Print Page

Control Systems

What it is

Direct Digital Control (DDC) is a strategy to easily and reliably control a building’s Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) system to match occupant needs.  Other control systems can be integrated with other building components such as parking lot controllers and security, access, and fire protection systems.

How it works

• DDC Controls - This is a microprocessor-based system that usually requires no more than an off-the-shelf personal computer to operate.  Program algorithms are set to control the HVAC, security, access and fire protection systems to follow the typical operating profile of the building.  Settings can also be customized to each buildings needs such as time of day variations or min/max ratios (sensor based readings).  The system can be continually optimized for performance as building requirements change over time, or as new systems are added.
• Parking Lot Controls - The amount of energy needed to keep a car engine at a satisfactory temperature obviously depends on weather conditions, An uncontrolled electrical outlet applies a constant rate of power to each engine heater regardless of the outside temperature.
• A parking lot control system audits the state of a vehicle’s engine and controls the flow of electricity to supply what is needed according to outside temperature, wind chill and time (both time of day and length of time the block heater has been in use).  Power is only sent to block heater once the engine has cooled to a certain temperature, eliminating significant energy waste.  More advanced controls monitor the status of the entire parking facility including calculating energy savings, total time in use, average time in use, size of the load, number of overloads and number of short-term power failures.
• Security and Access – Integration of building controls with security and access systems allow more cost effective monitoring and control of what happens in your building.  We can integrate your security, access, and fire protection systems into the same monitors (remote or on site) as your DDC controls, allowing master control of a buildings zones for emergencies of any nature.
• We specialize in offering our customers new intrusion and access technologies customized to fit client needs, closed circuit recording, low voltage L.E.D. lighting Solutions and 24 hr local alarm monitoring.

Benefits

• Control ventilation air volume and distribution based on demand by CO2  and/or other occupancy sensors
• Control heating and cooling loads based on weather and time of day conditions
• Employ optimal restart routines to return to normal daytime conditions
• Shutdown lighting, DHW pumps and reduce DHW temperature automatically. Setpoints can be easily modified to accommodate anticipated unusual loads (such as special events)
• Prompts can be added for maintenance schedules and alarms for equipment failure
• Reduces overall energy consumption of a facility 10% to 20%
• Parking Lot Controls allows block heater consumption savings of 65% in areas where winter temperatures drop below -20 °C