Intelligent Power Today Magazine

News and Trends

Introducing Intelligent Power Today

Welcome to Intelligent Power Today Magazine, our publication that explores and explains the who, what, where, when, why and how of intelligent electrical devices, a collection of complex mechanical devices and sophisticated control systems used in industrial, commercial, and institutional facilities—also known as intelligent buildings.

According to the Institute for Building Efficiency, intelligent buildings use smart technologies to improve system functionality, control operating costs, and to keep building occupants safe, secure, comfortable, and, of...

Buyer's Guide

News & Trends

State of Industry

Illuminating Decisions: EPRI Lights the Way for Modern Lighting Adoption

Facility managers and operators understand the critical role lighting plays in their daily operations. Accounting for roughly 30% of a commercial building's energy load, lighting significantly impacts energy consumption and associated maintenance costs. However, focusing solely on the...

Counterfeiting Kills

Each year, the counterfeiting of well-known brands and products continues to rise, creating an even more threatening problem. Such well-known counterfeited brands, including consumer safety and critical electrical products, are estimated to be five to seven percent of world trade. The International...

Featured

Advanced protection against electromagnetic exposures and electric arc

HAZARDS AROUND While working live in the energized grid, presence of voltage around the workers requires special attention. However, live-line (live working) techniques are widely applied for decades, several accidents in the past prove that the level of safety must be improved to minimize...

Building Automation Training

Automation Standards 101

Understanding industrial and commercial automated systems

BY DONALD DUNN, International Society of Automation

To improve energy and operational efficiency, and leverage advances in smart technologies, electric power companies and other process industries are rapidly implementing automated systems.

The global industrial automation market is predicted to grow from $159.8 billion in 2012 to more than $200 billion by 2015, according to findings by IMS Research. The worldwide market for electric utility substation automation is expected to rise from $2.7 billion in 2012 to $4.3 billion in 2020.

The complexity of these automated systems—which rely on an increasingly sophisticated mix of instrumentation and control devices, computer technologies, and information networks—is expanding rapidly as well.

The challenge facing industries worldwide is effectively devising, applying, managing, and safeguarding automated systems so that they deliver on their great potential. For instance, as these extensive, mission-critical systems have multiplied so too have concerns over widespread power...

Communications

The Backbone of Building Intelligence: Network Infrastructure and Design for BAS

Building Automation Systems (BAS) rely on a robust and well-designed network infrastructure to ensure seamless communication and reliable data exchange between various building systems and devices. This article delves into the intricacies of network infrastructure for BAS, exploring different...

Energy

Optimizing Energy Consumption with Demand Response

Building Automation Systems (BAS) play a crucial role in optimizing energy consumption within buildings. However, BAS can extend their reach beyond individual buildings and contribute to the stability and efficiency of the entire power grid. This is achieved through Demand Response (DR) programs,...

HVAC

Cloud-Based BAS: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Considerations for Remote Management

Cloud-Based BAS: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Considerations for Remote Management The traditional model of building automation systems (BAS) has involved on-premises servers, software installations, and localized data storage. Cloud-based solutions are disrupting this model, offering the potential...