Herman Miller Enters Energy Management Business

June 3, 2009

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Herman Miller Inc., best known for its classic furniture designs, has entered the energy management business with Convia, a high-tech wiring system that allows offices, restaurants, and stores to integrate power delivery and save money on electric bills, reports Media Bistro.

Developed in consultation with Applied Minds as part of Herman Miller’s initiative to explore new lines of business in the wake of the 2001 recession, the Convia system controls temperature and electric devices, which can translate into big energy savings, reports Media Bistro.

With a Convia-enabled building design, a facility’s power delivery and other infrastructure and technology applications including lighting, HVAC, security, occupancy and daylight harvesting sensors, security and A/V are all integrated into an easy-to manage platform so users have more control over their spaces and environment.

Last year, Herman Miller reported that its investments in areas such as energy efficiency have resulted in a 32 percent rate of return.

Convia, a Herman Miller company, recently announced that its signature product, Convia Sustainable Infrastructure, will be integrated in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) new headquarters in Washington, D.C. that is expected to achieve a LEED rating of Platinum. The Convia smart building platform is expected to play a critical role in helping meet and exceed the organization’s ongoing energy management goals.

Herman Miller also announced a partnership with Legrand North America, a manufacturer of electrical and network infrastructure solutions. The strategic alliance is designed to expand the development of energy-efficient products.

Under the terms of the agreement, Convia’s technology will be embedded into Legrand’s Wiremold wire and cable management systems. These include modular power and lighting distribution systems, floor boxes, poke-thru devices and architectural columns, which provide flexible, accessible power distribution to building owners and managers.

“Convia-enabled” Wiremold systems will offer additional control and monitoring of office plug loads (the amount of energy drawn by devices from an electrical outlet) and lighting loads.

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