Self-powered eco-switch for hotel rooms

This card-operated wireless switch from Echoflex Solutions offers the hotel industry a solution for reducing energy waste by in unoccupied rooms.

When a guest enters a room, they insert the key card into a docking station. After the key card is inserted, a radio signal is transmitted to a controller that subsequently “energizes” the hotel room. When the key card is removed from its dock, another signal is sent that activates a time delay before disabling or setting back power-consuming amenities. Time delay can be adjusted in 30, 60, 90 and 120 second increments.

The makers claim the switch can slash hotel room energy consumption by up to 40 percent by reducing the amount of energy exhausted on lighting, heating and cooling in unoccupied rooms. Echoflex estimates that costs of installation can be recouped in energy bill savings in less than four years, not to mention the environmental benefits of using less power. As there is no wiring or networking expertise required to install the system, architects and contractors can now modernize a hotel without running wires to the controls.

The switch also provides hotels with an easy way to adhere to the ASHRAE/IESNA standard 90.1, which requires that hotel rooms feature an occupancy-based master control.

Canadian based Echoflex manufacturers wireless switches, sensors and controllers designed to reduce energy consumption for lighting, HVAC and process control. Its aim is to create products that are easily installed, programmed and maintained and minimize the use of wiring and eliminate the use of batteries. Echoflex incorporates EnOcean technology into its switches and sensors. EnOcean couples micro power generators with ultra-low power radio modules to create a solution for self-powered items such as modems, an light switches.