CABA COMMISSIONS CONSORTIUM TO BUILD INTELLIGENT BUILDING RANKING TOOL

January 9, 2006

CABA has commissioned a consortium of three firms: Sustainable Environmental Solutions Inc.; ECD Energy and Environment Canada; and IBI Group, to develop an intelligent building ranking tool.

The CABA Building Intelligence Quotient (BIQ) will be an easy-to-use Web-based online ranking tool accessible to building owners, operators, managers and designers. The tool and its proposed certification program will increase market penetrability of intelligent building technology and provided guidance to property managers.

"The Building Intelligence Quotient Consortium was chosen because of its willingness to develop a revenue sharing model with CABA as well as seek additional funding," stated Ronald J. Zimmer, CABA President & CEO. "The Consortium members are experts in their respective fields and will be engaging their fellow CABA Intelligent & Integrated Buildings Council members in developing the infrastructure for the building intelligence certification process."

The ranking tool will have three functions. It will serve as: i) a means to evaluate and measure the "value" of intelligent building performance; ii) a design guide for integration of building intelligence in new building projects; and iii) a building automation retrofit action plan tool.

The modular assessment will initially generate a report that will provide benchmark rankings as well as recommendations for improvements in the following categories: communication systems; building automation, annunciation, security and control systems; facility management applications; and building structure and systems.

"We are extremely pleased to be able to work cooperatively on this important industry project with CABA," said David Katz, project manager for the BIQ Consortium. "Building professionals are increasing their acceptance of ranking systems for the building’s energy performance, environmental attributes and emergency preparedness. When complete, the CABA BIQ will compliment these systems and be the preeminent certification and ranking tool for building intelligence."

About CABA
CABA is the only industry association to offer industry intelligence to stakeholders in all areas of home & building automation. CABA's resources cover areas such as HVAC, lighting, security, A/V, communications technologies, energy management and controls. A number of resources are available through the association including iHomes & Buildings magazine, CABA's Summits and Conferences, CABA's monthly eBulletin, Information Series reports, Event Reports and the CABA web site. Please visit www.caba.org for further information.

Media Contacts:
Rawlson O'Neil King
Communications Director, CABA
king@caba.org
613.686.1814 x225
888.798.CABA (2222)