News

August Berres Joins the PoE Consortium

July 27, 2023

August Berres is pleased to be accepted as an observing member of the PoE Consortium.

Founded in September of 2022, seven smart-building manufacturers joined forces to bring more attention to the value of Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) lighting and technology. All the companies are collaborating to create an industry organization known as the PoE Consortium.

Their collective mission to educate stakeholders on the sustainable benefits of PoE over traditional high-voltage electrical infrastructure also highlights the key strategic value of the organization—more interoperability for advancing smart building power infrastructure.

According to Bob Kroon, CEO and Founder of August Berres, “We see PoE as a key technology for smart buildings and anticipate using PoE as a means to charge our battery systems, thus eliminating most of the need for 120V power in buildings.

DC-powered buildings are the future of facilities. When workplaces are powered by batteries that are charged by PoE, users will benefit from much lower operating costs as well as lower capital investment.”

For more information about the PoE Consortium, visit the organization’s website here.

August Berres Exhibits Cordless Power Solutions at Realcomm/IBCON 2023

June 17, 2023

August Berres joined professionals from the smart building and commercial real estate community at the 2023 Realcomm/IBCON exhibition at Caeser’s Palace in Las Vegas last week.

The technology on display included software solutions including AI applications and hardware solutions that primarily revolved around IoT (Internet of Things) and PoE (Power over Ethernet) technology.

August Berres cordless power solutions were very well received and a strong fit for the efforts of several other companies.

Attendees to this event paid over $1,000 for admission so the audience was populated with high-level decision-makers from large organizations. The typical technical expertise was very strong and nearly every visitor immediately understood the value propositions for cordless power.

By demonstrating a range of applications (Respond!, replaE, and Juce), it was quickly apparent that August Berres is capable to eliminate the need for 120V wiring at every workstation.

August Berres Webinar Approved for AIA Continuing Education Credits

April 25, 2023

August Berres’ Webinar, “Nine Challenges, Nine Solutions” has been approved for AIA Continuing Education Credits.

August Berres is partnering with Green Technology, a Continuing Education Provider, to manage and document the coursework. Bob Kroon, Founder and CEO of August Berres will lead the course.

Importantly, you will learn how cordless power (batteries) integrates into furnishings and creates work environments where there are no cords on the floor, how cordless power reduces infrastructure costs, and how cordless power can upgrade technology in older or historical buildings while minimizing structural building changes.

In addition, you will learn how to identify and select the most compatible computer equipment for cordless work environments.

This course might be especially valuable for architects in California. Effective on January 1, 2023, five hours of coursework regarding zero net carbon design are required for licensing renewals. Since the regulations for the coursework will not be established until July 1, 2024, we cannot promise compliance.

Attendance is not limited to architects. Anyone can enroll. Visit the August Berres website Webinars page to find a date that fits your schedule or request a private event for your team.

Changes to the California Code

SECTION 1.

Section 5600.05 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read: …

… (B) Five hours of coursework regarding zero net carbon design for all renewals occurring on or after January 1, 2023. The coursework shall be presented by trainers or educators with knowledge and expertise in these design requirements. The board shall adopt regulations to establish qualifications for courses and course providers by July 1, 2024.

August Berres Introduces Mobile, Cordless Monitor Stands

April 15, 2023

Juce, from August Berres, is the first mobile, cordless line of monitor stands.

Now you can put monitors everywhere without concerns about placement next to outlets. The product line supports monitors as large as 85 inches. Imagine the uses for video meetings, conference rooms, training centers, trade shows, retail displays, digital advertising, kiosks, classrooms, message board, audio-visual displays, and stage events.

According to Bob Kroon, Founder and CEO of August Berres, “We anticipate continued innovation in the monitor industry. Products are bigger and lower cost. There are improvements in power consumption, refresh rates, resolution, daisy chaining, and aspect ratios. Users are continuously finding new applications.”

