Intelligent 'green' building automation for simple management
May 2007Analytical Instrumentation & Environmental Monitoring
Recently, Beckhoff products were chosen for the lighting control system for the new FNB Homeloans/Wesbank head offices in Fairlands, Johannesburg. This new project, in conjunction with A2Z Electrical and SAM Automation, is the largest of its kind in South Africa at present.
"With a good track record and installed base in South Africa, Beckhoff products have been successfully implemented with clients like Telkom, Anglo American, Vodaworld, Department of Science and Technology (CSIR), Durban International Convention Centre and more," says Conrad Muller of Beckhoff Automation. "Beckhoff implements open automation systems which are inherently extremely well suited for building technology.
"Traditionally, the integrated control technology has been used in office buildings and industrial production facilities for industrial building automation, although more recently home automation has become an expanding market. The diverse functions of a building are based on thousands of data points that have to be acquired, transferred, interpreted centrally and visualised. Modern facility management must be able to respond flexibly and quickly to changes in the building and its utilisation."
Muller continues: "Implementing Dali/DSI lighting controls with Eib and Lon bus systems, with connections to fire detection, security and access control, heating and cooling systems is as simple as connecting to another fieldbus protocol. Using Ethernet as existing building backbone, it simplifies connection of all disparate systems under Beckhoff's control architecture.
"Monitoring power consumption through the use of our KL3403 power measurement terminal verifies building energy consumption and load distribution. With effective control of lighting applications based on ambient light, motion, occupancy and day/night as well as time-based control, the Beckhoff solution easily reduces energy consumption in these areas. Through our interaction with HVAC systems, major electricity savings can be achieved through the Beckhoff system acting as additional sensor inputs to such systems.
"Saving energy is becoming a major effort to be employed by everyone in South Africa," Muller concludes.
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