A home that actively thinks, takes over the tasks of daily life and saves energy whenever possible – this is ensured with Smart Home solutions from ABB; the world’s leading company in the building automation sector.
A home that actively thinks, takes over the tasks of daily life and saves energy whenever possible – this is ensured with Smart Home solutions from ABB; the world’s leading company in the building automation sector. Once they are integrated into the daily routine, they adapt themselves to the habits of the resident and contribute to energy-efficient everyday life.
One morning in December the alarm clock rings at 6:30 a.m., it’s time to get up. Not a very pleasant thought if it’s still dark outside and bitterly cold. Yet, if you know that a preheated bathroom is waiting for you, it’s much easier to get out of bed. This is made possible with intelligent radiator thermostats. Thanks to digital heating technology the heating switches itself on at the desired time to the preset temperature. In addition, the intelligent heating control is also connected with the window sensor.
As soon as the resident opens the window after he has had his morning shower, the thermostat receives the radio signal that the window is tilted. The heating responds immediately and moves into reduction mode, and so prevents the unnecessary use of energy.
Efficiency for one’s own four walls
“Those who automate and network the heating, lighting and the control of blinds, as well as all routine tasks in the home with smart applications, save energy”, explains Mike Mustapha, Managing Director of Business Unit Building Products at ABB, the world’s leading company in the building automation sector. The smart solutions from ABB adapt the consumption of energy to the personal daily routine of the residents. “Technical devices and functions are activated only when they are really needed,” Mustapha adds. “Digital networking therefore not only increases comfort in the home, but also has a high potential to save energy and therefore reduce expenditure, helping offset the cost of installation.”
A large part of the energy can be saved in the regulation of heating and air-conditioning: the high heating costs are often due to the fact that home owners either heat too much or at the wrong time. According to a study conducted by the Institute for Building Systems Engineering Dresden, with heating according to requirement, the consumption of energy can be reduced by up to 15 percent.
Even greater energy efficiency within the four walls of the home is provided by the Geofencing function, which can be integrated into the intelligent home control. With GPS and the Geofencing app, residents can define a virtual boundary around their house. If this virtual boundary is exceeded by the user with his registered mobile terminal device, the automated actions are triggered, such as the reduction of the heating or the deactivation of all the lights in the house. “With this we offer a practical solution for everyone who, for example, leaves the house in a rush in the morning”, emphasizes Mustapha. “They no longer need to worry about whether all the lights in the house have been switched off.” It is also possible to switch everything off simultaneously with the everything-off function with the smartphone while travelling.
Using the weather intelligently
A lot of energy can also be saved throughout the day in an intelligent household. Automatically controlled blinds and heaters optimally use the state of the weather in connection with the weather station. Roller blinds serve in the summer as automated sun protection and keep the temperature pleasantly cool in living rooms. Meanwhile, when it is cold outside, the incoming sunlight can be used to save heating costs, heating rooms with the natural heat of the sun. In the evening, the lowered blinds retain the warmth in the house and provide additional insulation.
In a Smart Home the energy from the sun can also be efficiently used in other ways. A photovoltaic system creates solar power during the day with which an intelligent solar storage system is charged. “The generated power is used at a later point in time, such as when it is really needed: in the evening, for example, when the residents come home after a long day at work,” is how Mike Mustapha explains the advantages of the integration of solar energy into the smart home.
The anticipation of a warm and cozy living room with dimmed lights is especially important at the end of the working day. Thanks to Geofencing, these conveniences can be activated before anyone gets home. As soon as a resident gets within the detection radius of the house with his smartphone, the devices and functions that were switched off or regulated down during the day, switch on again. At his return he is welcomed, for example, by an illuminated entrance to the house, inviting light in the corridor or dimmed light in the living room. And when the self-produced and previously stored solar power is used, a perfect energy-saving day draws to a close.
*This is a sponsored article by ABB.