Reopening: What Automation-Enabled Offices Will Look Like Post The Pandemic

 

The Covid-19 pandemic led to a massive disruption in the way the world functions. Back in the year 2020, people faced challenges while setting up home offices and working online. Offices are reopening while adhering to Covid norms. Employee health and safety are top priorities for organisations. Office automation is no longer just a 'luxury' but a necessity. Enabling modern solutions like digital automation, motion sensors, and voice detectors will effectively help deal with the pandemic. 

Digital Automation

With the world moving towards digitisation, various IoT (Internet of things) devices are gaining popularity. These devices help reduce employees' contact with the surfaces. For example, the automation with a Lutron Processor system enables scenes to be activated based upon the time of the day on an Astronomic time clock. Wireless wall-mounted keypads, allow for easy retrofit applications. This system replicates the controls on devices like smartphones, tablets, etc. 

Smart LEDs can adjust the light temperature of the room varying from a warm white (3000k)to cool white (5000k) and daylight levels of a particular space. For instance, the Lutron Digital Addressable lighting interface (DALI) modules provide different ambient lighting experiences to meet the occupants' needs. All these measures can help improve employee productivity and overall office experience.

Occupancy Sensors

Today, building automation and control tools are available to process and analyse occupancy patterns. These are called occupancy sensors that help to detect when a space is unoccupied and thus turn the lights off. As a result, one can save more energy and reduce carbon footprint. For example, the Lutron ceiling mount sensors feature high-end in ceiling sensors with minor motion detection ability. The dual technology version provides optimal energy saving and occupancy detection. This self-adaptive technology helps to eliminate the need for manual adjustments. Data from the sensors can also be fed to the Building Management Systems to manage the HVAC loads as well, thus maximizing energy savings.

Voice Technology

With voice-enabled devices, one can request services and enable contactless operations. Moreover, employees can use appliances without touching handles and buttons, making work simpler and ensuring social distancing. In addition, most voice-enabled devices understand commands like managing meetings, controlling conference room devices, and setting room temperature, simplifying work nitty-gritty.

HVAC System 

Smart building automation helps in creating a healthier and pleasant environment for employees. For example, ventilation systems with air cleaning and filtration technology can help reduce airborne contaminants creating a safer and more hygienic workplace. For instance, the Coolmaster System by Anusha Technovision facilitates seamless integration of the HVAC systems. The system provides services like maintaining the thermostat, touch keypad/dynamic keypad for control, occupancy/vacancy sensor, Lutron Connect App, etc.

The office spatiality is changing. Post the pandemic as the staff re-acclimate to the new normal, building improvisations and automation will increase office efficiency with employee well-being as the mainstay. Automated office engagement and innovation, embracing a hybrid work model will help deal with the pandemic effectively.

 

One of the new trends in international and multinational companies is to now focus on the Wellness factor in addition to focusing on minimizing the energy consumption in the building. As such now “wellness ratings” in addition to the LEEDS Energy ratings are being sought from international rating agencies. The realization dawns that the cost of energy in the building is nothing compared to the cost of employees and as such savings should be focused on increasing the productivity of the employees in proportion to the increased  “wellness”  -now being the new Mantra.

Versatile Automation Fits Anywhere: Here's How

Automation defines the automatic control of Electrical & Electronic devices at our residences, commercials, or hospitality, etc. areas. They are connected to a centralized network and rely on the hub, which is also referred to as the controller or server. For instance, Lights, Curtains, Security Cameras, Audio Speakers, etc., can be controlled via a smart device like an iPad using the touch of fingers or through Alexa using voice commands.

 

Let's dig deeper into the flexibility Automation offers:

 

Convenient & easy to operate

By performing rote tasks automatically and interfacing multiple devices, it is possible to elevate the customer experience. Numerous smart gadgets are compatible with one another — just set up specific triggers based on your requirements. For example, the Entrance Lights turn on when we unlock the front door. Similarly, we can simply use voice commands via Alexa to operate the lights or curtains instead of using switches or bring in more natural light with motorized shading solutions.

