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What is ZigBee?ZigBee is a global, standards-based wireless mesh networking technology used to connect the widestrange of devices to work together intelligently to help you control your world. ZigBee isnt aboutdeploying dedicated networking gear, but making everyday devices (light switches, electricity meters,thermostats, or even appliances, such as dishwashers) smarter by embedding wireless networking and

communications intelligence into them. ZigBee is specifically designed to facilitate monitoring, controland sensor applicationsall key components of a smarter electrical grid.

ZigBee is related to other well-known Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) standardssuch as Ethernet, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. These standards all share a common IEEE addressingstructure, called a MAC address, and are accessible over the Internet. But despite their commonheritage, there are some very important differences.

While Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are designed for point-to-point connection to carry large amounts of data,ZigBee devices form a multi-point, low-power, low-data-rate mesh network that is secure, reliable, self-forming, and self-healing creating the basis for a truly efficient Internet of Things. With a mesh networkbetween nodes, the range of an individual node is expanded and multiplied to cover a much larger area.And since ZigBee devices are optimized for low power, their energy burden is low delivering extremely

long battery life and even use with harvested energy sources that minimize their impact on an alreadystressed power grid.

With ZigBees integrated network intelligence and comprehensive ZigBee Certified product certification

program, its easy to create and use Home Area Networks of any size without networking or computerknowledge. And ZigBee even makes it easy to talk to existing Ethernet and Wi-Fi networks, delivering aseamless integrated experience to the consumer.

ZigBee Smart Energy and the Smart GridThe ZigBee Alliance responded to global concern for substantially improved energy efficiency bydeveloping an open and interoperable standard for demand response, energy management and meteringservices ZigBee Smart Energy. This standard increases energy efficiency in homes, commercialbuildings and industrial facilities around the world

As the Smart Grid continues to evolve, an interoperable, interconnected system that provides for data

transport, presentation and communication is critical to the smart grids success. ZigBee Smart Energysupports more than 45 million electric and 3 million gas meters worldwide.

ZigBee Smart Energy supports functionality tomeet the diverse business cases of currentAMI/smart meter systems. In addition toenabling home automation and control, ZigBee

Smart Energy is currently being used for gasand electric sub-metering, controllingdistributed energy resources, such as solarpanels, on the electric distribution grid, and

systems for street light monitoring and control.Thus the ZigBee capability in AMI systemsdelivers energy management benefits both infront ofas well as behindthe meter.

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The ZigBee-Connected HomeBehind the meter, ZigBee Smart Energy allows consumers to experience and manage their energy usagelike never before. Demand response initiatives, pricing programs and conservation efforts can all bedesigned by providing consumers with real-time access to their usagerather than making them wait forthe bill at the end of the month.

ZigBee also gives consumers increased choice in the devices they use to get this information andautomate their homes. In addition to utility-sponsored devices, products from third-party energymanagement providers are ZigBee Certified to perform regardless of manufacturer, allowing utilities and

consumers to purchase with confidence.

Health and SafetyAs consumers become more educated about smart grid initiatives, health and safety has quickly risen tothe top of the public concern. ZigBee devices operate at a very low powerand low power means next tono exposure to electromagnetic frequencies. ZigBee typically operates at significantly lower averagepower levels than Bluetooth devices or mobile phones.

To further reduce exposure to electromagnetic frequencies, ZigBee devices feature a limited duty cycle,which means that they transmit in short bursts. Each devices aggregate operating time is typically just afew minutes in a 24-hour period, resulting in duty cycles thousands of times less than Bluetooth devices.

As a result, ZigBee devices are on a fraction of a fraction of the time Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are used.

SecurityDevices running on ZigBee Smart Energy operate in highly secure networks, empowering customers toconfidently gain control of their energy usage through a secure and intelligent connection toutilities/energy service providers. Development of ZigBee Smart Energy was guided by industry expertsand using market requirements and scenario analysis from experienced product manufacturers,regulators, end-users and utilities.

Joining utility networks with homes introduces significant privacy and security concerns, warranting theselection of only the most robust security solutions. This security is capable of maintaining both the

confidentiality and integrity of communicated data through high-strength authentication.

The ZigBee Alliance established a best-in-class security architecture utilizing confidentiality and integrity

protection mechanisms on communicated data, and implementing a highly efficient public keycryptography for authentication, with frequent peer-review and evolution. An independent evaluationby Carnegie-Mellon University validated ZigBee Smart Energy's utility-grade security approach.

The ZigBee EcosystemAs our energy infrastructure evolves, collaboration is paramount to securing our energy independence.ZigBee has a thriving global ecosystem full of technology companies creating wireless solutions for usein energy, home, commercial and industrial applications. Through certification, the ZigBee Allianceensures that all products in this ecosystem are interoperable and can seamlessly work together.

As of November 2011, more than 200 ZigBee-enabled devices have been ZigBee Certified for ZigBeeSmart Energy. A wide variety of utilities/energy service providers, consumer electronics companies,health care groups, hotels and governments have certified and installed myriad other ZigBee products.

These ZigBee members created a variety of reliable and easy-to-use products that help consumers live agreener lifestyle with a smart home or office.

Learn More

ZigBee offers green and global wireless standards connecting the widest range of devices to work

together intelligently and help you control your world. To learn more, visitwww.zigbee.org.