An air conditioning system includes an air conditioning apparatus, and a controller. The air conditioning apparatus performs air conditioning of an air-conditioning target space. The controller is connectable to a plurality of types of thermostats. The controller performs communication with the thermostat connected thereto. The controller performs a performance determination process for the refrigeration cycle apparatus. The controller performs different performance determination processes according to whether a first type of thermostat is connected thereto unit or whether a second type of thermostat is connected thereto. Alternatively, the air conditioning apparatus changes a method for using information received by the controller from the thermostat according to whether being in a determination processing time over which the performance determination process is performed or in a non-determination processing time over which the performance determination process is not performed.

A method includes a system that operates according to a control schedule; detects events that indicate occupancy; stores a record of the events that indicate occupancy in one or more memory devices; and enters an auto-away state. A determination to enter the auto-away state may be based at least in part on a length of a time interval during which no events that indicate occupancy were detected and the stored record of the events that indicate occupancy. The system may also detect a pattern of instances where the auto-away state is entered over a plurality of days and adjusts the control schedule based at least in part on the pattern of instances where the auto-away state is entered.

A system and method are provided for controlling water temperature in a body of water. The temperature control system includes a processor, a user interface for receiving a desired temperature and a desired time for reaching the desired temperature, a sensor interface for receiving sensor information from one or more sensors, and an actuator interface for controlling a plurality of heat sources. The processor determines one or more optimal heat sources for heating the body of water to the desired temperature by the desired time. The processor controls the one or more optimal heat sources through the actuator interface and periodically polls the sensor interface to determine whether changes in the operating environment require additional or alternate heat sources to be activated to ensure that the body of water is heated to the desired temperature by the desired time.

A power supply for supplying a power to a heating mechanism used for heating a measurement target that emits a measurement signal includes an input device configured to output an input signal that reflects a control signal in a differentiable periodic waveform having a frequency of 1 kHz or less. The power supply includes a switching amplifier configured to amplify the input signal from the input device and output the amplified signal.

Power stealing circuitry to provide power to a controller for an environmental control system. The power stealing circuitry may include a first circuit, to steal power when a load for a stage is switched off, e.g. de-energized. The power stealing circuitry may include a second circuit, e.g., a power trickle circuit, to steal power when the load is switched on, e.g., energized. The load may include a furnace, electrical heating element, heat pump, humidifier, electrostatic filter, air conditioning unit and so on. In some examples, the environmental control system may have one or many stages, each with a separate load. The controller may include power stealing circuitry for each stage of the environmental control system. In other words, the controller may include a first circuit and a second circuit for each stage of a multi-stage environmental control system.

Aspects of the invention are directed towards a system and a method of controlling temperature of different zones inside premises based on determining an effective temperature set point. One or more dynamically sensed parameters are received from a plurality of sensors strategically placed within and outside of a building. One or more static parameters corresponding to building configurations and temperature thresholds from a memory unit are retrieved. A correlation engine determines the effective temperature set point for individual VAV controller associated with a particular pre-defined zone in the building by establishing a correlation between the one or more dynamically sensed parameters and static parameters corresponding to that zone. The effective temperature setpoint is transmitted to a VAV controller for associated zone.

A control device for a building, the control device includes a single user interface configured to receive a first signal from a first user input and a second signal from a second user input. The control device further includes a processing circuit configured to receive both the first signal and the second signal within a predetermined period of time. The processing circuit is further configured to perform a first action based on the first signal when the first signal is received before the second signal and not perform a second action in response to the second signal and perform the second action based on the second signal when the second signal is received before the first signal and not perform the first action in response to the first signal.

Methods are described for receiving from a device at a server device resource dispensing system usage information and settings and sending from the server device ecorank information, wherein the ecorank information is derived from a comparison of usage of resource dispensing systems controlled by the device in comparison to a comparison group, the comparison group comprising other resource dispensing systems controlled by other devices. The comparison group is determined based on profile information describing the dwelling, dwelling size, dwelling location, dwelling occupants, resource dispensing system technology, and related information. In some embodiments, the ecorank information may be one or more of a numerical score, percentage, graphic, icon, color, letter, and an audio item. In some embodiments, the energy consumed by the resource dispensing systems may be reported by an associated energy measurement device or estimated by heating and cooling usage hours.

An electronic thermostat replaces an electro-mechanical thermostat and is located in a different location from the blower motor it controls. The electronic thermostat controls the blower motor on the same wires from which the thermostat receives power. The safe, low voltage power supply that powers the electronic thermostat is located at the blower motor location and is housed in the Blower Motor Module (BMM). This configuration has the advantage that it removes a bulky and space consuming component from the thermostat, the A/C transformer. This also reduces the amount of power (heat) dissipated by the electronic thermostat power supply, thus reducing a source of potential temperature measurement inaccuracies. Also, removing the 120 VAC power from the thermostat and replacing it with an isolated low voltage source increases safety. This architecture also makes the necessary over the power wires communications less complex and safter, and it reduces the number of components necessary to accomplish the communication's link, and makes the link more robust and noise immune.

A system for controlling a multi-zone resistive heater. The system includes a first zone of the multi-zone resistive heater formed from a material having a negative temperature coefficient of resistivity (TCR) and configured to receive a first power to generate thermal energy. The system further includes a second zone of the multi-zone resistive heater formed from the material having the negative TCR, separated from the first zone by a gap, and configured to receive a second power to generate the thermal energy.