Why do you need a building control system?
Building control for commercial properties is not just a trend, but essential for the efficiency, safety and sustainability of modern commercial buildings. Whether office buildings, factory halls or storage areas - intelligent building automation reduces costs, improves comfort and increases safety. There are various systems that can be used to control lighting, heating, air conditioning and security solutions. In this article, we compare the most common providers and systems for commercial buildings, from KNX to Loxone, and show you what we think is particularly worthwhile.
What is commercial building control?
Building automation enables the central control and monitoring of various technical systems in a building, from lighting control, heating and climate control to security solutions such as access control. Businesses can thus reduce operating costs, improve energy efficiency and increase the comfort of building users.
The most important functions include:
- Automatic control of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC).
- Energy management to reduce energy consumption, e.g. through the use of wallboxes and storage systems.
- Security functions such as access control and alarm systems.
- Integration of solar systems and inverters to make efficient use of renewable energy sources.
Why companies can save costs with automated building control.
Companies can significantly reduce their operating costs by implementing the energy efficiency measures described above. The most important potential savings lie in the following areas:
- Reduced power consumption thanks to optimized lighting and HVAC control.
- Lower energy costs through the integration of renewable energies and the use of storage systems.
- Reduction of peak loads, which leads to significant cost savings, especially in energy-intensive companies.
- Minimization of manual effort: Thanks to the fully automated control system, the need for personnel to monitor and control the building technology is reduced.
A commercial building automation system usually pays for itself quickly, as the savings from increased efficiency and the use of solar energy offset the investment costs within a few years.
Comparison of the leading providers of building control systems
There are various providers and technologies for commercial building automation, from Loxone to KNX and Siemens. We take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of the most important solutions and discuss their interfaces for energy management systems such as wallboxes, storage systems and inverters.
1 Loxone: Flexible and future-proof for commercial properties - regardless of size
In recent years, Loxone has established itself as one of the leading providers of building automation in the commercial sector. The system enables the complete integration of all important building functions in a single control solution. A particularly strong argument in favor of Loxone is the simple integration of interfaces that have been specially developed for energy management systems.
Loxone offers seamless integration of:
- Keba Wallbox and Amtron Wallbox for the charging management of electric cars.
- storage systems such as E3/DC to increase the efficiency of photovoltaic systems.
- Solar Log, a solution for monitoring solar systems in order to optimize energy consumption.
- inverters from Sungrow and Huawei, which can be integrated into the Loxone system in combination with storage systems to intelligently control solar energy production.
Strengths of Loxone
- Versatile interfaces: Loxone can be easily connected to many common energy management systems such as wallboxes, storage systems and inverters.
- Complete building automation: Whether lighting, heating, air conditioning or security systems, Loxone offers a holistic solution.
- Ease of use: Control via the Loxone app is intuitive and makes it possible to monitor all systems from anywhere.
- Scalability: Loxone is suitable for both small commercial properties and large installations.
- Energy efficiency: By integrating wallboxes and inverters, energy management can be optimized and energy costs reduced.
Weaknesses of Loxone
- New on the market: As Loxone is still relatively new on the market compared to established standards such as KNX, there may be fewer specialist companies with in-depth expertise.
2 KNX: The proven industry standard
KNX is a globally recognized standard for building automation that supports a wide range of manufacturers and products. KNX is particularly popular in large commercial projects as it offers a high degree of flexibility and modularity.
Strengths of KNX
- Manufacturer independence: KNX offers a wide range of products from different manufacturers.
- Reliable and proven: KNX has been the industry standard for building automation for many years.
Weaknesses of KNX
- Complex implementation: The configuration and installation of KNX systems requires specialized expertise, which increases the effort involved and the susceptibility to errors.
- Rigid structure: Although KNX is modular, it is not as flexible and easily scalable as newer systems. Adaptations or retrofits are often time-consuming.
3. desigo (Siemens Building Technologies): For large buildings
With Siemens Desigo, Siemens offers a comprehensive solution for building control that has been specially developed for large commercial properties. With the Desigo system, Siemens focuses primarily on the integration of energy systems and offers a wide range of HVAC control systems.
Strengths of Desigo
- Scalable and robust: Ideal for very large and complex building structures.
- Efficient HVAC integration: The strong focus on HVAC and security solutions makes Desigo particularly suitable for energy-intensive buildings.
- Energy optimization: Strong focus on energy efficiency and sustainability.
Weaknesses of Desigo
- High complexity: Installation and configuration require very specialized expertise, especially in the integration of complex HVAC systems.
- Installation and configuration require very specialized expertise, especially in the integration of complex HVAC systems.
4 Gira: Design product
Gira is regarded as a design-oriented solution for building automation and is therefore used in modern buildings.
Strengths of Gira
- Aesthetic design: Gira products are particularly suitable for modern buildings with aesthetic requirements and offer intuitive touchscreen and app solutions.
- Security solution:The integration of access control and other security systems is a plus point for Gira.
Weaknesses of Gira
- Limited scalability: Less suitable for larger and more complex buildings.
- Design focus as a limitation: The strong focus on design can come at the expense of flexibility and functionality.
Conclusion: The optimal solution for building management of commercial properties
After analyzing the leading systems, it is clear that Loxone is one of the most flexible and future-proof solutions for companies that require comprehensive building automation. Although Loxone is relatively new on the market, the systems from Loxone stand out from the competition in a number of ways. In particular, the integration of energy-related systems is proving to be a strength. The user-friendly control system, the wide range of interfaces and the scalability make Loxone ideal for both small and large commercial properties.
While KNX and Siemens Desigo are proven systems, they often offer less flexibility and require considerably more effort to install and maintain. Gira, on the other hand, is design-oriented but functionally limited in larger projects.
Loxone offers the ideal balance of functionality, user-friendliness and energy efficiency, making it the best choice for future-proof building automation in the commercial sector.
Pictures: Infrastor GmbH, Loxone
