Using home automation to optimise energy efficiency

AVD Australia was recently awarded the 2009 AMX Best Project Award for its state-of-the-art home automation system installation in a new residence in Sydney that made a significant contribution to the home’s energy efficiency. From conceptualisation and design, through to installation and commissioning, AVD provided a fully integrated and customised system.

Five storeys high, the converted warehouse dwelling has been specifically designed to reduce power consumption and optimise efficiency. Incorporating individual best-of-breed control systems dedicated to lighting, audiovisual, temperature and security, the integrated home automation system provides the occupant with a high level of control.

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. Automated louvres located throughout the house are also adjustable.

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. Light levels can be modulated according to the level of natural light available. Every dimmable controller is factory set with an output level of 90% to maximise lamp life and minimise energy consumption. Low-temperature lighting has been incorporated into the 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 a DyNet peer-to-peer communications serial bus network and overseen by a central AMX control system. Five control networks (one per floor) are connected via a single DyNet backbone, which in turn feeds into the central controller.

“The lighting system permeates throughout the entire house, so it makes sense to use it as the central communications backbone to control other systems,” said Julian Muir, AVD Australia Director. “We needed a system capable of communicating seamlessly and reliably with each of the standalone systems. The Philips Dynalite solution is bulletproof. It’s reliable, tough and doesn’t drop out — a necessity in residential applications like this one.

“Installing a dedicated DyNet network on each floor means that if one network goes down, the others will remain online. Design strategies like this ensure 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 touch screens, or a 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. AVD developed a customised graphical user interface to make controlling the multiple systems straightforward.

“It’s important that the style of the home is not compromised by the home automation system,” said Muir. “It’s imperative that the home automation and control infrastructure remains unseen. While wires and conduit can be hidden in wall cavities, external fixtures like switch plates and panels must be aesthetically pleasing and closely matched to the decor of the home.”

Aaron Castles, the Philips Dynalite NSW Residential Sales Engineer, said that 37 customised Philips Dynalite switch plates were installed to service the different levels of functionality required throughout the house: “We tailored individual flush-mounted switch plates for each unique application, each developed with a unique button configuration and finished with a customised fascia to match the home’s modern decor.”

With the ‘green’ home automation and control system online, the residents are impressed with the extent of the energy savings available to them. However, Muir is quick to share the praise: “A first-class automated home is really the sum result of a number of control systems working fluidly together.”