Case studies

'Enviro' home uses Philips Dynalite automation backbone to save energy (1/6/2009)

In today's residential building landscape, it is not unusual for homes to be equipped with state-of-the-art home automation systems. When implemented correctly, such systems provide owners with a powerful combination of sophisticated functionality and flexible, easy-to-use operation. AVD Australia recently designed and installed such a system in a five-story converted warehouse in the heart of Sydney, Australia.

The brief

The brief was to provide a fully-integrated home automation system that would reduce power consumption and optimise efficiency. Incorporating individual best-of-breed control systems dedicated to lighting, audio/visual, temperature and security, the integrated home automation system was required to provide the occupant with the highest level of control available.

The solution

Architecturally impressive, the energy-efficient residence has been built around a central atrium that spans all five floors and features a motorised glass roof. The roof automatically opens and closes depending on external climatic conditions and internal temperature, while also allowing natural light to enter the building. Similarly, automated louvres located throughout the house are also adjustable.

An automated motorised glass roof allows natural light to enter the home, and opens and closes depending on external climatic conditions and internal temperature.

Changes to the roof and louvre positions are triggered by a network of temperature sensors throughout the home's 30 conditioned zones. A sophisticated air-circulation system takes hot air from the top of the building and distributes it to the areas of the house in need of warmer air. Together, these automated temperature control systems have the potential to deliver significant energy savings.

This energy efficiency extends to the home's lighting system. A Philips Dynalite system equipped with over 100 dimmable lighting channels provides the home with reliable lighting control. Here, light levels can be modulated according to the level of natural light available. Importantly, every dimmable controller is factory set with an output level of 90 per cent to maximise lamp life and minimise energy consumption. Furthermore, low-temperature lighting has been incorporated into the home's unique natural sandstone wine cellar to avoid adversely affecting the humidity of the room.

Low-temperature lighting has been incorporated into the home's natural sandstone wine cellar to avoid adversely affecting the humidity of the room.

The home's numerous automated processes are supported by a single integrated control and automation system. The individual best-of-breed control systems are linked via Philips Dynalite's DyNet peer-to-peer communications serial bus network, and overseen by a central AMX control system. Five DyNet control networks (one per floor) are connected via a single DyNet backbone, which in turn, feeds into the central controller.

"The lighting system is the one system that permeates throughout the entire house, so it makes sense to use it as the central communications backbone to control other systems," says Julian Muir, AVD Australia Director. "We needed a system capable of communicating seamlessly and reliably with each of the stand-alone systems. Here, the Philips Dynalite solution is absolutely bulletproof. It is beautifully engineered - one of the best in this regard. It's reliable, tough and doesn't drop out - a necessity in residential applications such as this one."

Further reliability is provided via the control system architecture. Installing a dedicated DyNet network on each floor means that if one network goes down, the others will remain online, ensuring maximum network availability, while the transmission of unnecessary messages up and down the entire network can be avoided.

The integrated control system is configured and managed via any of the home's four AMX touchscreens, or the on-site PC located in the central distribution point in the basement. This provides residents with an easy-to-use control point from which they can interrogate any of the home's automated systems and runs a customised graphical user interface developed by AVD to make controlling the multiple systems straightforward.

Installation

In such residential installations, it is important that the style of the home is not compromised by the home automation system. "It is imperative that the home automation and control infrastructure remains unseen," says Muir. "While wires and conduit can be hidden in wall cavities, external fixtures such as switch plates and panels must be aesthetically pleasing and closely matched to the decor of the home."

To this end, Philips Dynalite supplied AVD Australia with 37 customised switch plates. "Different areas of the house require different levels of functionality, so we tailored individual switch plates to each application," says Aaron Castles, Philips Dynalite NSW Residential Sales Engineer. "Each flush-mounted switch plate has been developed with a unique button configuration and finished with a customised fascia to match the home's modern decor."

Philips Dynalite supplied AVD Australia with customised switch plates tailored to accommodate each application and match the home's decor.

Conclusion

With the 'green' home automation and control system online, the residents are able to marvel at the extent of the energy savings available to them. In fact, AVD Australia was recently awarded a 2009 AMX Best Project Award, for the company's contribution to the new energy-efficient home.

www.dynalite.eu