 

Versatility for new devices and apps

 

As we all know, state-of-the-art technology is advancing day by day and interfacing present Electrical & Electronic systems is very tough but Automation systems through Lutron or Crestron have made them flexible when it comes to accommodating it with the new technology. For example, If we have to add HVAC or Security Camera system in the present set up then we can easily interface with the automation system, and also if we are planning to upgrade our lighting system, then also it is easily accessible through automation systems. Once we will become familiar with the apps or smart devices, we can tap into countless functions and cut back on the learning curve. We can seamlessly integrate multiple devices through one interface and keep upgrading as required.

 

Few installation hassles

 

One doesn't need to refurbish or redecorate the home to bring in automation. Considering the high installation costs, one can integrate home automation into different environments without burning a hole in your pocket. Automation systems can be retrofitted or installed into existing decor with relative ease. For example, the customer experience can easily be elevated with a Lutron touch panel.

 

Space-saving

 

Why clutter vertical spaces like the walls with switchboards when you have home automation? Though it doesn't eat into your square footage, one can use the wall as a backdrop of decorative accents or simply added storage like shelves. Aesthetically designed automated switches like the Palladiom Keypad fit into any space without cumbersome wires. The sleek control features multiple functions, which ups the ante of our interiors too.

 

Automation today has become seamless and sleek to fit into urban homes. With clean-lined designs, easy-to-operate interfaces, and smooth upgradation, it’s now easy to simplify automation usage for the peace and comfort of the end-user.

Contactless technology for safer built environments

In the past year, online searches for contactless products have increased by up to 2000%. As anxiety continues to spread over the outbreak of COVID-19 through contact or shared surfaces, these technologies offer a potential solution for homes, offices or any built environment that wants to reduce the risk of the viral spread. Here is a mini list of contactless technologies that are available at your disposal:

Digital Control: One of the most famous examples of contactless technology, IoT technologies, is the use of apps on your smartphones or tablets to control lighting, temperature, security, and more. This technology allows one to change the inhabited environment or access data without any external contact, eliminating physical interactions. Due to its flexible usage, you can apply this technology to almost any built space. 

Motion sensors: This technology eliminates unnecessary contact and the hassle of finding and turning the light switch on. With this technology, one minor but significant point of contact in workspaces and homes can be eliminated, reducing the potential risk of germs and diseases. Not only are we procuring safety measures, but ensuring the reduction in energy use and costs by adequate margins.

Smart bathrooms: One of the most important spaces to use contactless technology and to maintain hygienic and safer environments is a bathroom or public restrooms in workspaces and public places. Technologies such as intelligent toilets flush automatically through a timer and sensor and open and close automatically as well. Motion sensor toilets and faucets, intelligent bathroom systems have already received a spiked interest in society. 

Voice Control: Another aspect of contactless methods of interfacing with intelligent system is through the use of Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple Siri etc. to achieve a change in your lighting or to change the channel on your TV or to adjust the temperature on your AC or to even open your doors.

Future of Lighting

The evolving consumer tastes are currently shaping the future of lighting, and a large amount of that is owed to the pandemic. The need to spend more time at home to work due to quarantine measures means your home must now incorporate areas of work, study, and personal activity. This will lead to a rise in the number of people adapting their home lighting systems - specifically through smart lights - to adapt to the new paradigm. 

The vast array of options smart lights provide in personal customizability is expensive. An increase in work-from-home models will be an influencing factor in their adoption, as many companies are already incorporating it to continue even after the pandemic. Studies have shown a connection between lighting types and the ability to focus, which people anecdotally associate with. In that regard office space now focuses on lighting that helps improve productivity and hence the new and increasingly popular concept of “Human Centric Lighting”. Since our body clock is governed by the secretion of hormones, which in turn takes its cue from lighting. This is why we sleep at a certain time, (night) and we are alert at other times (mornings). So the effort today is to keep the body clock in sync with nature's timings of sunrise and sunsets. Since we spend more time indoors – the indoor lighting now with the help of technology follows the color temperature of sunlight and helps maintain the body rhythm. 

Additionally, smart light systems can easily be coded and controlled from home management devices like Google Nest and Amazon Alexa devices, making them substantially easier to use. The trend towards voice commands and centralized home control has been a trendy feature in recent years and is sure to propel smart lighting to even greater popularity. 

- The piece is written by Alok Hada, Director, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd.

