The need to drastically reduce levels of energy consumption in residential environments is giving smart controls an important role to play in better managing energy needs.
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| ABB KNX Room With Blind Control |
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With lighting and heating accounting for a major percentage of residential energy consumption, the enhanced control provided by automation systems represents a significant energy-saving opportunity.
We all know how expensive it can be to light and heat our homes. Yet a lot of the time, we are failing to make the best use of the natural levels of light and warmth already present. Advances in home automation technology have opened up a raft of new possibilities for the way we control our homes. Using this technology, it is now possible to program your preferred settings for parameters such as lighting levels, room temperatures and heating system on/off times via one multi-function switch. Data from sensors for temperature, light levels and motion detection equipment are then fed to a controller to maintain the environment within these settings.
Automation can make the best use of the natural levels of light and warmth already present. Given these many benefits, it is perhaps surprising that the technology is not more widely used in the UK. Compared to Germany, which has a high penetration of smart control technology at both residential and commercial levels, the UK is still in the comparatively early stages of adoption.
What is smart technology?
One of the main problems has undoubtedly been the confusion amongst customers about what exactly constitutes 'smart technology'. This has been further complicated by the mass of vendors in the market offering a wide range of so-called 'smart devices'. If you asked 10 people what smart control is, you would probably get 10 different answers.
Simply defined, the technology is about creating an intelligent building that thinks for you. Whether it be controlling lighting, heating or ventilation levels or creating a mood for a room with automatically-controlled lighting and music, the technology should be able to improve your environment without you even noticing. With developments in open protocol technology, especially on the KNX platform, it is now much easier for customers to find products that can be readily integrated.
Why opt for KNX?
At its launch in 1990, KNX technology was the world's first open standard for the control of all types of intelligent buildings. Since that time, the platform has developed to cover a complete spectrum of residential applications, ranging from lighting and shutter control through to heating, ventilation, security, energy management and even entertainment.
By using the technology, users are assured that any future changes to their set-up can be easily accommodated, providing the freedom to deal with changing requirements, such as an extension to a property or impaired user mobility through disability.
Moreover, it gives freedom to use equipment from multiple manufacturers, as all KNX platform products are inherently compatible, eliminating the need for users to be tied to one manufacturer or installer.
How can going 'smart' save energy?
By ensuring optimum use of available natural levels of light and heat, smart control systems can significantly reduce the amount of energy that would otherwise be needed to achieve the same result. In contrast to a conventional on/off switching control system, a smart system enables a function, or set of functions, to be automated, enabling them to respond to changes in ambient levels of lighting and heating.
A smart system is essentially comprised of a range of components giving and receiving commands, which are relayed around the building via a single cable. The diagram below shows the operation of a typical system. Sensors collect information on factors such as lighting levels, internal and external temperatures and occupant presence, which are then relayed to actuation devices which make the necessary changes to preserve the programmed room settings.
The elements of the intelligent building control system
These may also be supplemented by other forms of sensing and control systems, such as roof-based weather sensors or timer-based systems, where specific functions are programmed to act at set periods.
As shown in the above diagram, when it comes to control, users also have the option of centralised, local and combined centralised/local options. ABB's ComfortTouch and Pri-On controllers for example, both enable users to centrally or locally control and adjust a range of room functions, whilst the Busch Watchdog Passive Infra-red (PIR) sensor can be used to help adjust room functions by automatically detecting changes in room occupancy.
The ABB ComfortTouch touchpanel, the ABB Pri-On controller, and the Busch Watchdog PIR sensor
Controlling energy while on the move
The Internet also affords further control possibilities. Remote access enables users to operate appliances remotely should they forget to set the instructions on their smart control device, or wish to override existing instructions. With the increasing bandwidth capabilities of mobile phones, a home's controls can also be adjusted while the user is on the move.
ABB's ComfortTouch panel, for example, can collect data from appliances around the home, such as washing machines, which can then be called up from a mobile telephone, enabling the homeowner to change settings. Its EnergyDisplay function also allows users to both locally and remotely access data on their home's energy consumption, enabling them to pinpoint areas for greater efficiency if required.
Conclusion
Despite being slow to take off in the UK, KNX technology is increasingly finding acceptance, led primarily by its use in large blue-chip contracts including projects in airports, stadiums and rail transport hubs. This has had a knock-on effect as people see the technology at work and start to find ways to implement it at home.
Automated blind control through KNX, in a commercial setting
With many of the foundations for smart control technology already in place in many homes in the UK, mass adoption of the technology will rely on manufacturers balancing flexibility and simplicity with affordability.
With energy efficiency continuing to be high on the political agenda, the potential energy-saving abilities of smart control technology makes it an ideal way of helping building developers to satisfy the UK Government's requirements for new homes, offering the very highest levels of energy efficiency. Equally, those looking to maximise the saleable value of their property could well find that installing smart controls to help improve energy efficiency enables them to command a significant price premium.
ABB is a global leader in power and automation technologies that enable utility and industry customers to improve their performance while lowering environmental impact.
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