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

FAQ: The Lowdown on LED Lighting

Answering 10 frequently asked questions

BY MICHAEL SCHRATZ, Dialight

Light emitting diode (LED) lighting solutions have gained significant attraction over the past few years as a safer, more efficient and more cost-effective alternative to traditional high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting sources like high pressure sodium, mercury vapor and metal halide, or even fluorescent lighting, in industrial applications.

Particularly in heavy industrial, harsh and volatile environments, like steel manufacturing, oil and gas, mining and chemical processing facilities, LED lighting can provide a more reliable and safer lighting solution than HID solutions that often fail in mere months due to excessive vibration and extreme operating conditions.

In many cases, LED lighting can deliver up to a full decade of high-performance, maintenance-free lighting that not only eliminates the time, cost and safety risk of routine lighting maintenance, but also significantly reduces energy consumption and cost.

As a result, LEDs can deliver a return on...

Communications

Cutting the Cord: Exploring Wireless Communication Protocols for BAS

Building Automation Systems (BAS) play a crucial role in modern buildings, enabling centralized control and automation of various functions like lighting, HVAC, and security. Traditionally, BAS relied on wired networks for communication between building automation devices and the central control...

Energy

Overcoming Integration Hurdles in BAS for Energy Management

Potential and Integration Challenges for Energy Optimization Building Automation Systems (BAS) hold immense promise for optimizing energy consumption in buildings. By intelligently controlling various systems, they can significantly reduce energy waste and improve overall efficiency. However, to...

HVAC

How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping HVAC Efficiency

Traditionally, HVAC control within building automation systems has relied on rule-based systems and human programmed schedules. These systems, while effective, leave significant room for further optimization. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) offers...