If you are a government or commercial building you may be required to conform to the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 standard.
Among other things, this standard requires that 50% of the plug loads ( electrical receptacles) be controlled.
Never fear! Wattstopper has two great products that reduce energy and lighting loads all the way down to the plug level. In this video, shot at Lightfare 2011, Jennifer Holland shows us the Wattstopper

Isole plug level power strip and the Wattstopper Digital Lighting Management System are both great energy saving options. I personally think the Isole is one of the coolest, user friendly products in the energy saving market today. For around $90 you get a surge protector and a motion detector.The technology conveniently allows some of the loads to function all the time and the others utilize the motion detector to power only when someone is actually present.
For example, if you have a computer, a lamp, and a space heater hooked up to your Isole power strip, while you are at lunch the computer will stay powered on while the lamp, space heater, and any other non critical loads you have will power off until you return.
Way cool !! As you can see from the video, this simple little device can save a lot of money in electricity and coordinates with the ASHRAE 90.1-2010 compliance strategy.

I will do another post and video on the Wattstopper Digital Lighting Management product at a later date. For more information on Wattstopper listen to my interview with Pete Baselici. Pete will be in Atlanta for a ‘lunch and learn’ so stay tuned for information on how to attend or view his presentation.
Are you an ASHRAE 90.1 expert? Does your company install or use energy management products like Wattstopper?
Tell the Controltrends community who you are and what you do. Leave a link to your company website and/or company Facebook page in the comments section.
You never know who will find you on Controltrends.com

Functional Devices has created an easy to install, low cost product that delivers big energy savings with their Functional Devices Half-Light series of lighting controls.

If you are looking for an easy way to save money on multiple ballast light fixtures
in classrooms and offices or on high bay fluorescent fixtures the Functional Devices Half-Light is a great low cost solution. The Functional Devices Half-Light installs in the wiring compartment of almost any light fixture and uses existing switches to start lighting up at 50% of capacity ( hence half-light). The lights than can easily be controlled to go to full capacity via a digital switch or a building automation system. Don’t let this simple strategy fool you the energy savings as indicated by this independent study can be huge. Lighting control strategies are one of the easiest ways to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings.
If you are in Georgia or Florida contact Stromquist & Company for more information on the Functional Devices Half-Light, others can contact one of our affiliates at Controls Group North America

Ok Hollywood step down, Stromquist and Company is going to show you what real Transformers are all about!

Our transformers are for real life uses. Even though we do not have any transformers that will change your control systems into a battle tanks we can use our transformers to battle your voltage problems in control systems.

I was going to tell you how a transformer works but alas telling you that a transformer is a static electrical device which transforms energy from one alternating current source to one or more circuits-at the same frequency seems ok with me. If you need more information on how the transformer works there are plenty 50 plus page essays on this topic on the web and if you want to e-mail me about this I will be happy to point you in the right direction. Suffice to say brilliant scientists over the years have made it easy for us to plug in the primary side and get what we want from the secondary side of the transformer.

Dongan Transformers provide our industry with a multitude of different transformers.

Ignition Transformers: oil and gas ignition transformers with 120 and 240 volt primary voltages to a 6,000-15,000 volt secondary.

Industrial Control Transformer:  The use of an industrial control transformer is absolutely essential for the safe and reliable operation of control devices. Solenoids, contactors, and timers place heavy demands on transformers powering them. These heavy demands usually take place during start-up and energizing of control sequences. This results in very high inrush currents flowing through the transformer during start-up phases of control operation.

Honeywell offers transformers in the commercial ignition and general purpose type some with and without circuit breakers, multi-tap, multi-voltage, foot mount, plate mount and vA ratings to 75 vA.

Functional Devices (RIB Relays) offers transformers of the commercial type with circuit breakers, fused, hub mount, foot mount, plate mount, multi-tap, mulit-voltages, and vA ratings up to 375 vA.

