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Hager offers a wide range of lighting control products that can be installed in a new build property or retrofitted to meet renewed energy demands. These include time lag switches suitable for use in areas such as staircases to switch the light off after a predetermined time; universal dimmers up to 1,000W; and twilight/light sensitive switches for use with outdoor lights to ensure they only operate when the light level becomes too low.
“We offer many products that are considered green, from building controls to standalone light sensors and passive infra-red products. We also offer more integrated solutions that work on the KNX protocol, such as our Tebis range,” reports Hager managing director Sean Cain. “The products contribute to energy savings as if they are well designed the watt loss is reduced and they become very efficient,” adds Cain.
Other products within Hager’s range that are proving popular within the Middle East are PIR motion and presence detectors, plus astronomical time switches.
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“Motion/presence detectors provide automatic lighting on motion and save energy, they also make life easy [for operational control],” explains Hager Middle East Product Manager (Wiring Accessories & Building Automation) KR Arunn. Such products can be used in a wide range of applications including conference rooms, car parks, corridors, offices and toilets.
“PIR presence detectors with remote control can provide high-end standalone DSI / DALI dimming solutions and remote controls for overrides and scene settings,” adds Arunn.
The firm’s astronomical time switches can be used to provide intelligent street lighting controlled by sunset and sunrise times depending on the latitude/longitude position of the lamp.
The use of dimmers and scene-setting controllers give a potential energy savings of 10% reports Arunn. Up to 15% energy can be saved by the use of automatic switches in areas such as corridors and outdoor light control in residential areas can produce 20% energy savings.
For FMs, ease of use is as important as energy savings and such controllers fit these criteria. “All of these products are standalone, meaning they can perform the function on their own and do not require integration or complex programming,” stresses Arunn.
“Simple, user-friendly programming is the key to the success to all these control products,” he states.
Water works
While energy use is one of the most important aspects of a green building water use is also high on the agenda, particularly in the Middle East.
A number of options now exist to reduce the amount of water used in a building without affecting the overall performance. Manufacturers such as Kohler offer a wide range of products aimed specifically at conserving water, such as faucets, showers and urinals.
With manufacturers continuing to research and develop new products aimed at sustainable building, the options likely to be encountered by FMs in the future is only set to get larger.
Carbon reduction guidance
M&E Sustainability, a joint venture between UK trade bodies the Electrical Contractors’ Association (ECA) and the Heating and Ventilating Contractors’ Association (HVCA), has published guidance on the reduction of carbon in large organisations.
The guide, entitled Getting the most from the CRC Energy Efficiency Scheme is aimed at both clients and contractors. It focuses on ways to reduce carbon use in the operation of buildings.
Although primarily intended to help organisations understand the implications and prepare for the introduction of the UK’s Carbon Reduction Commitment (CRC), the phased implementation of which is scheduled to begin in April of this year, it includes advice that can be applied to building projects worldwide.
Practical advice is provided for contractors, building owners and users on monitoring and reducing energy usage and how to achieve commitment from all stakeholders, including staff, to an energy-saving culture.
Key sections address reviewing the energy needs of a building and the potential introduction of renewable technologies. The document also emphasises the expert role MEP contractors can play in the achievement of a sustainable built environment.
The guide is available as a free download at: www.mech-elec.org.uk
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For daylighting another option is Solatubes