July 17, 2008 - The Chinese government is pulling out all the stops on its upcoming "Green Games," equipping Beijing's massive Olympic Village with a super-sensitive IT network to control the venue's many lighting systems.

The system, based on Echelon's Lonworks technology, will control and monitor lighting systems for all apartments, parks, garages, and landscaping via a single computerized network.

"There are a vast numbers of devices scattered across a large area serving the many needs of the village, from beautification to safety to energy efficiency," says Vincent Wang of Lang Meng Technology, which is installing the system. "It is extremely important to China that the village be seen positively by the tens of millions of viewers that will be watching the Olympics on television."

The Olympic Village - the largest non-competition venue in Beijing - will house more than 23,000 athletes in 42 multi-story buildings. The complex also includes meeting rooms, medical clinics, religious centers, multiple restaurants, a library, parking areas, and entertainment and leisure activity centers.

Given the sheer size of the venue, officials can expect big savings from the system. In March, sportswear retailer Eddie Bauer has slashed energy costs by 20% at its 2.2-million-square-foot distribution center in Ohio thanks to Lonworks technology."