Techniques for use with vent covers of furnace ductworks are described herein. A vent cover may include a fan to actively pull air from the ductwork and into a room at least in part in response to a number of open or closed vents in ductwork to which the vent cover is connected. Active air movement through the vent cover may lower air pressure and/or temperature within the ductwork and increase airflow through heat exchangers of the furnace, thereby compensating for zones created by closed vent covers. A system may monitor factors consistent with a furnace over-temperature event, such as furnace operation, closed vent covers, high air pressure or temperature in ductwork, etc. A fan of a vent cover may be turned on to actively draw air through a vent covered by the vent cover. The fan may turn off after conclusion of at least one of the monitored factors.

Provided herein are systems and methods directed to using renewable energy sources with hot water heating systems. The system and method provide for interconnecting a single electrical heating element of a hot water heater to first and second electrical power sources. Typically, these first and second electrical power sources include a utility provided electrical power source (e.g., a fossil fuel AC power source) and a renewable energy power source. A controller selectively connects the first or second power sources.

An aspect of some embodiments of the current invention relates to an integrated system for heat distribution among a plurality of users. In some embodiments, the system includes a separate automatic control of heat distribution to each user and/or separate billing to each user. For example, a system may supply hot fluid to a plurality of apartments in a building and/or in multiple buildings. Optionally, each apartment has separate remote controlled valves controlling flow of heated fluid to the apartment and/or a sensor sensing how much heat enters and leaves the apartment in the hot fluid. In some embodiments, a processor controls the valve and/or receives data from sensors. The processor optionally controls devices that generate and/or store and/or dissipate heat. Optionally the processor predicts energy availability, costs and needs controls valves and/or devices to provide for predicted and/or unexpected needs while reduce cost of the energy.

Systems and methods are provided for adaptive flow across multiple water heaters. The system may include a plurality of water heaters provided in a cascaded arrangement, with each of the water heaters including a valve. The valves may be, for example, motorized isolation valves that may be automatically closed and/or opened by one or more controllers associated with the water heaters. This may allow for the system to automatically regulate the flow rate through each of the water heaters to provide for optimal usage of the cascaded water heaters. For example, if it is determined by the one or more controllers (based on sensor data from the water heaters) that a flow rate has decreased below a threshold value for a giving water heater firing rate, one or more valves may be closed such that fewer water heaters are used and the flow rate is increased.

One example aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a water heater. The water heater can include a control device configured to control a setting of the water heater. The water heater can include a wireless circuit configured to communicate via a first network. The water heater can include an RJ-45 port. The water heater can include a communication bus. The communication bus can be coupled to the control device, the wireless circuit, and the RJ-45 port.

A weather forecast-based fluid heating control system having at least one hot fluid delivery point, the control system including a controller adapted to control a fluid supply to a setpoint temperature, a means for obtaining the forecasted air temperature at a future time of the location of the control system and a means for obtaining the current air temperature at a current time of the location of the control system. The setpoint temperature of the fluid supply is adjusted by an adjustment amount if the difference between the forecasted air temperature of the location of the control system and the current temperature at the current time of the location of the control system exceeds a pre-determined threshold.

The claimed invention provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional gas boilers, specifically the claimed invention provides a boiler that uses microwaves as a means to heat water within a boiler system. Preferably the water enters the boiler via one or more spray nozzles to produce a plurality of droplets or mist, which is then heated when they are exposed to the generated microwaves within the boiler.

The claimed invention provides an eco-friendly alternative to traditional gas boilers, specifically the claimed invention provides a boiler that uses microwaves as a means to heat water within a boiler system. Preferably the water enters the boiler via one or more spray nozzles to produce a plurality of droplets or mist, which is then heated when they are exposed to the generated microwaves within the boiler.

A smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler for heating liquid with low energy consumption comprising a housing, at least one separator disposed within the housing to form a plurality of compartments, each of the at least one separator having flow passage means for liquid communication with adjacent compartment(s), a liquid inlet in a compartment disposed within the housing, a liquid outlet in a compartment disposed within the housing, a heater disposed in one of said compartments and means for moving liquid.

Wherein while hot liquid is flowing out through said liquid outlet at a compartment, fresh liquid is flowing in through said liquid inlet at a compartment to replace said hot liquid.

Wherein the liquid is movable from one compartment to another compartment, thus, changing the size/capacity of each of said compartments.

Thereby, the at least one separator preventing mixing of liquid in one compartment with liquid of adjacent compartments, and thus, saves energy.

A smart energy-saving compartmentalized storage boiler for heating liquid with low energy consumption comprising a housing, at least one separator disposed within the housing to form a plurality of compartments, each of the at least one separator having flow passage means for liquid communication with adjacent compartment(s), a liquid inlet in a compartment disposed within the housing, a liquid outlet in a compartment disposed within the housing, a heater disposed in one of said compartments and means for moving liquid.

Wherein while hot liquid is flowing out through said liquid outlet at a compartment, fresh liquid is flowing in through said liquid inlet at a compartment to replace said hot liquid.

Wherein the liquid is movable from one compartment to another compartment, thus, changing the size/capacity of each of said compartments.

Thereby, the at least one separator preventing mixing of liquid in one compartment with liquid of adjacent compartments, and thus, saves energy.