A system and method of monitoring the performance of an HVAC system including a controller in communication with an HVAC unit where the method includes monitoring environmental conditions using a controller. Environmental conditions, such as indoor air temperature, indoor humidity and outdoor temperature are measured and used to compute performance parameters that help diagnose HVAC performance problems. The rate of change of indoor air temperature (IATR) and rate of change of indoor humidity (IDHR) are computed and used to determine the sensible heat ratio of the cooling system. The sensible heat ratio, which may or may not be adjusted for transient startup, is used in concert with product performance data, indoor air temperature, indoor humidity, and outdoor air temperature to determine cooling system airflow.

Techniques for energy management including enrollment using verification technology. In some implementations, a computing device receives applicant data to execute an enrollment application for an applicant applying for a particular energy management program. The computing device receives grid operator data from a grid operator to verify against the applicant data. The computing device determines whether the applicant data verifies to the grid operator data. The computing device generates an enrollment recommendation that corresponds to the applicant for the particular energy management program in response to determining whether the applicant data verifies to the grid operator data. The computing device provides the enrollment recommendation to a grid operator for review of whether to accept or reject the applicant to the particular energy management program.

This invention relates to methods and systems for limiting consumption, particularly power consumption, more particularly by appliances in a building, and is generally suitable for integration with building management systems. Embodiments of the invention provide arrangements in which the aggregated power load of a plurality of appliances is capped to a selected value (which may be arbitrary, or may be dictated by conditions) while seeking to minimize the deviation from target environmental conditions within the building through a combination of distributed decision making by the appliances themselves and centralized orchestration, which may be informed by real-time sensor readings and/or known properties of the building. The distributed decision-making by individual devices may be based on projected deviation from the target conditions after a period of activity or inactivity but with a central controller which determines which devices should be switched on.

A setting facilitation apparatus (1400) includes a keyword input reception section (1410), a control command selection section (1420), and a specific control registration section (1430) and is used to facilitate setting of specific control in a control system (1001) that controls a control device through sound inputs. The keyword input reception section (1410) receives an input of information corresponding to a keyword. The control command selection section (1420) displays a certain control command to the control device (1010, 1020) on an edit screen (G) and receives selection of the control command. The specific control registration section (1430) registers a keyword (K) input by the keyword input reception section (1410) and the control command selected by the control command selection section (1420) to a specific control (DB 1104T) while associating the keyword and the control command with each other.

A setting facilitation apparatus (1400) includes a keyword input reception section (1410), a control command selection section (1420), and a specific control registration section (1430) and is used to facilitate setting of specific control in a control system (1001) that controls a control device through sound inputs. The keyword input reception section (1410) receives an input of information corresponding to a keyword. The control command selection section (1420) displays a certain control command to the control device (1010, 1020) on an edit screen (G) and receives selection of the control command. The specific control registration section (1430) registers a keyword (K) input by the keyword input reception section (1410) and the control command selected by the control command selection section (1420) to a specific control (DB 1104T) while associating the keyword and the control command with each other.

Systems and methods of using active infrared (AIR) sensors to map a room of a home or building and determine whether an external portal (e.g., window and/or door) of the room is open or closed are provided. In particular, the systems and methods include outputting infrared (IR) light from an IR light source of an active infrared (AIR) sensor, receiving reflected IR light with a light sensor, and determining, with a processor coupled to the light sensor, whether a window of a room is open according to the received reflected IR light.

An HVAC system for a multi-unit building having a riser stack in flow communication with a single unit HVAC system. The single unit HVAC system has a first heat exchanger thermally connected to the riser stack, a second heat exchanger thermally connected to a fluid distribution system within the unit, and a closed loop fluid flow path extending between the first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger exchanges heat between a riser stack fluid in the riser stack and the closed loop fluid in the closed loop fluid flow path and the second heat exchanger exchanges heat between the closed loop fluid and a distribution fluid of the fluid distribution system.

An HVAC system for a multi-unit building having a riser stack in flow communication with a single unit HVAC system. The single unit HVAC system has a first heat exchanger thermally connected to the riser stack, a second heat exchanger thermally connected to a fluid distribution system within the unit, and a closed loop fluid flow path extending between the first and second heat exchangers. The first heat exchanger exchanges heat between a riser stack fluid in the riser stack and the closed loop fluid in the closed loop fluid flow path and the second heat exchanger exchanges heat between the closed loop fluid and a distribution fluid of the fluid distribution system.

Disclosed is a system and method for control of in-door ventilation in a building having a series of rooms separated by walls. The system includes: at least one air treatment device arranged to treat the air; a plurality of fan units, including a fan and at least one sensor; and a central computing device adapted to collect data from the sensors and control the fans. Each wall is provided with an opening, the fan units are disposed in the openings to provide an air flow transporting air from the first room through the series of rooms to the last room and then back to the first room, and the air treatment device is disposed to treat the air.

An air conditioning device includes a duct module and a heat exchange module. The duct module includes a temperature control unit disposed at a second region of the duct module, a first air flow guide unit disposed between a first region and the second region of the duct module, and a first liquid energy conducting element disposed at the first region of the duct module. The heat exchange module has a delivery duct, an accommodating case, a driver unit, a second air flow guide unit, a heat exchanger and a second liquid energy conducting element. The driver unit drives condensed water to pass through the delivery duct. The second air flow guide unit provides an air flow to the heat exchanger for exhausting waste heat. The second liquid energy conducting element performs heat exchange to cool down.