Connected Systems
Its now possible to do pretty much whatever you want when it comes to metering, monitoring, and home control, technically.
In terms of building services on heat networks, we have the following to consider:
- Meter reading, for charging for energy
- Prey-pay systems - requiring a means to isolate and a user interface to deal with emergency credit
- Services commissioning and monitoring - via connection to the HIU (typically RS485)
- Remote commissioning and monitoring (beyond direct wire to HIU)
- Protocols for communication
- Data volumes
- Remote fault reporting vs regular maintenance
- Network load management - via remote connection to HIU
- Data protection
- Anonymous data
- Home control and room thermostat integration
- Simplicity of use
- Support
Given all upgrades cost money generally, the question as to what features to implement becomes one of value.
In a perfect world, you have a single wall display that fulfils the standard functions of room thermostat and timer, along with the billing functions, control over the HIU, and wireless link to property for communications.
All data is thereby handled by a single platform that allows the user ultimate visibility and data protection, with just one interface to get to grips with for all services, and systems that affect energy efficiency working together.
