Powerweb believes that in the very near future, appliances, including lighting devices and other electrical products, will be wirelessly connected and intelligently monitored and controlled via a network. Moreover, the Internet will be the fundamental network through which monitoring and control will be achieved. As such, the energy devices may be located in a single building or across many buildings. Similarly, the energy devices may be generally located at one geographical location or several such locations. Yet, all of the devices may be monitored and controlled by a single control source via the network. Powerweb's issued IP and pending applications cover each of these concepts. In addition to wirelessly monitoring and controlling various energy devices via a network, Powerweb also believes that the devices themselves will need to be energy intelligent. An energy intelligent device is a device that can be controlled based on a multitude of real-time or real-near time energy related variables and conditions, such as; time, energy costs, grid emergencies, rates, profiles and the like. Due to the volatile price of electricity and the carbon generated while producing electricity, controlling devices based on real-time price and carbon exposure will become as important as developing new energy efficient devices. Again, Powerweb's IP covers these concepts.

Conventional, centralized lighting control systems require multiple complex relay panels installed at circuit breaker locations throughout a building. Lighting relay panels are wired in series, floor to floor to a main panel that provides centralized control. The main panel is ultimately wired to a computer that acts as a time clock to turn the lights on and off. For these reasons, conventional centralized lighting control systems can only be installed in a building during construction. Up until 2001, construction codes did not mandate the installation of centralized lighting controls for buildings, which leaves an immense opportunity for aftermarket lighting controls.

Centralized lighting and HVAC control for load management is a key theme of the Powerweb IP portfolio. Powerweb's IP provides solutions that will enable centralized lighting controls to be installed in an aftermarket fashion in a cost effective way. Powerweb's IP also provides solutions that will enable centralized control over multiple locations via a network in a cost effective way. Powerweb's IP further provides solutions that will offer more secure control, as control is administered remotely and not through a consumers own computer system. Powerweb's IP still further provides solutions that will reduce the cost of lighting by controlling lighting based on time, energy prices, and utility demand charge.