convia launched in November 2006 and showcased its signature product – Convia Programmable Infrastructure – at this week’s NeoCon trade fair. “It’s especially exciting to be recognized with such honors because Convia is a brand new company and this is the first time we’ve attended NeoCon,” said Randy Storch, president of Convia. “We’ve completed numerous successful installations of the Convia system and winning these awards is an added testament to the innovation our system delivers.” The programmable electrical infrastructure allows for the complete virtual rewiring of an entire floor or building in just minutes. Additionally, it has an embedded lighting control, enabling sophisticated energy savings strategies to be implemented in a space at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods.

Gone are the days of hardwired switches, lighting and other electrical devices. Convia takes an entirely different approach and creates a network of nodes that can respond to the ever-changing needs of its users. Switches, lighting or other electrical devices become nodes on the network and are in constant communication with one another. Programming is simple and easy via a two-button wand or an easy-to-navigate web portal. The inherent nature of the network makes full building lighting control simple and extremely cost effective. “With Convia, every single light in the building can be turned off with one switch with no added lighting control products, relays or expensive wiring schemes,” says Storch. “And programming the electrical network established by the Convia system in a building couldn’t be easier. Traditionally this type of programming requires specialized staff, but we’ve turned that model on its head and replaced it with one that allows an area to be changed on the fly by anyone in the space with authorization.”

The simple elegance of Convia Programmable Infrastructure can be extended to other building infrastructure components as well. “What began as a new way to deliver electricity, has quickly evolved into a versatile platform, offering the ultimate in flexible, energy-efficient buildings,” said Storch. “HVAC is just one example of a building sub-system that can benefit from the Convia platform. We’re being approached by dozens of building infrastructure manufacturers who are recognizing the system’s applicability, and are exploring possibilities to integrate it into their products and move beyond the realm of electrical and HVAC.” Gone are the days of hardwired switches, lighting and other electrical devices. Convia takes an entirely different approach and creates a network of nodes that can respond to the ever-changing needs of its users. Switches, lighting or other electrical devices become nodes on the network and are in constant communication with one another. Programming is simple and easy via a two-button wand or an easy-to-navigate web portal. The inherent nature of the network makes full building lighting control simple and extremely cost effective. “With Convia, every single light in the building can be turned off with one switch with no added lighting control products, relays or expensive wiring schemes.” says Storch. “And programming the electrical network established by the Convia system in a building couldn’t be easier. Traditionally this type of programming requires specialized staff, but we’ve turned that model on its head and replaced it with one that allows an area to be changed on the fly by anyone in the space with authorization.”

Additionally, the Convia platform helps achieve economic and environmental flexibility. In a recent third-party survey of 500 office workers, 77 percent said they would be more likely to implement energy saving strategies if it were easier. The level of flexibility and control the Convia system delivers and the “green” strategies it enables in commercial spaces – including 100 percent reusable components, elimination of substantial landfill material and annual energy savings[1] – make it an extremely attractive alternative to traditional building products. The system delivers this infinite level of flexibility at an installed cost that is at or below the cost of traditional alternatives. Along with the up-front savings, users will continue to save on energy and renovation costs throughout the lifecycle of the building.

About Convia, Inc.
Convia/A Herman Miller Company seeks to change the way people design, build, personalize and manage space. Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Chicago, Convia is dedicated to offering customers agile and programmable building environments, which allow for radically flexible spaces. For more information about Convia programmable infrastructure, visit www.hmconvia.com.