Panasonic and Schneider Electric partner in energy management

Panasonic and Schneider Electric have partnered to develop an integrated HVAC equipment and building management solution for maximum energy efficiency in commercial buildings.

Both companies have developed a new interface wireless solution which enables direct serial communication between Schneider Electric’s building management system and room controllers with Panasonic’s variable refrigerant flow (VRF)-based HVAC systems via the ZigBee wireless communication standard.

This allows building owners and managers to view all of their core building systems — including HVAC equipment, lighting, security, power and electrical distribution — anytime and anywhere via a single interface, and delivers actionable insights to reduce energy consumption and drive savings.

The joint solution can be installed wirelessly, which preserves existing infrastructure and is ideal for retrofits of older buildings, or wired. It utilises plug-and-play technology, which simplifies system configurations for extensive VRF systems, or it can be installed as a part of a stand-alone system. This makes it easy to install and allows system integrators to save time and costs on installation. In addition, facility teams have access to comprehensive energy reports and dashboards as well as technical support teams.