Automated lighting control just got a whole lot easier. Dramatic advances in technology are significantly broadening the application of battery-free wireless lighting control in new and existing construction in the U.S.

"The advances eliminate the wireless control issues that concern architects, lighting designers and building owners," said Jim O’Callaghan, vice president of Sales and Marketing for EnOcean. The company is a spin-off of Siemens AG, one of the premier German technology centers.

"Tens of millions of square feet of existing space need upgrading, but there’s reluctance to install high-performance lighting controls because of the high cost of installation, disruption to operations and complexity," he explained.

Battery-free EnOcean technology coupled with easy peel and stick installation of OEM-designed switches, monitors, sensors and personal lighting controls hurdle that reluctance.

Besides easy installation, system configuration, commissioning, operation and maintenance are simple and quick. The products are scalable and can be moved easily so they adapt readily to changing floor plans.

The EnOcean technology is based on miniaturized, ultra low power electronics. Piezo- or electro-dynamic harvesters convert "unused environmental energy" into electricity for powering wireless switches. Solar or thermal converters self-power wireless sensors that operate maintenance free for more than 20 years. The modules are the first in the world to integrate energy harvesting, sensors, and RF (radio frequency) communication in a single solution. They represent a fundamental breakthrough in the creation, storage and management of power.  

The four modules are the PTM 200 for wall-mounted light switches, the TCM 110 Repeater that receives and sends switching signals to extend the system’s range, the RCM 100 Receiver that actuates controls, and the STM 110 Transmitter that enables brightness sensors for dimming. They are fully compatible with existing sensors and industry-standard networks, such as LON, Ethernet, group receivers and central building controllers, and dimmers.

Most installations do not require outside electricians nor added networking overhead for managing the radio frequency. The transmission range is nearly 1,000 feet outdoors, and nearly 100 feet indoors, even through walls. Signals can be encrypted for security.

EnOcean-enabled lighting control products help designers and architects comply with California Title 24 requirements. The personal lighting controls qualify for LEED points.

Sixty OEMs use EnOcean technology and 40 more are developing products based on it. There are 250,000 EnOcean-enabled products in more than 1,000 commercial buildings in Europe, including SAP and Nestle.