Energy Efficient Lighting

Lighting constitutes about 35% of the energy consumption in commercial buildings, making it the highest energy consuming component, according to data obtained from the US government. In India, lighting is the second highest component of energy consumption in buildings, only next to HVAC systems, and estimated to be at least 20-25%.

From the data, we can identify that lighting is a crucial factor in efficient building designs and automation systems. There is an effort to make individual lighting fixtures as efficient as possible, but the industry must acknowledge the fundamental role of Lighting Controls in furthering the objective.

Lighting Management systems can cater to three major sectors – Residential, Hospitality and Corporate/Commercial. In residences, preset lighting control systems can cater to aspects of ambience and convenience. Attractive wall-mounted, custom-engraved, and backlit lighting keypads add aesthetics, with optional control via wireless keypads or smart phones providing easy access and flexibility of use.




In the Hospitality sector, the major focus is on achieving the correct ambience with lighting controls.Hotels such as the ‘ITC Group’ who are  energy conscious, also stress on reducing energy consumption through controls. Here again, the preset Lighting control systems play a role. In commercial or corporate settings, the main driver for automation is the ability to reduce power consumption through the usage of sensors such as occupancy sensors and day light sensors. This is all then monitored and measured through a Lighting Management System (LMS), called Quantum System from Lutron. In the last 3-4 years, this sector has experienced tremendous growth.

Where energy efficient lighting fixtures are low hanging fruits, allowing reduction in usage, without compromising on the quality of ambience or convenience; Lighting Controls form the network, the tree itself, enhancing flexibility to change the transfer of resource depending on real-time requirements.

By incorporating state of the art Lighting Management systems, buildings can achieve energy savings targets and desired management levels with real time monitoring and control. Integrating hardware and software, and to service and combine dimming modules, occupancy sensors, motorized shades, sun trajectory sensors, daylight sensors and time clock controls; supported and optimized by data that is collected from sensors, time clocks and scientific sources; spaces can be made more resilient.

- Alok Hada, Director, Anusha Technovision Pvt. Ltd

Occupany & Vacancy Sensors

Occupancy & vacancy sensors are small devices designed to detect the presence of a person in a room and accordingly adjust the physical space to the optimal state. These sensors control light, shade and temperature depending on the presence of people, time of day and general weather conditions. Not only is this unique technological invention trendy and appealing due to the lack of effort required to operate the various installments in a room but it is also an ecologically friendly and cost efficient investment.

Now let's see how these sensors have a positive impact of your finances and the environment. From a young age we are told to turn off lights and fans when we leave the room, but how many of us actually remember to do this? Now, it might seems like this is not a large enough concern for many but when we think about centrally air-conditioned spaces where we spend most of our time such as offices, malls, restaurants do you really think about asking someone to turn the temperature of the AC down or turn of the lights when you leave the bathroom? These costs that where always considered fixed are what occupancy and vacancy sensors attempt to reduce, not to mention the positive environmental impact! The occupancy and vacancy sensor can even play a impactful role in residential situations. The light sensors can prove to be crucial in housed with small children to ensure safety, during the evenings and at night, as well as responsible use of electricity. Let's admit it. Children never turn off the light! 

While Occupancy sensors have been around for some time, what has changed is the way they operate and the technology they adopt. For e.g the earlier motion sensors worked on  passive IR Technology where in a major motion was required between the various IR rays emitted by the sensor- for the sensor to detect presence. While these worked fine with places such as hallways and pantry areas, they failed where the motion was very small- such as when a person occupies the office or uses the bathroom. The latest technology sensors are able to detect even minor motion and hence will generally not turn the lights off when you are sitting still and working on your lap top (say). In fact this ability to detect even minor motion could be the main reason for pricing differences, in addition to the sensor coverage areas and the technology they use to function.

Anusha Technovision offers the Radio Power occupancy Wireless sensor through its partnership with Lutron which is equipped with the best technology within the occupancy and vacancy sensor market at the moment complete with daylight sensing ability – for homes as well as for commercial office spaces. These sensors can be stand alone or part of a larger Lighting control system. When they are part of the lighting control system they can be made intelligent  for e.g a home owner could decide that his bathroom lights should turn on every time he walks into the bath room but it should happen only at night time , and in day time he has to manually turn lights on. The sensor of course turns lights off when the bathroom is unoccupied.  “Occupancy sensors can be called the foot soldiers in the fight to conserve energy.” As per Alok Hada Director ATPL.

