Home > Technology > Technology

Technology

While conserving energy (and helping protect the environment), the latest Metasys system also boosts your bottom line

A Win-Win Upgrade

Often, a product upgrade involves a minor tweak—just enough for users to think they are getting something new, without radically changing the product or service. And then there’s a real upgrade, one that takes an already great product or service and enhances it, creating even more value and opportunity for end users.
That’s the kind of upgrade recently undertaken by Johnson Controls for its Metasys® building management system. The Metasys system allows users to control a variety of building functions, such as air-handling systems, lighting, security and utility monitoring by way of the building’s internal network or over the Web.
Metasys


Better Management

The expansion is a dramatic upgrade over already robust previous versions, offering users:
Greater interoperability
Enhanced reliability
Improved energy management

What’s more, the new version of Metasys features a more convenient user interface and a new control engine for critical systems, as well as enhanced energy management features. The latter is especially important because the building sector accounts for 30 to 40 percent of global energy use; using the Metasys system can reduce energy costs while helping the overall environment.
For example, the latest Metasys software includes expanded support for Demand Limiting and Load Rolling. Demand Limiting predicts potential energy peaks by monitoring the building’s utility meters, then employing a flexible control strategy to defer energy-consuming loads to times of the day when energy usage is billed at lower rates. Load Rolling reduces total energy usage by temporarily turning off or resetting noncritical equipment.

Other Key Features
The new version of Metasys includes:
A new Network Control Engine with Internet Protocol-based controls and enhanced reliability for mission critical environments, such as areas where power interruption would impact health, safety or security. Ideal for controlling and monitoring laboratories, central plants and other key building systems, Metasys remains operational regardless of network connection and has a battery backup to protect essential information. Each engine is packed with features, including centralized monitoring and control, alarm and event management, data exchange, trending, energy management, scheduling and data storage.

BACnet Testing Laboratories (BTL) certification of interoperability with other BACnet compatible gear. This certification ensures interoperability of the Metasys building management system and components, such as sensors, thermostat controllers and field equipment controllers, with other BACnet devices—regardless of the manufacturer.

New visual display options for Field Equipment Controllers. This allows for monitoring and control in the field, making Metasys not only reliable but also highly convenient and efficient.