Tips: Justifying KNX in the Smaller Home
By Mark Warburton, Ivory Egg. Most readers of this website will be very confident in discussing the merits of using a KNX control system as opposed to a conventional wired system, particularly when it comes to large residential buildings. With KNX covering so many aspects of building control, there is normally a solution you can […]
Overview: Holistic Planning and Environmental Mitigation
By Paul Foulkes, EchoHouse Energy. Now that we are back from the summer break and perhaps starting on a new business cycle, let’s remind ourselves, before we proceed further, why KNX is the ideal choice for holistic planning and environmental mitigation. KNX can have an effect upon many aspects of a building, from lighting and […]
Trade Talk: Creating a Scene with DALI – a Plea to KNX Manufacturers
By Simon Buddle, Future Ready Homes. Did you see the strawberry full moon on the summer solstice? A full moon on the solstice only comes around once or twice in a life time – the last time it happened was in 1967. The summer solstice marks the beginning of summer, but in the northern hemisphere, […]
Tips: Handover and Supporting a Project
By Mark Warburton, Ivory Egg. We are nearing the end of this series looking at the different stages of a project. It is now time to discuss the last stage – finishing the project. This is one of the most critical stages of the entire project and if completed correctly, can ensure the success of […]
KNX, Big Data and IoT – Linking IoT and big data to the built environment
By Paul Foulkes, EchoHouse. Almost everyone is talking about the Internet of Things (IoT) and data, particularly ‘big data’. I am no expert in this area, but what is evident is that the data people want to see originates in the built environment and has to be extracted. But data alone is useless. Data collection, […]
Trade Talk: Why Developers Need an Integration Specialist
By Simon Buddle, Future Ready Homes. I’ve been asked many times over the years, ‘How do you sell integrated systems?’ and I’ve always answered, ‘I have no idea – I’m an engineer, not a salesman’. I tend to work from the technical angle and build a solution for the client’s needs, in the same way […]
Tips: Troubleshooting After the First Switch On
By Mark Warburton, Ivory Egg. If you have been following my previous articles on how to sell KNX, how to specify KNX, how to choose the right products and documentation, and how to start installing products and commissioning, you now need to be prepared for troubleshooting any problems. Getting a project working on site is […]
Advice for Architects, Designers and Building Planners: Prepare for Care
By Paul Foulkes, EchoHouse. In my last article I looked at KNX and Passivhaus. This was a direct view of saving energy in buildings by using Passivhaus techniques to reduce the heat load and improve thermal comfort, and using KNX to help regulate, monitor and control the remaining active elements of the building. But energy […]
Trade Talk: Why using KNX for Centralised Services and Billing Makes Sense
By Simon Buddle, Future Ready Homes. A couple of months ago, a man from Thames Water (our water supply company) arrived at the flat to fit a water meter to the incoming main feed. When it comes to tradespeople, my tip is to always make them a hot drink. They will usually be in less […]
Tips: Commissioning and Installation
By Mark Warburton, Ivory Egg. If you have been following my previous articles on how to sell KNX, how to specify KNX and how to choose the right products and documentation, you will know that is has taken three months to get here, but it is finally time to start installing products and commissioning! Hopefully, […]