KNX Journal 2011-1

KNX Projects
Energy Efficiency in Buildings
Increasing scarcity of resources
and rising energy
prices are the major challenges
of our time. That‘s why
efficient and sustainable
energy usage is an urgent necessity
– fully in accordance
with the motto coined by
the European Commission
“less is more”.
Even ahead of transport and
industry, buildings make up
a 40% share of the primary
energy consumption – a share
that leaves a lot of scope for
efficient optimization.
Renovation of the building
shell offers the highest level
of savings among the measures
for optimization of energy efficiency
in buildings, however,
the amortization period is in
the range of 10…40 years. Replacement
of outdated heating
and air-conditioning systems
allows mid-level savings with
a typical amortization period
of 5…15 years. The use of a
networked room and building
automation solution allows
savings in the double-figure
% range, where typical amortization
periods are relatively
short and within one to five
years.
ABB i-bus® KNX supports
conservative and requirement-based
energy use by
intelligent and networked
control of room and building
functions (lighting, sun protection,
heating, ventilation and
air conditioning).
In this way, energy is only used
when it is actually needed and
then only the amount of energy
required.
Figure 1. Energy Actuator SE/S 3.16.1
Energy efficiency through
energy transparency
It is only really useful to implement
optimization measures if
you are aware of how much energy
you are consuming. This
aspect of energy monitoring
is increasing in significance to
facilitate transparency of the
energy flows in a building and
for evaluation purposes. KNX
is the appropriate technology
in this application area.
Energy meters with KNX interfaces
have been available up
to now to measure the power
consumption. The new ABB
i-bus KNX Energy Actuator
SE/S 3.16.1 allows even moredetailed
measurement. This
switch actuator determines
the electrical parameters and
the energy consumption for
every individual channel. These
measured values are made
available to the KNX system
for further evaluation.
Scientifically-proven
energy efficiency
In order to provide customers
with informative arguments
when conducting discussions
with operators and investors,
ABB has developed a software
tool in conjunction with the
Biberach University of Applied
Sciences, which determines
possible savings for a reference
Figure 3. Energy efficiency brochure
building. The savings - in comparison
with a conventional
installation - can be calculated
for a hotel room, a classroom
or a single office depending on
the functions used in the areas
of lighting and blind control.
The energy efficiency tool is
available free-of-charge for
all interested parties on the
Internet at http://www.abb.
com/knx.
Further detailed information
on the topic of energy efficiency
in buildings with ABB i-bus
KNX as well as the corresponding
brochures, product
information and reference
reports can also be found on
the Internet at http://www.
abb.com/knx.
Contact:
knx.marketing@de.abb.com
Figure 2. Software tool for calculation of the energy efficiency (screenshot)
Journal 1/2011
13