How to Be Green – Part 1

Part 1?

While the main focus of the blog is explaining the ins and outs of wireless energy controls, I hope to make this a series of blog posts that you can come back to and find new ways to become greener. That is why this is Part 1. I have no idea when Part 2 will come out. Let’s pray that is does…

HVAC / Hospitality

The hospitality sector is of particular interest because of the inherent cost structure. No matter how cold a customer keeps the room, no matter how many lights they leave on, and no matter how many T.V. marathons they watch, the hotel pays the electricity bill.

What is the solution? Make the customers pay for electricity? Yeah right, you will lose that battle. What about offering discounts for using less energy? That’s nicer, but the room-per-night cost isn’t that great when thinking about the average stay of a customer. You will only begin to see returns over a long period of time. And quite frankly, a customer won’t go to your hotel because you will shave a penny (or two) off their hospitality bill.

The NEW Solution

Hotels and motels are starting to pick up on behavioral science when thinking about saving money. Here is the new solution: Wireless Energy Management Controls.

For example, ILLUMRA has introduced a nifty keycard holder that is connected to the energy controls in the room. The only way to turn on the A/C unit or lights is when you are in your room – with the keycard in the keycard holder. No more wasted energy from careless tenants.

Not only is it money saving – it is green! This is what we call “mutually beneficial.” You probably won’t win any awards any time soon, but there is a huge benefit to you in using this solution.

Mechanics

The controls are wireless! How? Radio frequency from the transmitter (the keycard holder) communicates with the receiver (which acts as an ON / OFF switch for the HVAC unit). The Wireless Keycard holder is self-powered. When you insert the card into the keycard holder, there is a switch (that requires some force) that is triggered which powers the signal transmitted to the load (such as an HVAC unit or light switch). When you remove the card, the same process that turns on the load turns it off.

Final Note

What is the best thing about the setup being wireless? There is no downtime! You can install the keycard-holder setup in 30 minutes without running wires, painting, or drywalling. This eliminates a large portion of the hesitation to not upgrade the rooms.Wireless HVAC controls are king when it comes to being green and saving money.

How does a Wireless Light Switch Work?

I promised I would explain the whole thing about wireless light switches (a.k.a. a two way switch)…

You requested details about this “mysterious” and otherwise “magical” technology that is seriously misunderstood. If that describes your curiosity, please read ahead…

Wireless Technology

There are two main pieces to a wireless light switch set up: the transmitter and a receiver. These two pieces of technology are the only things that are needed in turning a standard light fixture, or load, into a wireless manifestation of the same function. 

Transmitting a Wireless Signal

In this whole thing, the transmitter is the most interesting puzzle piece. The transmitter is the device that sends a signal to the fixture to turn on and off. When you press  the light switch, this will shoot a signal via radio frequency to the receiver. The receiver will interpret that signal and turn the load off or on, depending on the opposite state of the fixture. The transmitter is the part of this wireless technology equation that is actually wireless. This is the most important thing because running a wire to a light switch is the biggest pain in installing a switch.

Powering the Transmitter

The transmitter in a wireless light switch needs to receive its power from another source. Cheaper brands solve the issue through batteries. The problem with that is that batteries run out and there is no way of knowing when it is getting close to that time.

The other two possibilities are solar power and kinetic energy. Solar power is used primarily in transmitters that are hands free, like an occupancy sensor. An self-powered occupancy sensor may still need a battery for backup, however, most of the time, the solar panel will do the trick.

The final possibility is kinetic energy. The manufacturers of the light switches create little modules inside of the switch that create some resistance when a user presses the transmitter. The force against this resistance is what create just a spark of energy – just enough energy to send one tiny little signal.

The Receiver

The receiver is the part of the setup that does require wiring. However, no additional wiring is needed. Instead, you can simply replace the old light switch with the receiver, wiring it in its place. You could also place the receiver basically anywhere in between the breaker and the load. However, it is recommended that you place them at a junction box. The receiver picks up on that RF signal and tells the light fixture to turn on or off. 

Conclusion

If this felt too long to read, just know this – there is a transmitter (wireless) and a receiver (wired to circuit). The transmitter is the light switch and can be placed anywhere you want in a 150 foot radius. And while the receiver is wired to the circuit, no additional wire is needed in the installation. The most typical application for this answers the question, “How to move a light switch?”

Easiest Way to Install a Three-Way Switch

I get a lot of questions about what is the cheapest, quickest, and easiest way to install a three way switch. Many of you don’t know that there is more than one way to do this. Let me explain:

Traditional Method

There are few, if any, that know the proper way to install a three way light switch. More importantly, only half of those can do it in less than a day and half of that half in less than an hour. Nevertheless, the majority of my readers do now know the first thing about proper safety or good technique. Instead they rely on intuition to remove and replace drywall or run wires. What’s worse is that most of us don’t know the difference between a normal light switch wiring setup and a three way light switch setup.

Never mind posting about how to install a traditional three way light switch. I would rather you understand the other method.

Please understand that I do believe that if you are building a house from the ground up or have exposed walls (not covered by drywall) then DO NOT waste money buying into the method I am about to introduce.

Wire-free Method

I’d venture to guess that most are unaware that there is a technology that allows you to control a light fixture wirelessly. Why would you know if you don’t do this for a living? Through RF (radio frequency) you can control a light fixture from a light switch with a RF transmitter inside. All you need is a receiver that interrupts the circuit somewhere along the line (like a light switch does). This method requires no extra drilling. That’s right, because no additional wiring is necessary.

What’s more is that some manufacturers of these switches make it completely battery-less. Seriously. 

Less costly wireless switches require batteries and a good sense of patience (oftentimes the switches have a hard time communicating to the fixture). These switches cost about 35 bones.

There more expensive (and definitely more attractive) stepsister will cost you triple the price, but perform wayyyy better.

When you compare the cost benefit, the higher end wireless light switches are more reliable than a cheaper wireless light switch and cheaper than hiring an electrician.

And I am serious when I say that this light switch will take only 30 minutes to install – even if it is your first time. More on why for another discussion. The wireless three way switch is the way to go.