Taking control

For developers and owners, energy management is more than an issue of producing a cost-effective building. Indeed, energy efficiency requirements are now enshrined in many of the new building codes.

Clipsal's C-Bus Control and Management System is designed to provide both intelligent lighting control and energy management solutions. It complements building codes and ratings such as Section J of the Building Code of Australia, the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Scheme and the Green Star rating system.

C-Bus is a flexible control system that is equally effective in residential and commercial projects including offices, retail, hospitality, education and unusual applications such as caves and tunnels.

It has been specified for the residential apartments at Yarra's Edge in Docklands. Here, different levels of automation were specified for different levels of fit-out. All townhouses include a dedicated Clipsal Homesafe security and access control system that is fully integrated with the C-Bus system and offers easy keypad control of home automation devices such as security and lighting. Premium apartments also have touch screen control for most electrical devices including security, audio, lighting and blinds. A C-Bus multi-room audio system allows different music and TV shows to be played in different rooms, and controlled from C-Bus glass-finish wall switches.

On the commercial front, a C-Bus lighting control system allows buildings to be run more efficiently. Applications include sensors that read and adjust for natural light levels, occupancy detection in rooms, and time-scheduling. Convenience is also addressed; for example, boardrooms can be set up with the C-Bus integrated system operating blinds, audiovisual and lights, from either a wall switch, touch screen or remote.

In other commercial applications, such as stadium developments, energy efficiency and flexibility are also key drivers for installing a C-Bus system, as lighting can be geared specifically so the venue can be used for a wide variety of purposes. When the Docklands Stadium was built in 1999, C-Bus was the preferred lighting control system.

From concerts to sporting events or training sessions, the system allows lighting to be finely controlled throughout the venue, and building management software makes the reporting of information such as hours of operation of floodlighting easy to achieve.

For more information, contact Clipsal Integrated Systems, 12 Park Tce, Bowden, SA 5007, phone (08) 8345 9500, fax (08) 8346 0573. Email: commercialcbus@clipsal.com.au, or visit the website: www.clipsal.com.

Story by: Trendsideas