P4. Extending BACnet for Lighting Control and Interfacing Building Systems with Utilities > Outcomes

• Two working groups within ASHRAE SSPC 135 were created: a Lighting Applications Work Group (LA-WG) and a Utilities Interface Working Group (UI-WG). LA-WG established formal liaisons with National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA). UI-WG developed liaisons with Electric Power Research Institute (now known as EPRI) and the Institute of Electrical Installation Engineers of Japan (IEIEJ). Meetings of these working groups over the past three years resulted several proposed amendments.
  
• Two lighting control objects are expected to be approved as amendments to the BACnet standard before the end of 2003.

Multiplexer Object Type. This object allows grouping of a set of outputs to control lighting in areas such as hallways or rooms. It makes setting up a control system easier and reduces network traffic

Lighting Control (DALI) Object. This object allows dimming, switching and ramping, and will be ompatible with the emerging DALI standard for digital electronic ballasts.

• Two new objects recently went through a public review. Accumulator Object and Pulse Converter Object. Together these two objects meet most of the needs of both US and international participants in providing a simple functionality to allow building control systems to read the pulse from an electric utility meter. This in turn provides billing and power management capabilities to the building control system.
  
• Work is progressing on three additional topics that have not been submitted for approval by SSPC 135.
  
  • Load Control Object. The object allows for a command to be sent by a utility (or building master controller) to direct a building controller or equipment controller to reduce load. LCO objects can be nested to provide management flexibility and also a way to scale up to large complex systems.Load Control Object. The object allows for a command to be sent by a utility (or building master controller) to direct a building controller or equipment controller to reduce load. LCO objects can be nested to provide management flexibility and also a way to scale up to large complex systems.
  • Real Time Pricing (RTP). This is a complex topic that EPRI has been working on. NIST is working with EPRI on a demonstration of BACnet features needed to accomplish RTP.
  • Interfacing with Advance Utility Meter Features. The utility meter industry has an existing meter standard, ANSI C12.19, which has enhanced information features. The work in progress is addressing how best to interface to the meter-via what protocol and network transport.

• Integrating lighting control and utility meter interfacing into the BACnet Standard will provide a common, non-proprietary, standard communication framework for building automation systems.
  
• It will reduce the costs of supporting multiple standards within controls products, making it less expensive to provide controls in all commercial buildings.
  
• Controls in more buildings will reduce energy use and improve indoor environments.

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