An HVAC controller may wirelessly communicate with a mobile wireless device that provides a user interface for interacting with the HVAC controller. In some cases, the communication module wirelessly receives a sensed parameter from a remote wireless sensor in a living space of the building and receives a wired input from a return air sensor. A controller may be operatively coupled to the communication module and may control the HVAC system based at least in part on the sensed parameter from the remote wireless sensor when the sensed parameter from the remote wireless sensor is available and, in some cases, control the HVAC system based at least in part on the return air parameter when the sensed parameter from the remote wireless sensor is not available.

A heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system actuator including a stator magnet and a rotor magnet. The rotor magnet turns an axle connected to an airflow door such that rotation of the axle moves the door and generates waveforms. The number of waveforms generated corresponds to how much the axle has rotated. The stator magnet is magnetized to a saturated state, thereby providing the waveforms with a consistent shape that is consistently detectable by a climate control pulse count module.

Examples disclosed herein relate to an energy device including a memory, one or more processors, a transceiver, a display, and a dashboard. The memory includes one or more energy modules. The one or more processors are configured to communicate via the transceiver with one or more energy devices. The display is configured to display a dashboard of energy options based on one or more signals received from the one or more processors.

An apparatus and method controls an environmental control system to maintain a differential pressure between a room and one or more adjacent areas by (1) determining a differential pressure error based on the differential pressure and a differential pressure set point using a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller; (2) increasing an air change per hour set point whenever one or more first parameters are satisfied; (3) decreasing the air change per hour set point whenever one or more second parameters are satisfied; and (4) sending one or more control signals to the environmental control system that maintain the differential pressure between the room and the one or more adjacent areas by adjusting: (a) the leading airflow to be approximately equal to the air flow change set point multiplied by a volume of the room divided by 60, and (b) the tracking airflow to maintain a volume differential set point.

A method and apparatus for providing equipment maintenance are disclosed. For example, the method receives data that is captured by at least one sensor deployed at a location, wherein the data is associated with at least one parameter, receives atmospheric data for the location, monitors the at least one parameter of the equipment and the atmospheric data for the location, determines for the at least one parameter, whether an update to a risk measure associated with the equipment is needed, when a deviation from a baseline is detected that is greater than a threshold for a maximum deviation from the baseline, performs the update to the risk measure associated with the equipment, when the update to the risk measure associated with the equipment is needed, and generates a ticket for a remedial action based on the risk measure, when the risk measure triggers the scheduling of the remedial action.

Listed are some of this invention's unique features for producing a healthier home and a safer clothes dryer vent within the same housing system, which may be installed within a typical wall system or as a free-standing unit in a laundry room.

Included are two airflow receiving ports that accepts airflow from a clothes dryer or optionally from a house's interior rooms and two airflow exhaust ports that discharge the same airflow into an exhaust pipe to the outside or optionally into the building interior as recycled airflow.

A drainage device removes water derived from condensate which forms in the exhaust pipe and otherwise flows back into the housing.

Two (2) receiving ports and the two (2) exiting ports combine to provide four (4) combinations of airflow management.

The choice of which of the four (4) airflow ports are activated for airflow passage is subject to a selection from a control system which contains switches for the desired airflow management thru the housing.

Additionally, the control system contains monitors and sensors to indicate unsafe temperatures, air pressure changes or filter blockage within the housing.

A shutdown mechanism within the control system stops the airflow exhaust fan and stops the clothes dryer to provide an additional measure of safety.

Included in the invention is a multi-filter filtration system that includes filters that block lint particulate from a clothes dryer and block indoor pollutants comprising pre-filters, True HEPA filters, with activated carbon filters and air cleaners to meet EPA Indoor Air Quality Standards and MERV Ratings.

A multi-speed airflow exhaust fan moves airflow in thru the receiving ports, thru the multi-filters and out thru the exiting ports. Additionally, within the housing, access openings with removable windows provide internal inspections and accessibility.

In conclusion the elements of this invention combine to improve the efficiency and safety of a clothes dryer's exhaust system and improve the indoor air quality of a home or commercial building.

Enhancements of and to cell phone operations are based in whole or in part on determining the location of the cell phone. Systems and methods select and determine locations or areas of importance or relevance, and based on that information and other programmed factors affect or alter the operations of the cell phone. While the systems and methods are illustrated by use of cell phone embodiments and applications, they are equally applicable to virtually any portable or mobile communication device, including for example, wireless laptop computers and PDAs.

Provided are an installation guide system for an air conditioner and a method of using the same. The installation guide system for an air conditioner may include a memory that stores at least one image for a building in which an air conditioner installed, and a display providing a user interface to design a disposition of the air conditioner in the building. The user interface may include a first region that provides a recommended configuration of indoor units to be installed based on a type of an indoor unit of the air conditioner or load information for a prescribed room in which the indoor unit is installed. The user interface may also include a second region that displays the stored image of the building and a graphical image for the indoor units in the image of the building based on the recommendations provided in the first region.

Provided are an installation guide system for an air conditioner and a method of using the same, including a display that displays a user interface for designing an installation for an air conditioner, a memory that stores at least one image for a building, and a controller to control a display of the stored images on the user interface. The user interface may include a first region that displays information with respect to a plurality of recommended configurations of the air conditioner including configuration of plurality of tubes that connect an outdoor unit to at least one indoor unit, and a second region that displays one of the stored images for a building and including a display of the outdoor unit, the indoor unit and the plurality of tubes The displayed image may be configured based on a selected recommended configuration of the air conditioner selected in the first region.

A heat and energy recovery ventilation unit for a building, having an inside and an outside. The unit including a main body having a fresh air inlet and an indoor air outlet on one side and a fresh air outlet and an indoor air inlet on the other side and having an air to air heat exchanger within the main body and connected to each of said inlets and outlets to define respective air flow passageways for each of said indoor air and said fresh air, the heat exchanger permitting heat and energy exchange between said indoor air and said fresh air. Also included is a first variable speed blower and a second variable speed blower and at least one electronic air flow sensor to measure at least one of the air flows the air flow sensor producing at least one electronic signal related to the sensed air flow. Also included is a controller for receiving the data signal, the controller using the data signal to control at least one of the variable speed blowers to provide a balanced fresh air inflow and indoor air outflow through the ventilation unit. A method of operating the unit is also disclosed.