At LIGHTFAIR International 2017 (Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA, May 9-11, 2017), the EnOcean Alliance as well as 16 of its members will demonstrate the benefits of the interoperable EnOcean ecosystem for integrated building control and self-powered Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

About 20% of the total energy production worldwide is used for electric lighting. With a modern lighting control system it is possible to save about 20-30% in a typical building. Daylighting is required by an increasing number of industry standards such as ASHRAE 90.1-2010 or governmental energy code requirements such as Title 24 in California.   

Daylight Harvesting based on EnOcean technology

Daylight harvesting is a great way to combine energy savings, cost savings, and physical and mental well-being of workers in a building. Lighting control systems employing this technique measure natural light available in a building and only add as much artificial light as necessary. LED lighting control based on energy harvesting technology is a key component for intelligent buildings to fit these requirements.

An EnOcean-based daylight harvesting system typically consists of wireless relay controllers, energy harvesting wireless occupancy sensors, light level sensors, and wall switches. The controller communicates via the EnOcean radio standard in 902 MHz. This allows setting up a system using maintenance-free batteryless sensors and switches which are highly flexible to position.

"Today, the awareness of environmental issues and energy costs is constantly rising and lighting is understood to be one of the key factors for energy savings and increasing comfort in intelligent buildings worldwide. The key advantages of wireless control are the ease of upgrading existing buildings and expanding a system at any time. Wireless control systems can even provide greater installation flexibility if units within the system do not require dedicated cabling or batteries for power. Energy harvesting wireless sensors, switches and controls therefore perfectly fit in with the sustainable characteristics of energy-saving lighting and LED technology. This makes EnOcean one of the most important wireless standards for maintenance-free applications for modern lighting control," says Graham Martin, Chairman and CEO of the EnOcean Alliance.

At booth #836, the EnOcean Alliance will show an integrated building system covering the following areas:   

Self-Powered Switches and Sensors

Intelligent lighting control can be covered on the basis of three main wireless components: kinetic-powered light switches, including dimmers, solar-powered light sensors, and solar-powered occupancy sensors.

This system can additionally support a wireless daylight harvesting application, which is a lighting controls system that automatically adapts the light level to the amount of available natural light in a room measured by light level sensors. In a typical commercial building with such an automated lighting control system, it is possible to reduce energy consumption by up to 30%.

Wireless sensors can also lay the foundation for energy savings, increased comfort, and healthier living through automated HVAC control. Self-powered temperature, gas, and climate sensors combined with hydronic heating valves form a wireless network that supplies heat or cool air depending on individual needs and behavior or when room conditions need to be adapted to predefined set points.

Gateways and Local Controllers

The approach of seamlessly integrating the control of different building areas can be realized with gateways and local controllers. These directly communicate with the self-powered wireless devices and with each other to process the delivered data and information for a synchronized building management system. This results in better energy efficiency while increasing comfort and security at the same time. 
 
Building Management Systems

These same gateways can bridge the EnOcean standard to work also with other established protocols such as BACnet, LonMark, WiFi, or the cloud. This provides maximum flexibility to installing professionals to expand and adapt building automation systems based on other protocols at any time with wireless components and to centrally control the whole system.

EnOcean Alliance connects building automation with the Internet of Things

Due to strong partnerships with leading organizations of the IT industry, such as the Open Connectivity Foundation, and industry leaders IBM and Vertuoz by ENGIE, the EnOcean Alliance opens the world of energy harvesting wireless communication to develop interoperable self-powered wireless solutions as a standard for the Internet of Things (IoT).

Together, IBM and the EnOcean Alliance will provide sensor information in the Cloud and develop energy harvesting solutions as the open standard for maintenance-free wireless solutions to be used in cognitive buildings. These solutions can be used for various applications such as asset management, ambient assisted living projects, insurance or hotel and campus projects, giving maintenance-free wireless switches and sensors based on EnOcean technology.

With the French energy giant Vertuoz by ENGIE joining the EnOcean Alliance, the ecosystem of the EnOcean Alliance continues to grow and promotes the standardization of intelligent building solutions for the Internet of Things. Together, Vertuoz by ENGIE and the EnOcean Alliance develop intelligent building solutions and build bridges towards a global network in the Internet of Things.

More details on the self-powered wireless solutions shown at the EnOcean Alliance booth #836 can be found at www.enocean-alliance.org/en/products.