SAVING ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT

COMMERCIAL BUILDING AUTOMATION

INTEGRATED EXAMPLES

New Commercial Building Projects

Department of Conservation, Wellington

Scope of Works

ECOsystems were contracted by Harding Electrical to install a DALI C-Bus solution for the new Department of Conservation building.

System Overview

The building itself is located where the old MidCity cinemas were located on Manners Street, Wellington. The DOC complex consists of three separate buildings joined together with atriums to maximize the natural daylight in the building.

The task set out for ECOsystems, by Steven McGlinchy of SKM, was to harvest as much of this natural daylight to maximize energy savings. This has been achieved with the use of DALI light fittings on 25 DALI networks controlled by C-Bus logic and on 15 C-Bus networks. All networks are controlled over a separate TCP/IP network installed by Harding Electrical. Light level sensors and occupancy detectors have been used throughout the building along with logic to reduce the lighting areas and levels to achieve maximum energy savings.

ECOsystems have also interfaced with security, fire and the Building Management System. The C-Bus occupancy detectors are being used to control the BMS zones so that when any of the 23 separate zones are unoccupied the BMS will move into standby. After-hours, when the building is completely unoccupied, the BMS is given a signal from C-Bus to go into an after-hours mode. Lighting scenes are set in response to security and fire situations.

The staff at DOC moved in to their new premises on the 18th of December 2006. ECOsystems successfully implemented this large DALI / C-Bus integration on time and within budget.

The building is being heralded as New Zealand's first Five Star Green Building. A team effort from ECOsystems and Harding Electrical with assistance from SKM has resulted in a successful project that will set a new benchmark for buildings in New Zealand.

Trends magazine article on the Department of Conservation's head office.

Parliamentary Services

Scope of Works

To design and install the C-Bus lighting system into the Select Committee Debating Chamber; two new debating chambers and the surrounding two meeting rooms and viewing gallery. It is important to note that a combination of conventional light switching and automated switching was used.

System Overview

All lighting in the chambers, the two meeting rooms and the public gallery was automated. The lighting in the corridors, stairs and entrances is via conventional light switching. All lighting is operated via touch screens.

The Chambers

The chamber itself is designed to divide in half by using folding doors to intersect the centre, creating two separate rooms. The lighting control system needed to recognise when the chamber was opened to full capacity and also when the doors had been used to create two rooms. ECOsystems installed a lighting control system and C-Bus control strategy together with two touch screens at either end of the chamber. Micro-switches were installed on the folding doors to sense at what times the room is divided. The touch screens were installed on the folding doors to sense at what times the room is divided. The touch screens were installed at opposite ends of the chamber so that either screen would control the whole chamber when the doors are opened, and control their individual segment of the chamber when the doors are closed. During installation, ECOsystems used C-Bus relays, DSI dimmers, professional series dimmers, logic engine, auxiliary impact unit, monochrome touch screens and new BNL stainless steel C-Bus switches.

Gallery

This area contains a combination of DSI dimmable downlights and fluorescent cove lighting. The gallery has four four-key switches that all operate exactly the same. They all turn on and off scenes which switch all the lights on that level. The switches also operate a scene nudge function that dims all the lights in 10% increments both up and down. The light levels here are also dictated by the scenes set by the touch screens in the chambers below. Depending on the light level set by the scene in the chamber, the lights in the gallery will also dim.

Meeting Rooms

This area contains a combination of 0-10v dimmable fluorescent fittings as well as fluorescent cove lights. The meeting rooms follow the same logic as the main chambers, that is when the room is divided then each meeting room will act independently. When the room is combined, then the light switches will operate the lights in unison. Each room has a four-key switch that has been set up to act exactly the same as the switches in the gallery. A scene on and off key as well as a nudge up and nudge down key are available.

Waitangi Park

Scope of Works

To design and commission a lighting control system for a large (encompassing six hectares) urban park in the heart of Wellington.

System Overview

The Park's lighting is controlled through an integrated DALI/C-Bus control system. Seating, gardens and pathway lighting is controlled through a mixture of schedules, daylight and manual control.

Kumutoto

Scope of Works

Kumutoto is the new Meridian Energy's energy efficient Green Star building being constructed on Queen's Wharf, Wellington.

System Overview

ECOsystems, working with Beca Carter and electrical contractors AJ Beck, have been contracted to control the stairwell and toilet /shower lighting and provide an interface to the BMS for control of the toilet exhaust fans.

The stairwell lighting is controlled by both C-Bus PIR's and ultrasonic motion detectors. A mixture of both direct on / off control via C-Bus relays and dimming via C-Bus DSI Gateways is used for the lighting control.

