Energy Control uses Unipi Patron and Extension xS to optimize the energy efficiency of buildings. The controllers manage heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems (HVAC). The solution contributes to significant energy savings and enhances user comfort.
Energy Control specializes in transforming buildings into energy-efficient by optimizing their operational systems. The company develops and implements solutions to improve energy efficiency through sensor technology and intelligent control systems. It also provides energy management consultancy and cooperates with sensor suppliers.
Challenge
Energy Control needed a reliable control unit for building management; the key requirements were mainly analog inputs and LTE connectivity. The customer required 47 Patron S167 LTE controllers and 414 Extension xS51 units, with a total number of analog inputs of around 1 700.
The customer was considering PLC from Unipi and Wago. Ultimately, he chose Unipi due to its personal touch and fast technical support, which was thorough and professional.
Solution
Energy Control installs and evaluates the data, essentially saving older energy-intensive buildings. It focuses on the energy management of buildings and making them more usable. As part of the management, the unit controls and monitors HVAC, fresh air, airflow, water, efficient heating, cooling, and more.
Energy Control enhanced its Node-RED-based application with a fleet management system, which is possible thanks to the software openness of the Unipi units. Energy Control uses its own web interface called "EC Dashboard". The EC GO app lets users access the most essential building data directly on mobile phones.
The company uses Belimo valves as well as Modbus valves connected to the PLC to control the HVAC system. Unipi PLC is the heart of the Energy Control system, connecting the building to the cloud.
Energy Control uses advanced sensors to collect data about energy consumption and indoor climate. Based on this, the system automatically runs energy-saving actions. The user fully controls the building's consumption and indoor climate. The result is significant energy efficiency.
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For example, the control units are connected to:
- Variable air volume (VAV) systems
- Actuators
- Ventilation system
- Heat pump
- Sensors (temperature, humidity, CO2)
The sensors are connected wirelessly or via analog inputs (AI).
Unipi allows choosing from a wide range of available software solutions, from the officially supported Mervis platform to third-party solutions and the customer's software. As a result, Energy Control could easily integrate its software and services, including a web interface and mobile app.
Energy Control chose Unipi Patron S167, Extension xS51, and xS54 units for their solution. The protocols used include Modbus TCP, Modbus RTU, BACnet, and MP-Bus (Belimo).
The company requested customized control units. The resulting product was branded with the Energy Control logo in the color chosen by the customer.
Unipi offers product branding that allows customers to have a product with their logo and colors, with custom design modifications available for all Unipi product lines. Logo customization can include laser engraving (monocolor) and UV printing (full color). More information and customization options are available here.
Next steps
Thanks to the pro-client approach, the cooperation between Energy Control and Unipi is also expanding to larger projects. Energy Control plans to expand the project to include more units in the future. Analog inputs and LTE remain the core of future collaboration.
“At Energy Control, we rely on robust, stable hardware that can perform reliably across diverse environments. Our mission is to maintain healthy buildings with great air quality while reducing energy consumption. For that, we need open controllers that give us full flexibility to implement our own logic. Working with Unipi has proven to be the right choice – not just for the quality of the hardware, but because they share our mindset and commitment to innovation.” - Tommy Hagenes, CEO, Energy Control AS
