Rooms that think ahead
Rooms that think ahead
Integrated room automation for optimum comfort and energy efficiency
Imagine stepping into a room that anticipates your needs before you even tell it what they are. The blinds are lowered before the sun becomes a glare. Fresh air flows in before you reach for the window. The light adjusts imperceptibly – sometimes warm, sometimes bright, but always just right. It’s not magic, but cutting-edge room automation from SAUTER.
Buildings are where we live, work and spend our free time – which means they are crucial for our well-being and productivity. Yet in the EU, buildings account for around 40% of all energy consumption, with around 80% of that used for heating, cooling and hot water. To increase energy efficiency it is vital to focus on the source of demand: the rooms themselves This means room automation plays a key role in building automation. It combines comfort and energy efficiency by intelligently regulating temperature, air quality, lighting and shading based on actual needs.
Integration instead of isolation
Truly energy-efficient building operation can only be achieved when room climate, lighting and sun shading are not treated as separate elements but intelligently interconnected. Only when these systems harmoniously interact can an environment be created where comfort and efficiency are equally guaranteed. This requires components that are fully compatible and capable of reliably exchanging information. This works best with a solution from a single source – such as integrated room automation from SAUTER. It combines all the essential functions in a single system, ensuring convenient and energy-efficient building operation.
By coordinating room functions in an integrated setup, buildings can be operated optimally and energy-efficiently in accordance with EN ISO 52120. SAUTER’s solutions are systematically designed to meet the premium efficiency class A. This is achieved using intelligent automation functions that dynamically respond to changing conditions, such as presence-dependent constant light control, demand-controlled ventilation, optimised temperature regulation with occupancy profiles, and shading according to the position of the sun.
SAUTER Smart Shading – intelligent shading correction
Shading control is one of the most complex challenges in room automation. With Smart Shading, SAUTER offers a fully integrated system solution that goes far beyond conventional blind control. Based on VDI guidelines 3813/3814, the sun-position-based automation is enhanced with intelligent shadow correction. The system adjusts the position of the sunshade in response to the actual sunlight. It not only factors in the sun’s daily trajectory but also nearby buildings and parts of the building’s own facade that may cast shadows. Based on the geographical location and the path of the sun, it calculates whether or not a window is shaded for every 15-minute period during the whole year. When the system detects shading from adjacent buildings or structures, it automatically adjusts the sunshade to a predefined position for optimal use of daylight. This intelligent control enhances user comfort, reduces energy consumption from artificial lighting and optimises heating and cooling efficiency.
Fully integrated
SAUTER Smart Shading integrates seamlessly into the overall room automation, fulfilling the integration standards set by VDI 3813/3814. There are various ways to control the sun shading: in the traditional way using relay contacts or digitally using standardised interfaces such as KNX or SMI. SMI (Standard Motor Interface) in particular has become established as the industry standard. As a universal, manufacturer-independent interface for blind motors, this communication protocol allows straightforward integration into central building management systems thanks to its simple installation, practical configuration and exceptional precision.
Whether for sun shading, room climate or lighting control – the ecos room automation stations from the SAUTER system family are always at the heart of SAUTER’s integrated room automation. In this issue, we take a closer look at these powerful room controllers.
Knowledge in brief: The SAUTER functional triangle of integrated room automation
SAUTER’s integrated room automation is based on three systems:
- Room climate: Heating, cooling and ventilation ensure comfortable temperatures and optimum air quality
- Lighting: Lighting control is based on occupancy and natural daylight
- Sun shading: Automated blinds and shading eliminate glare, assist cooling and save energy
The optimised interaction of these systems results in an integrated overall system that delivers both comfort and efficiency – based on the requirements of European standard EN ISO 52120 and VDI guidelines 3813/3814.
