KNX @ HiddenWires

Case studies KNX Installation in Isle of Man Residence (4/12/2012) By Nigel Stafford, Building Evolution We were approached by AJH Design & Build, an Isle of Man-based developer of high-end residential properties, to put in a proposal for an intelligent building solution for a GBP2 million contemporary residence on the island. The substantial property includes five reception rooms, five bedrooms - two of which are with dressing rooms - and five ensuite bathrooms. A large reception hall with bespoke hardwood and glass staircase leads to a large upstairs landing /gallery with seating area and media cupboard. A KNX-based Show Home for Affordable, Green and Intelligent Building Control Quite often, people assume that the concept of a 'smart home' goes hand in hand with large and bespoke architect-designed homes, so we wanted to show developers, designers and architects how a standard two-bedroom apartment could be made future proof using low-cost equipment that is capable of being expanded. AV Integration in Swiss Chalet This project involved a mountain chalet in the Swiss Alps. The installation was highly commended in the CEDIA Region 1 award for best integrated home under GBP100,000 (125,000 Euros). It was completed in October 2008, had an equipment cost of GBP80,000 and a labour cost of GBP15,000. The Secret Smart Home - an EIB/KNX smart home installation without technology intrusion The property is located in the Kensington and Chelsea district of London in an area that was developed during 1910-1930 during a fashion of providing the city with conservation garden areas. The beautiful building was restored for the family in 2006 and significant emphasis was placed on retaining the original features both internally and externally. [more case studies @ HiddenWires] Articles KNX Provides Comprehensive Control for Energy Efficiency (4/12/2012) By Casto Cañavate, KNX Association In today's energy-conscious world, people are looking for intelligent technology to help them reduce their power consumption. KNX is a building control protocol and a worldwide standard that has been adopted by numerous manufacturers of systems for all aspects of commercial building and home control. It supports all communication media, including twister pair, powerline, RF and IP/Ethernet, and can be used in both new and existing buildings. Going Green: KNX - Helping to Make Buildings More Efficient (5/10/2011) By Joost Demarest, KNX In light of climate change and increasingly scarce resources, the energy-efficient operation of buildings is gaining in importance. Essential requirements for this are an energy-efficient architectural design, an insulated building exterior and modern installation engineering with a high level of efficiency. Whitepaper: KNX for Metering, Displaying and Automated Energy Management for Homes and Buildings (4/1/2011) By Steven De Bruyne and Joost Demarest, KNX By means of the mandate M441 as issued in 2009, the European Commission has given the European Standardisation Organisations (ESOs) the task to come forward with standards for interoperable smart meters. The above mandate was issued in the light of soaring energy prices shortly before the financial crisis of 2008 and the climate change debate. Going Green: Building Regulations and the 2010 Revision of Document L - A Holistic Approach to Automating Solar Shading, HVAC and Lighting (2/11/2010) By Tim Pendleton, Better Blind Company In 2006, driven by targets of reducing CO2 emissions by 20% by 2015 and 60% by 2050, The UK Government set out its objective that all new homes and commercial buildings be carbon neutral by 2016 and 2019 respectively. We don't have to look far for statistics which support the emphasis on energy performance of buildings. Most strikingly, 40% of UK emissions can be attributed to buildings. Going Green: Using KNX-based Smart Control to Save Energy (2/8/2010) By Gareth Rowlands, ABB The need to drastically reduce levels of energy consumption in residential environments is giving smart controls an important role to play in better managing energy needs. With lighting and heating accounting for a major percentage of residential energy consumption, the enhanced control provided by automation systems represents a significant energy-saving opportunity. Industry Opinion: With the 'I want it everywhere' culture growing, how do we choose which home networking technology to use? (2/8/2010) By Yasmin Hashmi, HiddenWires There has been much talk about the 'Connected Home', but what does it mean in reality? For some, it means connecting the PC and other intelligent devices to services outside the home, but for others, it alludes to the ultimate goal of being able to access information, entertainment and control, from anywhere in the home, at any time. This requires serious networking. But with so many options available, what solutions should installers be considering? Product Article: Pronto Extends Integration Options with Home Lighting and Automation Systems (5/7/2010) By Rudy Musschebroeck, Philips Pronto Based in Leuven, Belgium, Philips Pronto is part of the Philips Consumer Lifestyle division. Designed by installers and made by Philips, Pronto offers a complete range of control solutions for the home automation market. Going Green: Major Energy Savings through Automatic Window Treatments (5/7/2010) By Jeremy Aston, Reality Logic For most residential automation projects, lighting and heating are typically top of the list to be integrated, however more and more properties, at all levels of install, are including some aspect of automation at the windows. Show Report: Home Automation at Light+Building 2010 (6/5/2010) By Stella Plumbridge, HiddenWires I've been looking for an international trade exhibition based in Europe that gives me a good insight into the home automation market, as opposed to the home AV market, and I'm happy to report that the 6th Light+Building event was just that. Going Green: Bringing KNX-based Energy Efficiency to Luxury Living in the Middle East (6/5/2010) By Tarek Zakaria, Head of ABB KNX intelligent building technology in the Gulf According to Institute for Energy Research, building technology is the largest consumer of energy after the areas of transport and power generation. Heating, cooling and lighting in residential and office buildings make up approximately 40% of the energy consumed in a building - a share that leaves a lot of scope for efficient optimisation. Trade Talk: Energy Management - Where Commercial Leads, Residential Will Follow (1/2/2010) By Claire Scholes, Laird King So 2010 has got off to a slow start, but I have decided this is the year of the custom installer - if only to remind myself what an amazing industry we work in and how influential we are on the future of technology. Why is it our year? After months, maybe years, of collating articles, data, and research on how automation in the home can save significant amounts of both energy and cost, it seems that the market is about to be swarmed with smart meters, power management and energy management products. And who better to lead the integration than custom installation engineers? Home Automation and Energy Management - the Future for Custom Installers (4/1/2010) By Simon Buddle, SMC One might well ask, 'What is automation and what is its value?' Control systems have long been the plaything of the rich and techno savvy. In days gone by people were pretty pleased if they could open their garage door without the need to get out of the car. Things have come a long way since then. Building management systems are standard in most commercial buildings and offices, so what can we expect from a modern-day system? KNX Function and Design - an update for 2009 (1/7/2009) By Colin Price, Ivory Egg KNX (formerly EIB), the international open standard for building control (IEC14543), has been celebrating the joining of the 150th manufacturer (Daikin) of interoperable parts. Since 1988 KNX has grown from essentially a commercial building control system for lighting and HVAC, to one that is used extensively in all types of accommodation, be they houses, offices, schools, or boats. Going Green: Designing Multiroom AV from a Green Perspective (1/4/2009) By Simon Buddle, SMC Many systems now exist that can offer us the features and benefits that today's modern homes and clients demand of a multiroom system. Increasingly though, we are being asked by government, by our conscience, and now by our children to make our installations more environmentally friendly. Not only do we need to provide ease of use with iPod inputs, Internet radio, and video content stored locally or on servers out on the Internet, we also have to consider how to make the installation green, or at least as green as possible. Going Green: Home Automation in Residential Towers - What Really Matters? (2/3/2009) By Xavier Zabalegui, Siemens Industry Sector A few years ago, home automation in the Middle East Lower Gulf region and Asia was strictly for the super luxury villa or the most expensive penthouse on top of a residential apartment tower. In the Middle East and Asia, residential construction is mainly new build, with most urban construction being multi-dwelling towers. Over the last few years we have seen property developers improve the amenities within apartment towers and mixed-use (hotel, retail and residential) buildings. This has initially been driven by intense competition between property developers trying to attract purchasers and differentiate their residential developments in the market. Technology Article: Intelligent Building Control with KNX (1/7/2008) By Colin Price, Ivory Egg You might not believe it, but for most people, their car is a lot more intelligent than their existing home or workplace. It has energy management systems, and easily-controllable security, lighting, climate control, audio and entertainment systems. This level of control at home or at work is only a dream for many, but it need not be. With the installation of an intelligent building control system, all off this is possible in the home. Open Protocols for Smart Home Applications (3/8/2007) By Chris Irwin, Tridium Europe The technology needed to link the functionality of various systems for heating, lighting, security and entertainment to create so-called 'intelligent' homes, has traditionally been both expensive and complex to engineer. This means that smart home systems, such as those by US-based AMX and Crestron, have been almost exclusively the preserve of the rich. Update on KNX - Why it Makes Sense (3/8/2007) By Colin Price, Ivory Egg (UK) KNX, or 'the protocol formally known as EIB (European Installation Bus)', is dominant in Europe and rapidly gaining traction as a building control system in the UK. This article will summarise where KNX has come from, and what it is about. We will discuss how developers' and home buyers' expectations have changed over recent years, and why it is important for smart home systems to be based on open protocols such as KNX. [more articles @ HiddenWires] News KNX Association Welcomes Fujitsu General as 300th Member (5/11/2012) KNX Association Announces Results of its Generation KNX Video Contest (29/6/2012) BSRIA European Smart Home Market Study Finds KNX the Most Popular Protocol with More Than 70% of Total Market Value (19/6/2012) KNX Announces New Apps for its ETS4 Engineering Tool Software (31/5/2012) KNX Association Presents KNX city at light+building 2012 (3/4/2012) IMP Introduces the KNX Double Zone Thermostat from Vimar (2/4/2012) Stardraw Announces KNX Update to Stardraw Control (27/3/2012) KNX Association Challenges you to Participate in the KNX Championship at light+building 2012 (20/3/2012) Cytech Introduces C-Bus to KNX Translator (14/2/2012) Ivory Egg Announces KNX Certification Courses for 2012 (20/2/2012) Opus Technologies Extends Integration Opportunities With New KNX Gateway (6/2/2012) HAI Announces KNX Gateway, in Addition to HAI Omni-Bus 220V Lighting Control Network (11/1/2012) KNX Presents ETS eCampus and New Applications Based on the KNX Standard (6/1/2012) ELAN Joins KNX Association, Adds KNX Compliance to its g! Entertainment and Control System (3/1/2012) KNX Makes Entry Easier With New ETS eCampus eLearning Tool (14/12/2011) KNX Association Calls for Entries its 2012 Home and Building Control Awards (2/12/2011) Basalte Wins Henry van de Velde Label 2011 Award for Deseo KNX Room Controller (18/10/2011) KNX Association Sponsors the Electrical Installations Sector of the 2011 WorldSkills Competition (27/7/2011) KNX projects improve energy balance through building automation (28/4/2011) KNX and EEBus form Alliance for Smart Energy Solutions (14/3/2011) KNX scores with energy efficiency in Europe, Asia and the US (4/1/2011) [more news @ HiddenWires]