Open Systems for Homes and Buildings:
Comparing LonWorks and KNX
Alan Kell
Peter Colebrook
i&i limited
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Trademarks and Logos
i&i and Proplan are trademarks of i&i limited.
KNX, EIB, European Installation Bus, EHS, European Home Systems and BatiBUS are
trademarks of The Konnex Association and its constituent associations; European Installation
Bus Association (EIBA), European Home Systems Association (EHSA) and Club BatiBUS
International (BCI).
Echelon, LON, LONWORKS, LONMARK, LonBuilder, NodeBuilder, LonManager, LonTalk,
LonUsers, LonPoint, Digital Home, Neuron, 3120, 3150, LNS, i.LON, LONWORLD, the
Echelon logo, and the LonUsers logo are trademarks of Echelon Corporation registered in the
United States and other countries. LonMaker, Panoramix, and Networked Energy Services
Powered by Echelon are trademarks of Echelon Corporation.
All other brand names and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their
respective holders.
About i&i limited
Alan Kell was the principal author of the 1993 study by DEGW etl1 entitled “Bus Systems for
Building Control” which was the first detailed study in this area to compare, among others, EIB
and LONWORKS in the context of building control.
Peter Colebrook collaborated closely with Siemens in Regensburg in the late 1980’s, was one of
the 12 founder signatories of the European Installation Bus Association (EIBA) and
subsequently served as a Director of that Association. He was also one of the founders of the
LONMARK Interoperability Association and similarly served as a Director of that Association.
Alan and Peter are directors of i&i limited. The Proplan division of i&i, established in 1980, has
analysed the markets and technology for building controls and services in 37 differen