Emerson Climate Technologies Announces Strategic Partnership With Comverge, Inc.

Emerson Climate Technologies Announces Strategic Partnership With
Comverge, Inc.
White-Rodgers thermostat to become integral piece of Comverge's peak load
management program for utility companies 


ST. LOUIS, Jan. 25  /PRNewswire/ -- Emerson Climate Technologies(TM), a
business of Emerson (NYSE:EMR) today announced a strategic partnership between
its White-Rodgers division and Comverge, Inc., a leading energy intelligence
company. As part of the partnership, a White-Rodgers programmable thermostat
will be the primary thermostat used in Comverge's peak load management
programs. The thermostat, along with the innovative utility load management
software, will be on display at the 2005 DistribuTech Conference and Exhibition
in San Diego. (Booth number 1038)

Comverge's peak load management programs dynamically manage HVAC operation
based on the requirements imposed by the utility programs.  As a result,
Comverge clients are capable of implementing intelligent energy load management
solutions based on their specific needs without causing customer discomfort.

"Shifting electric loads off the peak periods makes good economic sense for
ratepayers and all utilities whether municipally, investor, or co- operative
owned," said Bud Vos, Vice President of Marketing for Comverge. "The
White-Rodgers thermostat, combined with our communication and load control
expertise, presents utilities with a compelling, environmentally-friendly and
economic alternative to expanding their energy capacity. Load Management
programs are increasingly becoming an integral part of many utilities' long-
range integrated resource plans."

Developed jointly by the two companies, the White-Rodgers programmable digital
thermostat features an integrated wireless communications module and can be
used in commercial or residential applications. In the event of a severe peak
load period, the utility is able to remotely contact the thermostat and direct
it to very efficiently cycle the home or building air conditioners, enabling
the utility to avoid peak operating charges and potential brownouts with
virtually no disruption to human comfort.

For White-Rodgers, the partnership provides another opportunity to apply its
industry-leading technology within the company's core market -- the heating,
ventilation and air conditioning industry. "We've had great success and formed
great relationships within the HVAC industry, and we remain committed to
advancing that industry through our innovative technologies and solutions,"
said Ron Miles, vice president of sales and marketing for White- Rodgers. "This
partnership with Comverge allows us to expand the applications of our
thermostat product offering and bring energy savings to the end user. We're
excited to move forward with this opportunity."

The new thermostat from White-Rodgers offers utility companies a depth and
breadth of available features that is unmatched within the industry. "Peak load
control programs are becoming a critical part of utilities' overall load
management strategies, and are increasingly important to many utilities' long-
range integrated resource plans," Vos said. "Digital programmable thermostats,
like the one from White-Rodgers, have proven to be a successful tool in
implementing these energy management programs."

According to Vos, the White-Rodgers thermostat brings a number of unique
benefits to the market. "In the past, we had to develop the communications
module separately and then integrate it with the thermostat," said Vos. "This
thermostat features enhanced architecture that improves the integration of the
thermostat and the communications module. Additionally, the thermostat is
designed with a core intelligence and ease of use that makes it best-in-
class." Other features of the thermostat include:

  * Satisfies the three primary types of load control programs: Direct load
    control, price responsive control and critical peak pricing programs.
    Previous thermostat models were limited to only one solution.
  * Features are integrated, so that Comverge customers may evolve from one
    type of load control program to another without a massive system change
    out or upgrade.
  * Can be used in both residential and commercial applications.
  * Can handle two-stage cooling and heating applications, heat pumps and
    traditional cooling systems with a single design.
  * Total install cost lower than traditional models because a secondary box
    is not needed.
  * "Power stealing" design of the thermostat ensures maximum installation
    flexibility and compatibility in the field.
  * Extremely easy for homeowners to use, with advanced programming, a
    large, easy-to-use digital backlit display.
  * Web-based programming allows the homeowner to control and program the
    thermostat from their computer



According to Vos, the response from utility companies has been very positive,
with preorders for the thermostat exceeding original expectations. The
thermostat is scheduled to be widely available for use in the peak load
management programs in early May 2005.

About Emerson

Emerson (NYSE:EMR), based in St. Louis, is a global leader in bringing
technology and engineering together to provide innovative solutions to
customers through its network power, process management, industrial automation,
climate technologies, and appliance and tools businesses. Sales in fiscal 2004
were $15.6 billion. For more information, visit http://www.gotoemerson.com/.

About Emerson Climate Technologies

Emerson Climate Technologies(TM), a business of Emerson, is the world's leading
provider of heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration solutions
for residential, industrial and commercial applications. The group combines
best-in-class technology with proven engineering, design, distribution,
educational and monitoring services to provide customized, integrated climate
control solutions for customers worldwide. Emerson Climate Technologies'
innovative solutions, which include industry-leading brands such as Copeland
Scroll(TM) and White-Rodgers(R), improve human comfort, safeguard food and
protect the environment. For more information, visit
http://www.emersonclimate.com/.

About White-Rodgers

White-Rodgers, part of Emerson Climate Technologies, has been a leading
provider of home comfort solutions, including thermostats, gas ignition
controls, electronic and media air cleaners and humidifiers since 1937. The
company was the first U.S. HVAC manufacturer to earn ISO 9001 certification.
Its ComfortPlus(TM) line is an innovative home environment system that brings
together White-Rodgers technologies and support tools that ensure residential
heating and cooling systems operate at maximum efficiency. White-Rodgers'
programmable thermostats are among the most accurate on the market. White-
Rodgers is headquartered in St. Louis.  For more information, visit
http://www.white-rodgers.com/.

About Comverge, Inc.

Comverge, Inc., The Power in Power Technology(TM), is a leading energy
intelligence company whose investors include Nth Power, EnerTech Capital, Data
Systems & Software, Inc. (NASDAQ:DSSI), E.ON Venture Partners GmbH (NYSE:EON),
Ridgewood Capital, Easton Hunt Capital Partners, L.P., Norsk Hydro Technology
Ventures (NYSE:NHY), Rockport Capital Partners, and Shell Internet Ventures, an
affiliate of the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies. Comverge is represented
across the world with offices and research facilities in Atlanta, Georgia; East
Hanover, NJ; Newark, California; Pensacola, Florida; and Tel Aviv, Israel.
Providing software and system solutions to over 500 clients in the electric
utility industry, Comverge implements both integrated and outsourced solution
based models for remote meter reading, distributed generation monitoring, and
time-of-use billing and demand response, and direct or voluntary load control
initiatives. For more information visit http://www.comverge.com/.

   For more information about Emerson Climate Technologies, contact:
   Tony Castillo
   , 937.859.0599

   For more information about Comverge, Inc., contact:
   Bud Vos
   , 973.884.5970


DATASOURCE: Comverge, Inc.



CONTACT:  Tony Castillo, [phone], , for

Emerson Climate Technologies; Bud Vos of Comverge, Inc., [phone],





Web site:  http://www.comverge.com/

http://www.white-rodgers.com/

http://www.gotoemerson.com/

http://www.comverge.com/ 

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