Onity today announced that Energy Products, LLC, an Authorized Onity Dealer, together with Tekplan Solutions Texas LLC, a Houston-based facility systems contractor, has completed the successful installation of Onity’s SensorStat Wireless DDC energy management system (EMS) in 500 student residences at the North College campus housing facility at Rice University in Houston, Texas.

The North College complex is comprised of two 250-room student residence buildings, known as Duncan College and McMurtry College. The university chose Onity’s EMS for the new-build construction project because it allows management to wirelessly control the lighting and HVAC in the student residences, significantly reducing energy usage and costs. Onity, one of the world’s leading providers of electronic locking and energy management solutions, is part of UTC Fire  & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

“The system’s wireless mesh technology offers savings in both new construction and retrofitted rooms,” said Eric Valentine, Energy Management Coordinator for Rice University. “The newly developed Tridium interface driver offers insight into occupancy information that has never before been available. Rice can now make intelligent decisions regarding room conditions without tenant discomfort, and students can share in the information as they work toward a more sustainable carbon footprint.”

The North College student residence buildings are designed to be the first GOLD Certified Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) facilities at Rice University and the only LEED certified student housing in the U.S.  Installation of the Wireless SensorStat DDC system was completed in July 2009. Plans are currently underway to outfit portions of Rice University’s South College campus housing facility with Onity’s SensorStat EMS as well, beginning in January 2010. The University has a total of 4,500 residences in its campus-wide student housing program.

“Prior to being chosen for this landmark project, Onity’s SensorStat Wireless DDC system went through extensive testing, where it demonstrated significant savings in comparison to competitive systems,” stated Troy Harvey, Director of Corporate Accounts for Energy Products LLC. “We are honored that Rice University chose Energy Products LLC to partner with on the first LEED certified student housing in the United States, and we are sure they will enjoy the energy savings provided by the Onity system for many years to come.”

Onity’s SensorStat Wireless DDC system is the first step in a fully integrated intelligent wireless room, and provides an array of operational benefits, including:

• 25-35 percent average reduction in energy use
• Battery powered wireless components for fast, efficient installation
• Reduced maintenance costs and extended life of HVAC equipment
• Direct digital temperature control within one degree of accuracy
• Selectable Fahrenheit or Celsius display
• Automatic or manual fan control
• Automatic changeover heat/cool operation
• Management-preferred programmable setback limits when unoccupied
• Deep setback limits for longer term vacancies
• Monitors interior and exterior doors and windows
• Room refresh cycle
• Humidity detection & control
• Freeze guard

• Easy-to-use, four-button operation with backlit LCD display

 

 North College is the “greenest” facility on the Rice University campus and is among the most energy efficient buildings in the city of Houston. In addition to Onity’s EMS, the facility features a “green roof” which holds soil and protects plant life. The Wattstopper Miro motion detector lights turn on or off according to the flow of people, and AC units power off when windows are opened. The buildings are designed to decrease energy consumption by up to 25 percent.

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Onity December 2009 press release.

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