An environmental control system is provided and includes equipment to generate an environmental control effect, a damper associated with a zone to control a portion of the environmental control effect permitted to affect the zone by assuming one of various damper positions and a capacity controller operably coupled to the equipment and the damper to control operation of the equipment and to adjust the damper to assume the one of the various damper positions based on a demand of the zone and a capacity of the equipment.

A method of defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises defrosting an energy recovery ventilator unit. The method comprises activating a defrost process of an enthalpy-exchange zone of the energy recovery ventilator unit when an air-flow blockage in the enthalpy-exchange zone coincides with a frost threshold in the ambient environment surrounding the energy recovery ventilator unit. The method also comprises terminating the defrost process when a heat transfer efficiency across the enthalpy-exchange zone returns to within 10 percent of a pre-frosting heat transfer efficiency wherein, the heat transfer efficiency is proportional to a temperature difference between an intake air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and a supply air zone of the energy recovery ventilator divided by a temperature difference between an return air zone of the energy recovery ventilator and the intake air zone.

An air conditioner connection system includes an air conditioner having a first device connected via a power line in a communication-capable manner, and a second device capable of performing radio communication with the air conditioner. The air conditioner includes an authentication process control unit that controls the first device to perform an authentication process when a starting request of the authentication process for performing power carrier communication is received from the second device, the first device includes an authentication process unit that performs the authentication process under the control of the air conditioner, and the second device includes an authentication start process unit that transmits the starting request of the authentication process to the air conditioner.

An air conditioning apparatus including a storage unit that stores therein a setting table in which a schedule of an air conditioning operation for one week is set, and a control unit that executes operation control according to the schedule in the setting table, the air conditioning apparatus including a remote controller that sets operation information of a target time slot as a part of one week, and a temporary storage unit that temporarily stores therein the set operation information of the target time slot, wherein the control unit executes operation control based on the operation information of the target time slot stored in the temporary storage unit in priority to the schedule in the setting table.

A model predictive control system is used to optimize energy cost in a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) system. The VRF system includes an outdoor subsystem and a plurality of indoor subsystems. The model predictive control system includes a high-level model predictive controller (MPC) and a plurality of low-level indoor MPCs. The high-level MPC performs a high-level optimization to generate an optimal indoor subsystem load profile for each of the plurality of indoor subsystems. The optimal indoor subsystem load profiles optimize energy cost. Each of the low-level indoor MPCs performs a low-level optimization to generate optimal indoor setpoints for one or more indoor VRF units of the corresponding indoor subsystem. The indoor setpoints can include temperature setpoints and/or refrigerant flow setpoints for the indoor VRF units.

A building management system includes a building efficiency improvement system and method configured to monitor and control subsystems and equipment for improved efficiency of operation. A user device is configured to display a user interface for monitoring and controlling one or more building equipment efficiency parameters and settings. The building efficiency management system further includes a controller configured to collect and analyze data from equipment, generate displays of the operational status and efficiency levels, generate sets of alternative equipment control algorithms based on efficiency objectives, and present users with a set of alternative equipment control algorithms displayed via graphic user interface elements on the user device. The user device further provides a means to select and implement an alternate equipment control algorithm. The controller is further configured to receive inputs from the user device commanding changes to equipment controls and process transactions associated with changes to equipment configuration.

A building management system includes a building efficiency improvement system and method configured to monitor and control subsystems and equipment for improved efficiency of operation. A user device is configured to display a user interface for monitoring and controlling one or more building equipment efficiency parameters and settings. The building efficiency management system further includes a controller configured to collect and analyze data from equipment, generate displays of the operational status and efficiency levels, generate sets of alternative equipment control algorithms based on efficiency objectives, and present users with a set of alternative equipment control algorithms displayed via graphic user interface elements on the user device. The user device further provides a means to select and implement an alternate equipment control algorithm. The controller is further configured to receive inputs from the user device commanding changes to equipment controls and process transactions associated with changes to equipment configuration.

In one embodiment, a system includes an inlet grid configured to reduce distortion of an incoming airflow. The system may also include a vibration device coupled to the inlet grid and a controller communicatively coupled to the vibration device. The controller may transmit a vibration signal to the vibration device causing the vibration device to vibrate the inlet grid such that the inlet grid resonates at a natural frequency inducing a mode shape in the inlet grid. The mode shape may break up and prevent ice on the inlet grid.

A system for remote diagnostic analysis of a heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system is provided. The system includes a thermostat in operable communication with at least one peripheral component of the HVAC system and configured to receive information relating to the at least one peripheral component, and a server in operable communication with the thermostat for receiving and analyzing the information. The server causes the at least one peripheral component to conduct a diagnostic test and analyzes the test result to perform a root cause analysis of a system malfunction.

A system for remote diagnostic analysis of a heating, ventilation and air condition (HVAC) system is provided. The system includes a thermostat in operable communication with at least one peripheral component of the HVAC system and configured to receive information relating to the at least one peripheral component, and a server in operable communication with the thermostat for receiving and analyzing the information. The server causes the at least one peripheral component to conduct a diagnostic test and analyzes the test result to perform a root cause analysis of a system malfunction.