So, if your transformer does not have to turn into a jet plane that talks, talk with Stromquist and Company about your transformer needs. Call us at 1-800-638-7828 in Orlando or 1-800-241-9471 in Atlanta.

Wireless technology has advanced so much in the last few years and the acceptance and value of these controls is gaining immeasurably. All phases of the market have now been touched by wireless thermostats, controllers, and sensors including industrial, commercial and domestic applications.

For the domestic market Honeywell offers several programmable and non-programmable wireless thermostats (REDLINK) like the Prestige and the FocusPro that will allow the use of outdoor air sensors and return air sensors to control conventional and heat pump systems with up to 3 stages of heat and 2 stages of cooling. The thermostats are available with standard or high definition color touch screens.

On the commercial level AIC’s wireless transceivers allow for wireless data communications through BACnet, Modbus, LonWorks, and several other protocols. Applications include, remote lighting controls, building communication, HVAC controls, remote chiller plant operations, flow meter monitoring, KW metering, and gas metering. Check out this interview with ACI’s Bryan Pike for a more in-depthlook at all the great things that can be done with ACI wireless.

Honeywell Vulcain’s E3 point wireless control system monitors hazardous gas emissions in boiler rooms, chiller plants, and parking garages.

 On the Industrial level Honeywell has a variety of wireless gauges, transmitters, and receivers to make remote control of systems a breeze.

If you are trying to control something and the high costs of hard wiring is cost prohibitive, or the location is too remote look to Stromquist and Company to help you in your wireless needs. Call us at 1-800-241-9471 in Atlanta or 1-800-638-7828 in Orlando.

With all the interest generated by the Tarvis Jennings WattStopper video and the interest in saving money through better lighting control I am posting this one hour training video from Pete Horton at Wattstopper. Enjoy.

I caught up with Tyler Jennings from WattStopper at the CGNA Vendor showcase. Sorry about the picture quality but what Tyler had to say was to good to miss.

For more information on the WattStopper Digital Lighting System you can check this out and my radio interview with Pete Baselici from Wattstopper.

If you are located in Georgia or Florida contact Stromquist & Company for all your Wattstopper lighting control needs as well as help with any energy control applications. For those of you not in our territory you can contact one of our affiliates at Controls Group North America to assist you with Wattstopper products.

Everyone is looking for simple ways to save energy and money. Timers can be an easy and inexpensive way to cut back your energy consumption and put a little extra money back in the budget. These are just a couple of examples of Intermatic timers and what they can do for you.

Digital Auto-Off Timers

The EI400 Series effectively replaces 16 different spring-wound models, providing more specification flexibility, ease of installation and absolutely silent operation. A factory supplied CR2 lithium battery provides up to three years of time keeping without AC power, and user program selection is stored in non-volatile memory. A low battery indicator appears in the display when the battery requires replacement. Functions to control all voltages and frequencies (within the contact ratings) with no adjustments required. Provides true 3-way control allowing the load interval to be started and stopped using a standard mechanical switch.

Electronic Water Heater Timers

These time switches provide automatic control for electric water heaters. They provide to-the-minute accuracy in programming and time keeping. The time switches can be programmed for repeat daily scheduling, 5-day work week scheduling, weekend scheduling or any individual day scheduling. Timers can be scheduled for operation during the lowest time-of-day rates or to switch off the electric heater during periods of peak power usage. The time switch can be set to operate for up to 6 ON/OFF operations daily for a maximum of 42 on/off operations weekly. They provide a convenient external override switch and LED load indicator for ease in scheduling hot water as required for extra hot water demands.

These timers and many others are available at Stromquist.  If you would like to learn more about Itermatic timers, visit their website at www.intermatic.com or call Stromquist in Atlanta at 404-794-3440.

Stromqust and Company is a proud distributor of Watt Stopper Lighting products. You can also check out Eric’s interview with Pete Baselici on Stromquist Radio.