Networking and wireless — two elements growing in home system use as well as based on ever evolving technologies — are at the heart of new educational effort from Holland, Mich.-based Bedrock Learning.

The Z-Wave Alliance, the industry leading open consortium of global companies dedicated to establishing Z-Wave as the standard in wireless home control, appointed Mark Walters as chairman. He previously served as its chairman from its inception in 2005. Prior to making his return, Walters worked in the commercial building and lighting control markets.

From Rockleigh, N.J., the Crestron V24-C 24" HD Touch Screen Display is the latest addition to a family of high definition V-Panel touch screens. It blends full touch screen navigation, high performance graphics and HD video with DigitalMedia 8G+ connectivity and a 24 in. high definition widescreen display. The device combines separate touch screens, TV displays and computer monitors into one display.

Firefly Design Group of Hollywood, Fla., a design, engineering and consulting firm in the custom electronics industry, now offers electronics system contractors (ESC) streamlined access to a full range of its documentation, sales and marketing products, and services through an e-commerce site, the Firefly Design Group Store (http://www.shopfdg.com).

Powerline Control Systems, the Northridge, Calif., manufacturer of PulseWorx lighting control for residential and light commercial applications, and inventor of universal powerline bus technology, entered into a strategic alliance with Jacksonville, Ore., Global Caché, an independent manufacturer of IP and Wi-Fi connectivity products for the control and automation market.

The Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association (CEDIA) has named Don Stewart of Stewart Filmscreen Corporation of Torrance, Calif., recipient of the 2011 CEDIA Lifetime Achievement Award. Stewart, executive vice president and a corporate partner/principal of Stewart Filmscreen Corporation, will be recognized at the annual Electronic Lifestyles Awards Banquet at CEDIA EXPO.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) of Des Plaines, Ill., is rolling out the Certified Remodeler Project Manager (CRPM) education and certification program September 6.

Sarasota, Fla., Clare Controls, a provider of configurable and intuitive home automation systems, has introduced ClareHome, a home automation system managed from the cloud and run on a Mac. ClareHome enables professional dealers to configure, deploy, service and monitor systems from its cloud-based portal, eliminating the need for service calls for common reprogramming issues.

A yearlong experiment with America's electric grid could negatively impact home systems and appliances that have a clock that does not work off a computer or the Internet. Since 1930, electric clocks have kept time based on the rate of the electrical current that powers them.

With the news that the first professionals have earned the Commercial Lighting Controls CLC-C Crestron certification, smartHOME grabbed some information on that firm’s DigitalMedia certification programs, closer to home electronic system contractors.