On 23 November, we participated in KNX Day 2018 at the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari in Modena, a sold-out edition that was filled to the brim with ideas and trends regarding the latest frontiers of integration in the residential and professional spheres.
KNX Day is an annual event organized by KNX Italia, the association that unites companies and professionals that adopt and support one of the most-used (perhaps the most-used) protocols for building automation. Historically, the event has an educational spirit that is combined with social opportunities (useful for good business) and the essential Awards, which celebrate the best installations in recent months.
As always, the conference—which this year focused on the topics of wellbeing and energy—was opened by the President of KNX Italia, Massimo Valerii, who highlighted the event’s broad attendance and announced some important messages. “Today, building automation technology is much more well-known than in the past, thanks not only to the activities of our association but
also to the consolidating work of the biggest global players in the sector, as well as increased awareness on the part of designers and installers. And let’s not forget building awareness among new generations: now more than ever, technical institutes are displaying interest for the KNX standard and we are multiplying courses for students”, added the President. These highly- satisfying results are destined to increase in 2019 with a series of initiatives expressly dedicated to the scholastic sector.
Among the aspects to be cultivated is teamwork between various associations and institutions that revolve around automation. “The agreement we made with AiCARR, the trade organization for climate control that represents over 2,400 entities including companies, technicians and other figures involved in the technological evolution of smart building, for example, is a step in this direction”, explains Valerii.
Conference and awards
The quality of living was the morning’s mantra, characterized by five speeches. Francesca Romana d’Ambrosio, President of AiCARR, spoke about thermo-hydrometric wellbeing and air quality, while HCL dynamic lighting and visual comfort were the topics of Fabio Pagano, Technical Manager at Assil (Associazione Nazionale Produttori Illuminazione). Designer Alberto Fabbro also spoke about comfort, considered as “Not a defined concept but rather a process in continual evolution”. After having mapped out the smart home market – an estimate of 250 million euro in 2017 – Giorgia De Bernardi, a researcher at the IoT Observatory at the Politecnico di Milano, went in- depth into voice assistants. The topic was taken up once more at the end of the day by Diego Pastore, KNX Italia Educational Coordinator, with his speech “The Voice Assistant with KNX: KNX IoT”, on the interaction between voice systems and the Internet of Things from KNX.
In the afternoon, the second key moment of KNX Day 2018 was held: the awards ceremony for the best 8 automation projects created using KNX standards. Closing out the day in style was a thrilling visit to the Museo Casa Enzo Ferrari, filled with “Reds” of old and new design.
KNX Awards 2018
BEST PROJECT FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Winner: Ubaldo Locicero – Locicero Domotica
Project: Smart home Salerno
BEST KNX SOCIAL PROJECT
Winner: Giovanni Del Zanna – iTedo
Project: Montemartini 4 (Social Co-op Farmhouse and Library)
BEST PROJECT FOR HOSPITALITY FACILITIES
Winner: Giorgio Quasso – CM Impianti
Project: Villa Prato Hotel
BEST PROJECT FOR PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Winner: Franco Giovanazzi – Bertolini Ocea
Project: San Giovanni di Mezzolombardo Health Clinic
BEST NATIONAL PROJECT
Winner: Giuseppe Calcagno – Studio Tecnico Calcagno
Project: Casa attiva di Galliate
SPECIAL MENTION FOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
Winner: Daniele Zerbin – DZ Impianti
Project: Servola Water Treatment Plant
SPECIAL MENTION FOR MOST ORIGINAL PROJECT
Winner: Mauro Martinelli – Domotica Trentina
Project: Mas dei Gemoi
SPECIAL MENTION FOR SCHOOLS AND TECHINICAL INSTITUTIONS
Winner: Alice Boldrin – Life 3 e Liceo Fermi di Padova
Project: A home for Grandma Licia – Technology in the service of the elderly
