Below is client Dr. Karl-Heinz Froehner's January 3rd interview with Metro Green Business. Click here for the original: http://bit.ly/91wkAf
Q&A: Dr. Karl-Heinz Froehner, President of Rueste International Limited Posted By Christina Jelski of Metro Green Business
Dr. Karl-Heinz Froehner
Headquartered in Wappingers Falls, NY, Rueste International Limited offers a new, breakthrough technology that can change the way homes and businesses are wired. Unlike conventional electrical wiring systems, Rueste's N2A (Neural Network Architecture) system does not need a central controller, instead functioning as a "loop-wired system" that requires significantly less copper wire. According to Prof. Dr. Michael Braungart, founder and director of the Research Institute for the Environment in Hamburg, Germany, N2A reduces "the use of precious metals in an average installation" by up to 80 percent, and the technology increases energy efficiency by 59 to 89 percent. Providing dramatic energy cost savings, President of Rueste, Dr. Karl-Heinz Froehner, believes that N2A is the future of electrical wiring technology and shared more on the innovative system with MGB.
What are some of the problems of conventional wiring systems?
Conventional electrical building wiring has not progressed for more than 100 years. While most technologies have advanced considerably since then, the way we wire buildings and electrical devices had not changed much until recently. Conventional wiring consumes enormous amounts of copper and other materials. Conventional wiring suffers from high-energy losses, has limited flexibility, and is difficult to integrate with new energy-smart solutions.
Also, it’s nearly impossible to combine systems such as intercom, child-safety, security, lighting, and climate control without running their wiring in parallel. This situation is further aggravated by the fact that manufacturers maintain inconsistent standards, require various voltages, and use exclusive interfaces for their components, which forces home owners to install redundant wires, multiple central control boxes and power supplies to operate them.
How did the concept for N2A wiring come about? And how does the technology work?
Al Buchner, the patent holder for the N2A (Neutral Network Architecture) wiring system, developed an electronic control system, eliminating the need for sub-management such as central control boxes. Buchner’s N2A system consists of electronic components that transmit, receive, and communicate instructions to all, and virtually any, electrical devices.
The system works in a simple manner by linking a series of intelligent components over a single thin wire. Each device is individually addressed with a unique ID. Devices communicate to each other and therefore eliminate the need for computers and software. As a result, the number and length of wires supplying power are reduced to a minimum. The system also eliminates “home runs” (the need to connect wires from devices back to the controllers), further reducing the amount of wire. Finally, the single wire of the N2A system integrates multiple operating systems that are typically wired in parallel.
What are some of the advantages of an N2A wiring system? Why is it a more sustainable option than conventional wiring systems?
The most impressive impact of the N2A wiring system may be its affordability to the average income family. It reduces the amount of copper wire necessary at installation and lowers energy consumption due to heat loss and copper resistance. Furthermore, it integrates multiple systems such as intercom, fire/smoke, security, lighting, climate control and others on one wire. It improves security because the component IDs can’t be hacked or reprogrammed remotely. And its components can be serviced while the system is in operation. By eliminating central control boxes, computers, and software, the system eliminates a central breakdown-point.
Installation and configuration of the N2A system is an easy one-time operation. At every location where there is a human interface, the system is child-safe because the system uses 24VDC (SELV means Safety Extra Low Voltage). The system can be used to improve child safety by permitting individual outlets to be turned off. The system also consumes minimal electricity, and is only under power while transmitting instructions. It also allows easy integration of other low power and energy-saving applications such as LED lighting and alternative energy sources like solar power. The system has virtually unlimited expandability.
How does a homeowner go about installing this new wiring system? How much does it usually cost?
The wiring used to deliver power to electrical devices and outlets in a home is no different than a conventional installation. Any qualified electrician can perform the basic installation and can learn to install the N2A components after a short training. The N2A system works with standard “off-the-shelf” components (such as light switches and junction boxes) available in most hardware stores.
Savings in wire and labor offset the cost of installing N2A. The homeowner savings calculated by using the N2A system make it cost-neutral or less expensive, depending on the complexity of the functionality. Owners can determine what level of complexity they want without incurring additional expense and anticipated costs will average from between $3 to $7 per square foot for the components in residential or commercial buildings.
How much money can an N2A wiring system save a homeowner?
The system is offered to homeowners with sustainability in mind. It is designed to reduce initial and operating costs, energy use, and carbon footprint, and can reduce the cost of electrical installations by as much as 75 percent. Since the system provides a cost-neutral installation, there is no payback period. Operational savings using the N2A system begin immediately and in most cases owners can expect a reduction in energy losses of between 10 percent and 30 percent. Renovations will be much less costly due to reduction in renovation impact (drywall repairs, painting, etc.) and additional components can be installed without having to rewire the building—they can simply be connected to the control loop.