Wellington International Airport Limited

Scope of Works

To design and install a lighting control system into the main terminal areas of Wellington airport.

System Overview

Wellington International Airport lighting control is based around a Clipsal C-Bus lighting control system. The system is highly flexible because each device communicating on the C-Bus cable has its own in-built microprocessor. These devices can be programmed to provide optimum control in any installation. Schedule Plus becomes the interface between the operators and the lighting relays. The groups (and scenes) are built onto the PC screen. By simply clicking on the appropriate button the lighting around the site can be switched as required by the operators. Generally this switching is done automatically using schedules. These schedules will operate a scene at a predetermined time. The scene will switch the appropriate lighting circuits either on or off as required, for example, during normal operation of the Airport or for after hours cleaning.

Network Overview

Because of the size of the installation, the site has been broken down to three networks. These are the International Passenger Terminal (IPT), Main Terminal Building (MTB) and the South West Pier (SWP). Each network is electrically isolated and connected with a C-Bus bridge.

AMP Building Wellington

Scope of Works

To design and commission a lighting control system for installation in a multi-level office building in central Wellington.

System Overview

A fully automated lighting control system using C-Bus. Lights turn on based on PIR occupancy control and at the end of the day the system automatically ensures all lights are turned off. Clipsal DLTs are used to control the boardroom so that the lighting control automatically reflects whether the boardroom is one large room or up to three smaller areas.

Stephenson & Turner

Scope of Works

Moving to a new building occupying a full floor of a new office building was only part of the process; S&T are also aiming for a Green Star rating for their Head Office tenancy in central Auckland.

System Overview

Encouraged by their commercial success with Green Star rated buildings, they selected a building that already has a Green Star Rating featuring eco furniture and energy efficient lighting and air-conditioning system.

The ECOsystems team were asked to provide dimmable lighting throughout the office, maximizing energy savings with the use of multi-sensors, occupancy sensors and natural daylight.

Using DALI technology, the lighting can be dimmed to provide each work area with optimal lighting while minimizing energy wastage.

The projector and motorized screen in the Boardroom are also controlled by C-Bus.

For ECOsystems and Stephenson & Turner, the future is Green Star NZ rated buildings!

Australian High Commission

Scope of Works

ECOsystems were commissioned to design and install a lighting control system for the High Commission in central Wellington.

System Overview

This project was successfully completed in April 2007 with the assistance of Newpower and design engineers GHD.

This was a multi-network, multi-floor project involving C-Bus occupancy sensors in every room along with special controls for function areas and programming to suit special use rooms such as the Plant Room. During commissioning there were alterations to programming of the lighting to incorporate the maximising of energy savings.

Deloittes Wool House, Wellington

Scope of Works

ECOsystems were commissioned to install a lighting control system into six levels of the Deloitte fit out in Wool House, Wellington.

System Overview

ECOsystems have ensured energy savings by installing passive infrared sensors (PIRs) to detect occupancy together with scheduling of lighting on all levels. Schedules are designed to activate lighting during normal working hours and ensure lighting is off after hours, at weekends and public holidays. After hours, the PIRs will take over control of the lighting. If movement is detected in a zone, lighting in that zone will be turned on and stay on for a preset time delay. A comprehensive C-Bus system was installed to control lighting and present scenes for presentation rooms. Preset scenes were used to control curtains and audio-visual equipment whereby; at the touch of one button, curtains close, lights dim out over time and the projector comes out of standby as the screen lowers. This is all triggered by a hand held remote.

F&P Healthcare, Auckland

Scope of Works

To design and install an automated lighting system into a large-scale building incorporating the need for energy efficiency and the full control and monitoring of the system via an onsite PC.

System Overview

The facility was divided into operational zones which operate independently of each other but within a facility 'Mode' structure. The 'Mode' structure is driven from the main BMS computer via the 'Schedule Plus' software, providing a simple user interface for time-clock functions and graphical feedback from the Stage Three Lighting System. In addition to the BMS computer, a colour Touch Screen provides a lower level user interface with varying stages of access for each function via on-screen access codes. The Touch Screen provides a master control function for areas not locally controllable, overrides for zoned areas, testing functions and graphical status feedback. The lighting system is operated on a time-based control for on and off functions for start of day / end of day and PIR (passive infra-red occupancy) sensors operate after hours and in areas of variable use.

Trends magazine article on Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Auckland.

University of Auckland

Scope of Works

The first package of the cycle of renovating all 50 lecture theatres has begun at the University of Auckland.

ECOsystems, working with Caldwell and Levesque Electrical, have been commissioned to provide a DALI lighting control system with integration to the AMX audio / visual system.

System Overview

The integration of the DALI lighting system with the AMX controller will control the scenes, projectors and audio in each theatre.