Voice Controlled System - Amazon Alexa (Part 2)

Contd...

So who can do all this setup for you?

It's us!  Anusha Technovison (ATPL) can configure your ALEXA with an existing home automation system. And once done, you can call for different lighting moods, play a specific channel on your TV, control your shades, turn on/off your HVAC; in simple words, control each and every thing under the system with just a mere voice command, making life simpler than ever.

We can configure each and every command as per your choice of specific words. Once you get used to the command/quirks, using ALEXA feels much more natural and responsive than speaking to a phone-based voice assistant like Apple’s Siri. As a result, you are likely to find yourself using your phone less frequently when you’re at home.  If you thought the transition from flipping light switches to pressing smartphone buttons was game-changing, then letting ALEXA control your things will be even more satisfying in a true-geek way. And after a use of one-two months, if you need any tweaks, we provide a complimentary visit for a final setup of all your ALEXA commands. Not only do we provide training to control your home but we will also teach you, how using the sound of your voice, you can use ALEXA to search the Web, create to-do shopping lists, shop online, get instant weather reports, and control popular smart-homeproducts—all while your phone stays in your pocket.

However, we firmly believe that ALEXA isn’t a comprehensive smart-home system. It won’t replace a well-programmed graphic user interface on your Ipad or iPhone, it won’t allow for complex integrations of multiple devices (“turn the lights green when rock music plays in the kitchen” is not a valid command), and it won’t always be the most practical means of interacting with your other devices. Rather, we should think of it as an interface for your smart home, that provides additional means of control and functionality that an app on your phone can’t. Which makes it an easier product to rely upon!

Smart Lighting Control System

Smart Lighting Control System is an intelligent lighting control Solution. It is an important aspect of our daily life. Light control would allow the ability to regulate the level and quality of light in each space for specific tasks or situations. Controlling light properly not only enhances the experience, it helps to save energy by using light when and where it is needed most.

Smart Lighting control systems features:

a)     Time Clock facility–The house owner could schedule the turning ON/Off the Lights/curtains based on normal/Astronomical time clock.

b)     Occupancy/Vacancy-Many building spaces remaining unoccupied between 40% and 70% of the day, lights left on are a real energy drain. occupancy/vacancy sensors automate the switching and dimming of those lights, saving energy and money.

c)      Daylight availability Amount of daylight that enters a space is an important aspect of  light control. Electric lighting energy use can be adjusted by automatically dimming  and/or switching     electric lights in response to the level of available daylight.

    d)   Mood Lighting Facility – This gives the power to enhance the beauty of any area with the variety of customized lighting scenes (e.g. TV, Relax, Meeting etc.).

    e)    Alarm conditions-Alarm conditions typically include inputs from other building systems such as the fire alarm or HVAC system, which may trigger an emergency 'all lights on' or ' all lights flashing' command for example.

Benefits of Smart Lighting ControlSystem:

     -  The major advantage of a lighting control system over  conventional  manual switching is the ability to control individual lights or groups of  lights of the house from any location with a single user interface   (Keypad,  i-pad/i-phone etc.) device.

     -   Now, we can also control the lighting system with Voice Command, e.g.-   Alexa

     -   Each button on Wired or wireless keypad is custom engraved with    button functionality to make it user friendly.

     -   A major benefit of lighting control systems is reduced energy consumption and reduced electricity bill too.
      - A room may have multiple scenes pre-set, each one created for different activities in the room

       - A major benefit of lighting control systems is reduced energy consumption

       - Longer lamp life is also gained when dimming and switching off lights when not in use

       -  Wireless lighting control systems provide additional benefits including reduced installation costs and increased flexibility over where switches and sensors may be placed.

         

        It adds the comfort, enhance the beauty of interior and conserve the energy!

Motorized Shading System (Part 2)

What's in store?

SivoiaQS is the next generation of shading technology from Lutron, and the ideal solution for total light control. Its simplified wiring and common communication language allows for easy integration with Lutron lighting controls. Control electric light and daylight now at the touch of a button! It offers precision control of shades in one room, multiple rooms, or an entire home or building all at the touch of a button. Using the proprietary Clear Connect™ RF Technology from Lutron, Sivoia QS Wireless directly integrates with Lutron lighting control systems, delivering total light control to any space.

