Siemens Smart Infrastructure has launched Connect Box, an open and easy-to-use IoT solution designed to manage small and medium-sized buildings.
As the latest addition to the Siemens Xcelerator portfolio, Connect Box offers a user-friendly way to monitor building performance, with the promise of up to 30 percent energy efficiency optimization that can dramatically improve indoor air quality in small and medium-sized buildings such as schools, retail stores, apartments or small offices.
Siemens Xcelerator is an open digital business platform that helps users to be able to drive large-scale digital transformation faster and more easily.
Connect Box allows users to complete basic day-to-day building management tasks through a cloud-based interface, eliminating the need for additional gateways or software. Potential problem alerts and historical trending charts provide information on building performance at all times, helping to optimize building operations efforts.
Users can access Connect Box online from a computer or cell phone, making operation very intuitive. Installation is easily accomplished through plug-and-play, and system integrators, technicians and facility managers require little skill to install, configure and operate the system.
The system comes with a library covering more than 500 plug-and-play field devices, with a steady stream of new devices being supplied by Siemens and third parties. The Smart Converter supports 11 communication protocols, including standard protocols, proprietary protocols, wired and wireless, such as LoRaWAN, BACnet, Modbus and KNX.
Siemens' recently introduced IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) multi-sensor can be used as a plug-and-play solution with the Connect Box to provide vital data on indoor air quality. The multi-sensor measures air quality in real time, checking key indicators such as temperature and humidity, CO2 saturation, VOC and PM2.5 emissions, as well as light and noise levels (dBA). Transparency of air quality in buildings benefits building operators by safeguarding the healthy environment they provide to tenants, visitors or employees.
Connect Box offers two licensing models. Cloud licensing allows users to store building data in the Connect Box online database, while on-premise licensing lets users easily integrate data collected from wired and IoT devices into existing automation systems, building management systems, or external clouds. Both can be managed remotely and updated wirelessly.
Even for small and medium-sized buildings that have not used building automation until now, operating in an energy-efficient and climate-neutral manner is becoming increasingly important. This is partly for inherent cost reasons, but also because of the increasing number of regulatory requirements that must be met for sustainable operation. In Europe, for example, the EPBD (Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) is supporting the EU's goal of achieving climate-neutral operation of buildings by 2050 and is forcing building owners and operators to take action.
From a technology perspective, IoT-based building solutions not only deliver on these demands, but even pay off: Connect Box's building management capabilities can save up to 30% in energy and emissions.