Realisations

University of Western Ontario

University of Western Ontario day light harvesting

University of Western Ontario day light harvesting

University of Western Ontario, Social Science Building   (DOWNLOAD PDF WHITE PAPER HERE)

 Objective:  reduce energy usage through daylighting and peripheral heating management and prevent peak energy requirements.

 Scenarios:

•Light sensors active during daytime

•Motion sensors active at night and during weekends

•Light level range  limited to 20% and 40% (saving 60-80%)

•Peripheral heating managed according to outside temperature

University of Western Ontario Adopts Energy Harvesting Lighting Solution.

Based on an original document by By Paul Mayne (Published in Western news)

A Retrofit Lighting Automation System, fueled by EnOcean modules, targets 82 percent savings over previous year University consumption rates.

 

Using light sensors to measure natural light and dim interior lighting accordingly as well as motion sensors during lower occupancy hours, a project in the Social Science Centre (SSC) could be the springboard to a significant reduction in campus energy costs. This project anticipates savings of as much as 82 per cent on electricity costs. 

Referred to as a daylight harvesting system, a retrofit of the nine floors of the high rise and four floors of the low rise of the SSC was recently completed. The associate Vice-President (Physical Plant & possibilities. His former employer, Seneca College, realized a similar project.

A combination of various technologies was used in order to lower cost and simplify installation. On the high rise, motion sensor and light sensors were installed in hallways. On the four lower rise floors, complicated ceiling structures called for wireless and battery less EnOcean technology based sensors. The beauty of the EnOcean approach is that it doesn't require any wholes to be made nor any wires to be ran, which is a tremendous advantage for this type of environment. EnOcean motion sensors as well as light sensors were easily installed with double sided tape directly on the metal lattes of the suspended ceiling in a matter of minutes. All those sensors communicate with DimOnOff's EnOcean Interfaces located on each floor to relay their readings to the building management system which then instructs DimOnOff distributed intelligent relays to lower or increase the light levels accordingly. The relays were installed inside the existing fixtures without requiring any new wires to be added and without having to remove a single fixture or ceiling tile, as simple as replacing a ballast.

The approach for all areas is to take advantage of the free natural light during daytime by adjusting the intensity of the artificial lights provided by the fluorescent fixtures in order to maintain a constant light level. After hours when classes are over and offices are vacated, light sensors are disabled, lights are dimmed to a lower level and motion sensors are brought into action. The use of motion sensors increasing light levels only in specific areas when motion is detected is very efficient for low traffic periods. On the following morning, motion sensors are disabled and light sensors are brought back to action and so on.

 ENOCEAN-ENABLED WIRELESS CONTROLS

 

 

 

 

 

CAB-RPU  

Building Automation System [DimOnOff]
BAS manages all schedules and allows for offsite monitoring and control.

 

 

 EO-TAP

Photo Sensor (Echoflex)

The sensor determines whether to turn the associated dimming ballast up/down according to lux levels.

 

 INT-EO

EnOcean - Interface [DimOnOff]

The Communication Bridge incorporates EnOcean wireless/battery-less sensors and switches to a complete network of building automation system modules.

 

 EO-MS

Occupancy Sensor [Illumra]
Wireless, energy harvesting occupancy sensors detect if and when a room is occupied and triggers scenarios accordingly.

 

 REL-R15A-347

Relays [DimOnOff]
With no control wires to install this addressable and intelligent relay cuts installation costs. Non disruptive, it can be installed inside a fixture as easily as replacing a ballast.

 

 

 

 A scheduling system sets different behaviors for weekends, holydays and other exceptions to normal weekday's operation. 

 "One of the highest operating costs for our campus is established by our use of electrical energy," says Langille. "It is our goal to extend beyond past energy efficiency initiatives into 'state of the art' technologies allowing our operations group to gain further control over our utility costs while enhancing our facilities for staff and students alike."

 Across the university's 76 buildings, a large component of electricity use is in lighting of classrooms, hallways and common areas - reaching as much as 30 per cent during prime operating periods. With many buildings dating from the 1970s and earlier, numerous opportunities for energy savings have been identified and lighting is one of the main focuses.

 Steve MacKay, HVAC/IAQ technologist with Physical Plant, says the new lighting control technologies in SSC will be monitored to assess the benefits of retrofitting other buildings.

 Lighting retrofits of many of buildings have been underway for a few years, replacing what is known as T12 with T8 fluorescents. This approach produces energy savings of 30-60 per cent depending on the fixture. The savings can be boosted to the 70-80 per cent range with strategies that include dimming, occupancy sensors, scheduling and daylight harvesting techniques.

 For example, typical weekday usage (12 hours) for a single fixture is 10 cents/kWh, and this could drop to as low as 1.73 cents/KWh.

 "While Physical Plant is doing what it can to reduce costs when it comes to energy consumption, it takes a partnership with students, staff and faculty to get full benefits," says MacKay, adding the simple act of turning off unnecessary lights can have a significant impact.

 Another subsystem using DimOnOff products was added to prevent electrical baseboard heaters from remaining on during warmer spring, summer and autumn days thus fighting the air conditioning when the temperature get warmer outside.

 Other energy saving projects on the go include roofing replacement upgrades, window replacements, building sub-metering (measuring energy consumption) and working towards Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) designation with all new construction or renovations.

 About EnOcean www.enocean.com

EnOcean's groundbreaking technology enables wireless sensors and switches to operate without batteries or external power sources. These self-powered modules convert energy from light, push-buttons, vibration, or temperature gradients into useable electrical energy. The company's advanced power management architecture enables the operation of sensors and radios off miniscule amounts of available energy. End products are employed in a diverse range of market segments: building automation, industrial manufacturing, security, and automotive. Headquartered in Oberhaching, near Munich, EnOcean GmbH was founded in 2001 as a spin-off from Siemens AG.

About the EnOcean Alliance www.enocean-alliance.org

Leading companies worldwide from the building sector collected to form the EnOcean Alliance, with the aim of promoting and establishing innovative automation solutions for sustainable buildings - and so to make buildings more energy-efficient, more flexible and lower in cost. The core technology of the Alliance is self-powered wireless technology from EnOcean for flexibly positioned and service-free sensor solutions. The EnOcean Alliance aims to standardize and internationalize EnOcean wireless technology, and is dedicated to creating interoperability between the products of OEM partners. More than 150 companies currently belong to the EnOcean Alliance. The headquarters of the non-profit organization is located in San Ramon, California.

 About DimOnOff www.dimonoff.com

DimOnOff is an innovative Quebec, Canada based company, specializing in manufacturing and R&D of distributed lighting control, automation and energy management electronic products and software. Our main markets are control & monitoring of municipal, commercial and industrial lighting such as parking lots, car dealerships, baseball diamonds, ice rinks, gymnasiums, classrooms, boardrooms, office buildings, hospitals and street lighting systems, just to name a few. DimOnOff is an active member of the EnOcean alliance.

 

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University of Western Ontario