FEATURE SENSORS & SENSOR SYSTEMS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY FOR BUILDINGS
can adapt their light output to change presence situations in the office. If the office is completely occupied, each work station features individually set lighting levels. The lighting level is reduced to background lighting in the places where people are not present. This reduces energy consumption whilst maintaining a pleasant lighting atmosphere. The luminaires learn automatically and
communicate with each other via the EnOcean wireless standard. In this lighting system, batteryless wireless devices can be integrated by using an EnOcean Gateway to connect to a building automation system. This also enables use of the presence and daylight information to control the HVAC system. In the BREEAM-certified (Building
John Corbett, EnOcean’s Sales Director in the UK, looks at how wireless automation solutions can help to reduce energy consumption in buildings
G
overnments around the world have set ambitious goals to significantly
reduce energy consumption over the next couple of years. Buildings play a key role as they consume high levels of energy and, therefore, demand the integration of innovative technologies that can be installed easily with a fast ROI whilst providing significant energy savings. Owing to their highly flexible characteristics, the adoption of wireless automation solutions is growing significantly in the public building sector. The Irish government has committed
to a 20 percent reduction in energy demand through energy efficiency measures by 2020. This does not differ from other European countries, except the Irish ministers combined this with a target to lead by example and realise a 33 percent reduction in public-sector energy use. Leading by example not only means
achieving the goal. It also needs to be realised using methods and technologies that non-governmental people can adopt and are sustainable in their basic characteristics. Significant energy saving potential lies within buildings as they consume more than 40 percent of primary energy in Ireland. When it comes to energy-efficiency strategies for making governmental buildings greener, setting a good example means that governments need to actively support sustainable, easy to install solutions. Automation systems for HVAC and
lighting that integrate EnOcean energy harvesting wireless technology fit into
16 SUMMER 2014 | IRISH MANUFACTURING
this category, saving installation costs of more than 30 percent in new construction and up to 70 percent in retrofits. They can also help reduce energy consumption by 20 to 40 percent in facilities, often with a ROI of three years or less. The batteryless wireless products fulfil
current and future needs for a sustainable technology which enables automation systems to interconnect sensor devices and building systems for intelligent, energy-efficient control without batteries. Since they are self- powered by motion, light or temperature differences, the devices eliminate the need to install wiring and conduits, or change and dispose of batteries. In addition, the batteryless wireless system can be installed easily, particularly in retrofit projects – a necessity, if the ambitious objectives of governments are to be realised. In Europe, there are several building projects that use energy harvesting wireless automation based on the EnOcean standard to improve a building’s carbon footprint. This automatically brings an increase in comfort and security alongside. The DGNB Gold-certified (German
Sustainable Building Council, DGNB) “Center for Virtual Engineering ZVE” in Stuttgart of the Fraunhofer IAO uses flexible lighting solutions that can be adjusted to individual requirements depending on the working situation. The LED-based system from Waldmann integrates with a daylight sensor system, presence sensor technology and wireless group communication. The luminaires
The Irish Government has committed itself to a 20 percent reduction in energy demand through energy efficiency measures by 2020
Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) new Palace of Justice in Amsterdam, an energy- efficient, productive and comfortable working environment has been created for around 700 employees. The ecos 5 integrated room automation system from SAUTER combines the control of the room climate with daylight-dependent lighting control. The open-plan office design features flexible glass partitions to create individual spaces, which places particular demands with regard to the selection of the room control unit. Wireless technology, with no batteries, allows for an easy addition of operating points when the room division is changed, together with feedback of operating activities on the local LCD display. The SAUTER ecoUnit 1 room control unit fulfils these requirements by means of the EnOcean standard, with energy harvested via the integrated solar panel. In this scenario, the operating points
can be retrofitted at any time using a teach-in function on the radio receiver and an adhesive pad is provided for installation on the glass. This room control unit is remarkable for its bi- directional communication. The room temperature and operating activities, such as dimming/switching lights, are transferred to the room automation station, and conversely, the users can read the target room temperature and information on the heating and cooling from the display of the room control unit at any time. As a result, users have more information, which contributes to the energy optimisation of the rooms. These two projects show how modern
wireless technology can help save energy on a large scale with immediate effect but without extensive reconstructions and investments. It is an approach that could perfectly meet the objective of the Irish government to lead by example and to show new and affordable ways to achieve higher energy-efficiency ratings.
EnOcean
www.enocean.com Enter 203
/ IRISHMANUFACTURING
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32