BOSTON—Magnum Energy Solutions recently put their Verde wireless and batteryless energy control system, powered by EnOcean, to the test in an independent study conducted at a Wyndham hotel. The test sought to measure the HVAC and lighting energy savings that could be realized by utilizing sensor and control devices that respond to hotel room occupancy statuses. The field test concluded that hotel rooms controlled by the Verde Energy Control System consumed 33 percent less energy than rooms without the energy harvesting controls.
The Verde hotel room energy system determines if a hotel room is vacant or occupied according to the status of the system’s keycard access switch. When a guest enters a hotel room and inserts a key card into its dock, a radio signal is sent that alerts the system the room is occupied. When the guest leaves the room unoccupied, the removed key card automatically shuts off controlled lights and/or electronics and sets the in-room HVAC system back to its unoccupied/energy conservation mode. In the Wyndham hotel study, four hotel rooms were monitored. Two were retrofitted with Verde system controls and the other two were used as independent control rooms. HVAC and lighting energy consumption was analyzed over a period of 30 days.
The Verde-equipped room used 33 percent less energy for HVAC and electronics than the control room. With the implementation of the Verde Energy Control System in all 293 rooms, the hotel will save 480,991 kWh annually. The Verde Energy Control System additionally helps hotels comply with energy standards such as CA Title 24 and ASHRAE/IESNA standard 90.1.
The EnOcean Alliance wireless standard, used in this study, is anchored by interoperability. This is in contrast to alternative wireless standards that allow proprietary solutions to be marketed as ‘compliant’—leading to unwelcomed surprises when devices manufactured by multiple vendors are discovered to not work together. EnOcean-based controls are interoperable, regardless of the manufacturer. Another important hallmark is the ability to self-power sensors and switches, based upon patented technologies from EnOcean. All other standards require a battery or line power. Analysts anticipate that more than a billion wireless sensor nodes will penetrate the market within the next decade.
Verde will be represented by Magnum Energy Solutions LLC at the International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York, November 8 to 10, 2009, in booth 3084.
Go to Magnum Energy Solutions and EnOcean.
