The focus of this paper is on building control and monitoring systems. Traditionally these systems are based on wires and cables. A wireless approach can bring benefits to system flexibility, installation (new sites and buildings under retrofit), and financial issues. This paper presents an application-specific wireless Kilavi platform developed for building control purposes. Kilavi provides the means for open standard manufacturer-independent communication between different sensors and actuators. Heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, lighting, temperature and humidity measurement, and access control appliances can interact with each other with defined Kilavi messages and functions. Linking up these appliances into a single all-inclusive building control system offers a dexterous interface for the user to control building conditions and the interesting possibility of developing novel and varied building control applications to improve energy efficiency, security and living conditions. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.