Buildings that are over 30 years old typically had a pneumatic HVAC control system installed originally. While these systems are robust, they offer little in the way of performance monitoring and optimization, and they are increasingly difficult to maintain.
Pneumatic controls have been replaced with Direct Digital Controls (DDC) that employ computers, software and networks to control building systems. First generation systems were difficult to program, limited in communication speed, and very proprietary. Now in their fourth generation, DDC systems have taken advantage of advances in technology to improve the ease of use and programming, functionality, and speed. At the same time, use of the customer's LAN or WAN for DDC communication has created new risks to corporate network and data security that requires proactive management.
Today, building owners have a wide range of building control options. A market that was
traditionally dominated by four manufacturers now includes over a dozen competitors and hundreds of independent, local installing contractors. Integration of other systems, such as lighting control and security, enables better building performance. The opportunities to improve comfort, productivity and energy efficiency have never been better.
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