FROM ENERGY EFFICIENCY TO ENERGY MANAGEMENT

THE ACTIVE WAY TO CREATE SUSTAINABLE SMART HOMES AND BUILDINGS.?

There is a clear shift in the sensibility of common people and institutions about the situation of our planet. With the emergence of increasingly extreme climate phenomena, we see evidence that humanity is on the wrong path and our behaviour needs to change. And while major State Agencies and international institutions are taking serious steps, we all are called to do our part, individually, at home and in the workplace, too.

Greenhouse gases are the main cause of the global warming and the consequent climate change. So, the attention of institutions and citizens must go to reducing our emissions.

Efforts are being made

To put a solution to climate change, Institutions all over the world are taking actions and Europe is taking the lead in many ways. The European Commission established a series of targets and policies that are included in the European Green Deal. The vision is for Europe to become the first climate-neutral continent by the year 2050, including the intermediate?target of an at least 55% net reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

While the results obtained are still insufficient, the EU can claim some success. Greenhouse gas emissions, for instance, have fallen by 32% between 1990 and 2020, and the share of renewable energy has more than doubled between 2004 and 2021.

A job for homeowners and building managers

One specific data set is interesting from KNX’s vantage point. Buildings take a lion’s share in generating greenhouse gas emissions. According to the UN Environment Programme reports, buildings produce 40% of total CO2 emissions in cities (https://www.unepfi.org/themes/climate-change/40-of-emissions-come-from-real-estate-heres-how-the-sector-can-decarbonize/).?

The good news is that total greenhouse gas emissions from energy use in buildings are being reduced in Europe. In 2020 they had decreased by 35% compared to 2005, according to the European Environment Agency (https://www.eea.europa.eu/ims/greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-energy).

Far from being a reason for complacency, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the EU should encourage us to seek the optimal use of energy and it is certain this can be achieved via energy management.

KNX for energy management

While energy saving is a thoroughly debated topic, KNX believes that energy management goes a step ahead. This application should be at the core of our smart homes and in buildings, for its potential to contribute to the solution of the climate change problem. The exponential rate of digitalisation of our lives is a positive factor that makes KNX a more relevant player in the race towards a greener world.

In a study conducted in 2017, the IEA (International Energy Agency) found that digitalisation, including smart thermostats and smart lighting, could cut total energy use in residential and commercial buildings by as much as 10% between 2017 and 2040. Cumulative energy savings over the period to 2040 would amount to 65PWh – equal to the total final energy consumed in non-OECD countries in 2015. ?

(Caption: Digitalisation offers the possibility of optimising energy management and consumption in homes and buildings. The graph indicates the cumulative energy savings in buildings from widespread digitalization.)

(source: IEA report on Digitalisation and Energy <https://www.iea.org/reports/digitalisation-and-energy> all rights reserved).

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KNX has been working from the outset with manufacturers and professional installers with a view to creating products that help homeowners and building managers to manage energy in ways that optimise the use of energy and reduce the environmental footprint in homes and buildings. In KNX’s view, energy management plays a special role in energy efficiency.

An additional benefit of Energy Management with KNX technology is the guarantee that the energy is provided uninterruptedly. The system can also decide how to best use the energy in a home or building, from generation to consumption or storage. On top, the system prioritizes the applications where to use the energy according to the user′s needs and prioritizes the energy from renewable sources.

Here are some specific examples of how KNX technology can be used to improve energy efficiency:

• Lighting control in combination with sensors (presence, movement, brightness…):?KNX can be used to automatically turn off lights in rooms that are not in use or that are not required. This can save a significant amount of energy, especially in large commercial buildings.
• Heating and cooling control:?KNX can be used to automatically adjust the temperature in a home or building based on the occupancy and weather conditions. This can help to save energy in empty rooms and make the living more comfortable where it is required.
• Energy metering:?KNX can be used to track energy consumption in real time and to stop the current of energy according to the requirements of the users. This information can be used to avoid energy peaks.
• Demand response:?KNX can be used to respond to changes in energy demand. For example, if the demand for electricity is high, KNX can automatically turn off non-essential appliances. Thanks to this, the system on its own can guarantee a stable use of energy thorough the day and night.

KNX offers an ecosystem of tools that make energy management a viable and easy practice:

• KNX software:?There are a number of KNX software applications that can be used to configure, monitor, and control KNX systems. These applications can be used to create scenes, schedules, and automation rules, and to view energy consumption data. By using the ETS6 tool and visualization, for instance, the creation of user-friendly routines are easy to create.
• KNX sensors:?KNX sensors are devices that can be used to measure various environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, light level and brightness, occupancy, windows/doors opened or closed... This data can be used to control KNX devices and to create energy-efficient automation rules. Some popular KNX sensors include KNX temperature sensors, KNX humidity sensors, KNX brightness sensors, KNX occupancy sensors and KNX contact reeds.
• KNX actuators:?KNX actuators are devices that can be used to control various electrical devices, such as lights, switches, thermostats, smart metering, and motors among others. They can be used to automate the operation of these devices and to improve energy efficiency. Some popular KNX actuators include KNX dimmer modules, KNX light actuators, KNX shutter actuators, KNX energy meters, KNX chargers of EV batteries, etc.

These are just a few of the many possibilities that can be used to operate KNX systems for energy management. Consequently, it will also improve the energy efficiency in homes and buildings and in so doing, save money on energy bills while reducing environmental impact.

We work every day with the aim to helping our more than 500 member manufacturers to develop new products that take energy management to the next level. We also train and mentor professional installers so that they can be a reliable touch point for end users. Every player is important in the great race to a greener world.

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Casto Ca?avate

Marketing Manager.