Latest Viconics News !
Network- Ready Thermostats: Why would you ever install a standalone thermostat today?
I have to ask the question, “Would any commercial building owner or contractor install a standalone thermostat if you could install a standalone thermostat that could be easily upgraded to an industry leading communicating protocol at any time in the future?” Would this feature provide added value to the initial installation if the additional costs to provide this benefit was only incremental?
How many times have we seen low cost, standalone thermostats being designed on initial building plan and specifications only to see them being torn out and replaced within a couple years when the building owner decides to upgrade to a building automation system because of comfort issues or high energy costs? Most everyone would agree a building automation system offers many advantages – diagnostics, alarms, scheduling, troubleshooting, demand response strategies, managing comfort, remote access, etc… So why do so many pieces of equipment go out of the factory with standalone thermostats? The answer is simple – cost! The initial budgets of many projects cannot support the installation of a building automation system or the BAS is eventually, VE’d, value engineered out of the specification. The option is either all in with a BAS or all in with a lower cost, standalone system. In the end, the standalone system will eventually be retrofitted when the budget allows, usually at a much higher total cost. Today more than ever, controls only retrofits look very beneficial from a return on investment perspective due to increasing energy costs and green tax initiatives. Another important reason is the advent of control solutions specifically designed for retrofit projects that are much less costly to install and commission and provides little to no disruption during the retrofit to the building and occupants. Wireless technology is now accepted at many levels and continues to evolve into the promise of a total lower installed cost technology.
Viconics mission is providing products for most used types of equipment designed for ease- of- installation, lowest installed cost, retrofit and most of all – simpler automation. Simpler automation brings many of the BAS benefits mentioned above in a lower total cost package allowing more systems to be installed in more buildings. Most building industry expert predictions indicate increased sustainability and energy saving systems in every building in the near future! How will this happen if standalone systems are still being installed at close to three to one ratio to networked systems? The answer lies with investing in Network-Ready technologies that allow future upgrade when budgets and facilities are ready. Every Viconics VT7000 series thermostat sold can be upgraded to an industry leading open communication protocol allowing simple integration into the building automation system of your choice. Flexibility and many options are in the hands of the engineer and/or building owner as they decide to upgrade to an energy management system.
All current Viconics VT7000 5000 Series thermostats purchased after 7/15/2010 will be capable of being upgraded with automatic motion sensing (Passive Infrared Occupancy sensor) and/ or network communication that can be integrated into virtually all leading building automation system manufacturers. This communication ready approach will allow flexibility to add network communication or automatic occupancy strategies as budgets allow or as the buildings needs change. By using open protocols you are not restricted to outdated or proprietary systems.
Real estate / property management experts all agree that competition to keep tenants is never been more fierce than in these economic times. The tenants have the upper hand and are demanding environmentally friendly, energy-efficient, and sustainable office space. Building owners due to the economic crisis are forced to keeping buildings much longer and are keenly aware of the savings that can come from energy retrofits similar to the Empire State Building project – energy efficiency makes you money! As they have indicated – if you can do an energy retrofit to a commercial high rise and reduce your energy use by 38% that equates to over $4.4 million a year on energy costs – every building can save using technologies that are available today. But many building start out with an outdated system because there is not a middle option for projects that cannot afford that initial outlay or do not know what the building use will be.
If you are reading this and thinking this is obvious – again I ask, how do so many standalone systems get installed? How many schools, hotels, university dorm rooms, office buildings, etc… are operating today with outdated standalone thermostats that are wasting energy and are in dire need of an energy upgrade? Most building owners know they need to upgrade the building but feel the costs are prohibitive or the return on investment is too long. Network Ready controls will now create exciting new opportunities that will allow building owners to upgrade earlier to BAS and at a fraction of the former costs associated with of replacing stand alone devices.
As mentioned during this article, new solutions from are changing everything!
Again a new paradigm from Viconics - First it was simpler automation and today it is retrofit friendly communication ready and upgradable solutions. There has never been a better time to move forward and use technology to solve the toughest problems each and everyone of us face each day! Network Ready solutions is one more step in the right direction for our industry.
Written By Mike Sabinash – Director of US Sales for Viconics Technologies Inc. E-mail him at msabinash@viconics.com