Features:

·         Precision Control of Daylight

·         Total Light Control

·         Ultra-Quite Performance

·         Easy to Design, Install and Integrate

·         Simple Operation, Beautiful Aesthetics

Add convenience :

•        Adjust shades with a wire-free handheld or wall-mounted control from anywhere in the room

•        A single button press adjusts hard-to-reach window treatments

•        Operate quietly to prevent disruption in any space

•        Cord-free design makes this solution safe for homes with young children or pets

 

 Enhance your décor :

•        Choose from beautiful fabrics, colors, styles, and textures

•        Give your room a crisp, clean look that complements many decorating styles

Save energy :

•        Lower shades in summer to insulate the space and help reduce cooling costs

•        Raise shades in winter to let sun in during the day and lower them at night to trap the day’s heat, and reduce heating costs

•        Insulate your home effectively with the heat-trapping air pockets of insulating honeycomb shades, which enhance energy efficiency

Types of Motorized Shades Solutions:

·         Curtain/ Drapery Track System

·         Roller Shades/ Blinds

·         Roman Shades

·         Venetian Blinds

·         Kirbe Vertical Drapery Systems

·         Skylight Shades

To know more visit our website >>

Motorized Shading System (Part 1)

The “Smart Home” has been a marketing catch phrase for a while, there are many people who already live in smart homes. Technologically savvy homeowners and apartment dwellers have long known that conveniences such as remote operated security systems, remote shading systems, and other home electronic devices can make life both easier and more economical.  A smart home can provide better analysis of power usage, and let homeowners determine where and when to cut back for better energy conservation and cost savings.  It has real world implications as well.

Smart-home technology has come to the world of 'Motorized Shading Systems', with programmable timers raising and lowering your blinds and shades at the perfect hours during the day when you’ll want more or less light in each of the rooms. With customizable settings, you won’t have to spend your valuable time going all through your home to lower blinds against the scorching sun that can raise the home’s temperature, and thus your energy costs when your air conditioner has to work overtime. Instead, your programmable motorized system does all the blind- and shade-lowering for you, creating a comfy environment and saving you a fortune in energy costs, especially when they work their magic while you’re away on vacation – which also adds safety to your home, making it look to the outside world like someone is in the house and thus deterring robbers from targeting.

LED Lighting & Controls

LED Lighting while being beneficial in a lot of ways, primarily output and efficiency output versus the energy consumed brings with it, a whole new set of issues that we at ATPL, in the business of lighting controls have to deal with regularly. Since the LED juggernaut is rolling on with no signs of stopping, it is best that we understand that everything (Lighting) in a project is going to be LED and prepare ourselves accordingly.

Just because we have dimmers does not mean that LED fixture will dim!

One of the most common misconceptions among end users is that if they have opted for Lighting controls, the LED lights purchased will dim. It is necessary to inform them that not every LED light is dimmable. In fact, the majority of the LED lights that are available in the market today are not fitted with dimmable drivers. One question that everyone needs to ask when purchasing an LED lighting fixture is “Is it dimmable”?

This brings us to the basic question - What makes the LED light dimmable? or

'What comprises of an LED fixture'?

In short, an LED Lighting fixture comprises of:

a) The Light Engine – which is the LED chip that emits light when current passé through it

b) Power supply or Driver that supplies the right amount of current through the LED chip

c) Heat Sink and casing, that ensures the right temperature for a longer life of the LED chip. It is the 

LED driver that receives the dimming signal from the dimmer and varies current or voltage accordingly to allow dimming of the light output. The LED driver either maintains a constant current or a constant voltage while varying the other, to vary the light output from the LED engine.
The type of dimming signal varies and is again dependent upon what the driver will accept. The common types prevalent in the market are 1-10 volts, phase controlled dimming (line voltage dimming), DALI dimming and DMX dimming. Please be clear that the dimming signal types does not have a bearing on the quality of dimming. The capability of the dimmable driver to a large extent determines the dimming quality and that its capability comprises of parameters that have to do with consistent performance and light output (Flicker free dimming) over the stated range of dimming signal.