Designed by Robert Russell, Juce is the latest cordless product from August Berres. The company previously introduced Respond! for agile hybrid co-working facilities and replaE for existing or 3rd party furniture so it can be cordless. August Berres is the leader in providing end-to-end solutions that enable agile, clean workplace environments.

Learn more about Juce

California Publishes 2022 Integrated Energy Policy Report

February 28, 2023

The California Energy Commission has issued the final draft of the 2022 Integrated Energy Policy Report

This is an extensive document, 170 pages. If you go HERE, you can download the complete report.

The goals in the report are aggressive and there are many actions taking place. August Berres is striving to make office workplaces more energy efficient with cordless (battery-powered) workstations.

August Berres Demonstrates Cordless Office Furniture at CASH

February 24, 2023

August Berres displays two solutions for cordless offices at CASH in Sacramento

CASH, the California Alliance for School Housing sponsors an exhibition annually in Sacramento. Over 200 suppliers participated including architecture firms, project management consultants, general contractors, IT services, office furniture dealers, modular building firms, and many others.

August Berres featured a Respond! workstation and a working demonstration of replaE.

Respond! is an extensively capable office furniture system intended for flexible hybrid workplaces. The working demonstration powered a laptop, a large second monitor, and a wireless phone charger atop a cordless sit/stand table desk.

replaE, a product line that retrofits existing furniture systems to use cordless power received rave reviews in its first public showing.

Cordless Power, in August Berres’ definition, means NO UNSIGHTLY CORDS AND WIRES ON THE FLOOR. There are more implications including cleaner floors and workplaces, easier reconfiguration, no permits and inspections, and a simple way to technologically upgrade older or historical buildings.

August Berres plaE retrofit kit creates a cordless-powered workstation

Shown on the right, is the replaE two-place docking retrofit with dual battery and dual monitor capabilities that was featured at CASH.

The white rectangle frame is the simple installation guide for a plunge router..

August Berres Named “Best Battery-Powered Office Furniture Provider”

January 10, 2023

August Berres is honored and pleased to be named “Best Battery-Powered Office Furniture Provider” for 2022.

According to Bob Kroon, Founder and CEO of August Berres, “As we speak with more customers, we’re finding the battery power systems integrated into August Berres’ Respond! and replaE product lines are a strong fit for sustainability professionals’ efforts to implement tangible and impactful sustainability solutions in their organizations.

We note that many others in the commercial interiors industry make ‘commitments’. Others are purchasing carbon offsets. Most are making few if any changes in their own products or internal practices.

We’re pleased that Build Magazine has noted our efforts towards tangible progress and selected us for this award.”

August Berres’ efforts towards sustainability innovation go beyond battery power. All materials are recyclable and no banned chemicals are used in the company’s supply chains. Desk worksurfaces use a unique process named Reimaj that creates book-matched woodgrains with a 75% reduction in carbon footprint when compared to plastic laminate construction.

BUILD magazine is a quarterly digital publication dedicated to the construction and property markets. Each quarter BUILD magazine brings to its readers the need-to-know news and updates from the world of construction & engineering, property, architecture & design as well as the latest insights regarding sustainability and infrastructure. Each issue looks to showcase some of the most innovative leaders, creative brands and dedicated firms shaping the industry today.

August Berres Introduces Cordless Power Retrofits for Existing Office Systems

January 3, 2023

Make your entire inventory of interior furnishings more agile than ever before!

When you reconfigure your office, the replaE retrofit system provides the opportunity to eliminate cords and wires from the floors of your buildings. With our retrofit solutions, most office systems easily convert to battery-powered workstations.

Your cleaning crews can now get to all areas of the floor. Space reconfiguration will no longer require permits, electrical contractors, inspections, and project delays.

Exiting leases? Reduce the cost of facility rearrangement. Redeploy your investments rather than leaving them behind and writing them off.

Purchase your power with off-peak rates and reduce stress on the grid.