Release Details

DALLAS, May 22 /PRNewswire/ -- Lennox Industries Inc., a leading heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) manufacturer and a subsidiary of Lennox International Inc. (NYSE: LII), announced its latest first in over a century of industry-leading innovations. The company will soon start conducting field tests of a web-accessible HVAC controls system, based on technology developed in cooperation with Invensys, plc. Consumer testing of the system, called e-Comfort(TM), will begin this summer.

According to officials of both companies, Lennox and Invensys are designing e-Comfort technology to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of individual appliances, and to allow these appliances to network with other systems inside and outside the home. "The new control systems have the ability to perform self-diagnostic tests and communicate with service technicians to a degree that is simply unprecedented in the industry," said Rick Marrale, Lennox vice president and general manager, OEM. Eventually, he noted, the e-Comfort technology will allow users to control their HVAC systems from virtually anywhere, helping to lower their energy costs.

"The combination of Invensys' smart control technology and Lennox's comfort system expertise will create trouble-free climate control for the homeowner," said Dale Barnhart, president of Invensys Climate Control. "This exciting new technology will optimize the energy efficiency of the HVAC system and allow remote control, monitoring, and diagnostics."

Lennox officials said e-Comfort technology would also decrease the costs of doing business by providing troubleshooting, parts ordering, and immediate warranty processing at the job site, via the Internet. "This reduces warranty processing costs and time spent by service technicians on the job," Marrale said.

The average household energy usage for space heating and air conditioning can be as much as 54 percent of total consumption of homes, according to a study by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

"Homeowners and other end users are becoming much more energy conscious," said Doug Young, Lennox vice president and general manager, North American sales, marketing, and distribution. "In addition, consumers are demanding a greater degree of sophistication in their appliances. Lennox's e-Comfort technology will meet the needs of these increasingly knowledgeable and concerned consumers."

Lennox officials added that as energy markets develop different pricing systems for peak demand use, consumers will eventually be able to use the e-Comfort networking capability to minimize consumption of electricity on the most expensive days.

"The e-Comfort initiative is the latest example of Lennox's 106-year history of providing innovative solutions to consumer's home comfort needs," Marrale said.

Lennox Industries is a subsidiary of Lennox International Inc. A Fortune 500 company operating in over 70 countries, Lennox International Inc. is a global leader in the heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration markets. Lennox International stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "LII". Additional information is available at: www.lennoxinternational.com or by contacting Karen O'Shea, Vice President, Communications and Public Relations, at 972-497-5172.

Invensys plc is a global leader in the Automation and Controls industry. With its head office in London, it operates in all regions of the world through four focused divisions -- Software Systems, Automation Systems, Power Systems and Control Systems. With over 80,000 employees, the company's products and services range from advanced control systems and networks for automating industrial plants and controlling the environments of buildings, to electronic devices and controls found in residential buildings and light commercial applications, plus complete power systems for the telecommunications and information technology industries. For more information on Invensys plc, please visit www.invensys.com.

This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from such statements. For information concerning these risks and uncertainties, see Lennox' publicly available filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lennox disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

MAKE YOUR OPINION COUNT - Click Here

http://tbutton.prnewswire.com/prn/11690X20283131
SOURCE Lennox International Inc.
Web site: http: //www.invensys.com http://www.lennoxinternational.com
Company News On-Call: http: //www.prnewswire.com/comp/140632.html or fax, 800-758-5804, ext. 140632
CONTACT: Karen O'Shea, Vice President, Communications and Public Relations of Lennox International Inc., 972-497-5172