There are various scenes that will control different aspects of the levels of lighting and audio-visual requirements.

For instance, in presentation mode, the rear lighting is dimmed and front lighting turned off, the projector will be lowered into position and the audio-visual system turned on.

In lecture mode, the lighting is dimmed to 80% throughout the auditorium and lighting can be increased or decreased by the lecturer as required. All of this at the press of a single button on a touchscreen.

This first stage of the project is expected to be completed over 8-12 weeks.

MED Building Wellington

Scope of works

To design, implement and oversee installation of a lighting control system for a 12 floor NZ Government building that incorporates daylight harvesting and zone switching controlled via schedules and motion detection.

Solution

A Clipsal C- Bus system was designed using DSI dimming around the perimeter of the building. C- Bus light level sensors signal to the DSI dimming units when the preset required lighting levels are reached and dim the lighting accordingly.

The floors are also split up into switching zones and are controlled via ultrasonic motion sensors. These zones are also controlled via schedules.

The result is an integrated control system that makes it virtually impossible for unused lighting to be left on while governing the light levels required during working hours.

User friendly touch screens were employed as user interfaces from which schedules can be altered and areas manually switched

Typical Floor Plan

Typical Touch screen Page

Regional Intellectual Disabled Secure Services Unit

Scope of Works

• To design, implement and oversee installation of a lighting control system for a secure facility catering for the intellectually disabled.
• The people that reside in this unit can be light sensitive and it was a requirement of the client to provide a system that allowed for central control of light levels from both PC based software and also user interfaces such as touch screens.
• Night light control was required in each cell to allow for patients to be checked.
• Control of power points in the rooms was specified.
• All security and outdoor lighting required control.
• An interface with the security system was necessary to provide for all lights on under duress conditions.

Solution

A Clipsal C- Bus control system was designed using the following:

• C-Touch touch screens
• Schedule Plus PC based front end control system
• DSI dimming
• Analogue dimming for night lights
• Stainless steel C-Bus key inputs with security screws
• C- Bus bus couplers.

Typical Touch screen pages

MED Cafeteria

The consultant on this project produced a lighting design that incorporated approximately 16 different lighting circuits.

The space is used for day to day lunch and tea break purposes, but is also used for meetings and or staff functions. At given times of the day certain lighting in the kitchen and preparation areas is required.

A C-Bus control system was specified and the C-Touch touch screen used to produce the "scenes" and "schedules" required. At the touch of one button, the 16 lighting circuits dim over preset times to preset levels to produce functional scenes

Schedules have been written to control the ON/OFF functions and all circuits have a manual bypass button on the screen.

The cabling required for the touch screen is simply 1 cat 5 data cable connecting the unit to the output dimmers via the bus

MED Cafeteria

McDonald's Head Office

Scope of Works

To save costs by reducing energy consumption and high peak demand costs in a 5 storey (including carparks) purpose built office building.

Solution

An integrated EAS system using Walker and C-Bus controls was designed and installed. The Walker System controls all mechanical plant and 66 fan coil units (FCUs), monitors energy consumption and weather, to heat or cool the building efficiently. The C-Bus system controls all areas through PIRs and dims perimeter lighting with light levels sensors through DSI dimming. The integration of these two systems allows the occupancy levels, monitored by the C-Bus system, to be fed through to the Walker system to control individual FCUs. Installation of new high efficiency light fittings throughout the building reduce energy consumption and allow dimming through daylight harvesting.

In the first 12 months after installation the EAS has achieved savings of 227,528 kWh and $38,997

Controlling Boardroom lighting and heating

ECOsystems has developed and installed some innovative automation systems for the likes of boardrooms, where smaller rooms where can be opened out into larger areas.

Using the C-Bus logic controller (see products page) we have provided sophisticated yet affordable control of a C-Bus automation system. The logic controller performs operations in response to monitored events by executing custom written embedded programmes. These programmes are written by ECOsystems to suit individual application needs using the windows based programming interface.

One of the greatest benefits of the logic controller is that it utilizes conditional logic, meaning programmes can be developed based on whether combinations of lights and appliances are currently on or off, and various actions are performed based on different conditions. Conditional logic can also take into account time values. For example if the motion detector in the hallway is triggered after 11.00pm, lights may be ramped to 20%. But if the motion is detected before 11.00pm lights are ramped to 100%.

Talk to us about innovative ways to control the lighting in boardrooms.

About Us | Products | Energy Audits & Systems Integration | Commercial Building Automation
Home Automation | ECO News | Funding | Sitemap | Home

ECOsystems Limited, Level 2, 17 Raroa Road, Lower Hutt, NEW ZEALAND