North American lighting leader OSRAM SYLVANIA has launched the ENCELIUM® Wireless Energy Management System (EMS), a robust portfolio of sleek hardware solutions designed to expand lighting control to hard-to-reach locations and simplify and lower the overall cost of installation.  ENCELIUM is a scalable and simple lighting control system that enables owners to elevate the cost-effectiveness and occupant experience of their lighting spaces with just a click of the mouse.  The new ENCELIUM Wireless EMS is based on the ZigBee® Pro network stack and includes wireless managers, sensors, control modules for attaching to light fixtures, and wallstations, and is being installed at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, a $10 billion integrated global health enterprise in Pennsylvania.

The new ENCELIUM Wireless EMS integrates with both wireless and wired ENCELIUM devices and the ENCELIUM Polaris 3D® lighting management software, the core element of the ENCELIUM system that facilitates the commissioning, usage and data analysis of the lighting installation.  Developed in North America and accessible anytime, anywhere via an Internet connection, the new Polaris 3D 3.5.2 software is even easier to use and offers additional flexibility for buildings to comply with local building codes, offer a comfortable work environment for employees, reduce their lighting energy consumption by as much as 75 percent, and qualify for several points toward LEED certification.  The 3D color gradient visualization shows how efficient an installation is and immediately reports the savings achieved. 

“Specifiers, architects and facility managers have long been turning to ENCELIUM, with over 50 million square feet of space currently managed by our Energy Management System.  Now they have even more flexibility in installing lighting controls in commercial spaces with our new wireless portfolio,” said Emily Hayes, product marketing manager, OSRAM SYLVANIA.  “Installing an ENCELIUM Wireless Energy Management System is a cost -effective option for retrofitting existing spaces with the latest in lighting control technology, while also reducing the complexity involved with wiring.  In addition, the components have a low-profile, sleek design that offers a ‘silent’ ceiling look.”

The ENCELIUM Wireless Energy Management System consists of the following components:

• The ENCELIUM Wireless Manager, the central intelligence point in the Wireless Mesh Network, is a ceiling or wall-mounted control device that controls up to 100 nodes (control modules, wallstations, sensors, and other devices) and collects, processes, and distributes lighting control information to and from those devices via a mesh network based on ZigBee standards.  It then determines appropriate brightness levels or ON/OFF status for each fixture and zone. 

• The ENCELIUM Wireless Control Module mounts internally or externally to luminaires to connect the fixtures to the ENCELIUM wireless network for a variety of tasks such as adjusting light levels to respond to variable lighting requirements, customizing lighting scenes for tailored experiences/tasks, and scheduling the operation of a luminaire to lower energy use during off-peak occupancy.  Individually addressable, the Wireless Control Module enables each ballast or LED driver to be independently controlled and configured to best meet the needs of the facility.  It switches a fixture ON or OFF via a relay contained in the module, as well as delivers a low voltage dimming signal to any 0-10V or DALI dimming ballast/driver.  It offers dual connectivity in one box (1-10V or DALI) and a wide input voltage rage of 120-347V for connecting to a wide range of luminaire options.  A damp-rated version is also available for installations subject to moderate degrees of moisture 

• Ceiling-mounted ENCELIUM Wireless Sensors wirelessly collect info on space lighting conditions, and offer Passive Infra Red (PIR) occupancy sensing and daylight sensing in one sleek housing.  A 2014 IESNA Progress Report Winner, these wireless sensors are available in two configurations for up to 450 or 1500 square feet, battery powered, and the smallest wireless occupancy sensors with photocontrol on the market.  The integrated photosensor avoids wasting energy when there is enough natural light.  The sensors offer three tool-less mounting options for easy installation that do not require removing the ceiling tile, and also offer masking options to maximize control flexibility. 

• ENCELIUM Wireless Wallstations send occupant commands to the network, offer the flexibility of being placed where convenient for users, and are a cost-effective option compared to wired switches.  Powered by two AA batteries, the product is the industry’s smallest wireless wallstation (2.8125” D x 4.5” H x 0.875” W) and a 2014 IESNA Progress Report Winner.  Wallstations are available in 3 versions: on/off, 3-scene and 3-zone control with scene/zone settings defined through the Polaris 3D software. The wallstations can also be surface mounted when using the separate surface mount kit accessory.    

UPMC Turns to ENCELIUM for Latest in Lighting Controls

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) operates more than 20 academic, community, and specialty hospitals and 400 outpatient sites, employs more than 3,500 physicians, and offers an array of rehabilitation, retirement, and long-term care facilities.  UPMC is also the largest non-governmental employer in Pennsylvania, with more than 60,000 employees.  The healthcare leader had previously installed an ENCELIUM wired lighting control system covering several of its buildings, but Drew M. Chidester, senior director, Energy and Environmental Engineering/Affairs at UPMC, needed a different approach with a three-story, subterranean parking garage.  “This parking garage has wiring pre-cast in its concrete infrastructure, so incorporating a wired lighting controls system would have been problematic,” said Chidester.  “I’ve seen firsthand the benefits of having an ENCELIUM Energy Management System in some of our other buildings, and was excited to be able to now get that same level of control in our underground parking garage, thanks to the new wireless solution.”  The institution is now installing an ENCELIUM Wireless EMS to control over 350 lighting fixtures in the parking garage.