To reduce energy consumption

Today’s annual global energy requirements are currently over 100,000 terawatt-hours – that is more than 100,000 trillion watt-hours. This is expected to double by 2050. Approximately 85% of these annual needs are still covered by fossil fuels, but the supplies of oil and coal are progressively diminishing. The more limited something becomes, the more precious it gets – and what becomes more precious is more expensive to buy. For this reason the Hager Group is continuously working on the development of systems which help you save energy – all along the line.

An especially bright cost-cutting measure is the use of automatic lighting management. This is where Hager comes in with a diverse range of components such as:

• motion and occupancy detectors for inside and outside: lights are only in use when a person is present. Soon after an absence of movement is detected, they automatically turn off. While motion detectors save up to 15%, occupancy sensors save up to 40% of your lighting costs.

• ongoing light monitoring: light levels in the room automatically increase or decrease according to external ambient light levels. This provides for a working environment with no abrupt changes from light and dark, especially during twilight hours. An equally important result is reduced lighting bills.

• new dimmers for CFL and LED lighting: energy consumption is reduced in proportion to light levels. For example, a halogen lamp dimmed 25% will save 20% energy. Further dimming saves even more.

Another large portion of one’s annual energy costs comes from heating. Hager technology significantly reduces heating costs through, for example, ultra-modern individual room thermostats. You are able to regulate the ambient temperature of each room according to the time of the day and the settings required, thereby saving up to 16% of annual heating costs. Depending on the position of the sun, automated management of shutters and Venetian blinds can save between 10% and 30% on heating or summer air conditioning costs.

A frequently overlooked but ever-present user of energy is the standby mode. But Hager has got wise to this with its new smart sockets that continuously measure the current flowing through them and automatically switch off the standby supply. This way, up to 10% of annual electricity costs can be cut.

Energy saving measures only make sense if their benefit is higher than the installation costs. Instead of installing new switches and wall cables, it might sometimes be wiser to use Hager’s low-radiation radio-controlled systems. They are, for example, ideally suited for the retrofitting of lighting and shutters in old buildings. Such technology offers the best in convenience with minimum installation costs by integrating light and heat sensors as well as detectors and timer switches.

A centralised monitoring of household electronic equipment using smart KNX building monitoring technology. This is where Hager always comes up with some new innovations including:

• the new KNX connection point which is expected to make energy savings of up 50% and will gradually be integrated into all KNX Hager modular devices.

• the new tebis domovea software offers user-friendly logic circuitry for managing Venetian blinds and shutters, time-dependent temperature management, simulation of the property user’s habits during periodic absence, automatic standby shutdown and centralised outside-the-home functions and much more.

• the new Hager touch panel enables convenient and efficient monitoring of all automated appliances in buildings. In standby mode less than 0.3 watts of electricity are consumed instead of more than 30 watts using present-day appliances.

The bottom line: energy consumption can be reduced by up to 50% using KNX building automation technology. At the same time, domestic life becomes so much easier.