University System of Maryland

Earth Networks, Inc.

Atec Corporation

Ademco Inc.

Whisker Labs, Inc.

Jungho Kim

Robert S Marshall

Christopher Dale Sloop

Michael Siemann

David Oberholzer

John W Lawler

Saeed Moghaddam

Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for optimizing and controlling a building's energy consumption and comfort. A computing device receives measurements from a plurality of sensors, at least some of which are located inside the building, where the measurements include temperature readings and comfort characteristics. The computing device generates a set of thermal response coefficients based on energy characteristics of the building, the measurements from the sensors, and weather data associated with the building's location. The computing device predicts an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather. The computing device selects minimal energy requirements of the building based on an energy consumption cost associated with the building and determines energy control points based on the energy response and the minimal energy requirements. The computing device transmits the energy control points to comfort devices in the building.

Optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building

Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building. A computing device generates thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building and weather data associated with the location of the building. The computing device an energy response for each of a plurality of different points in time based on the thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather conditions. The computing device selects minimal energy requirements based on an energy consumption cost. The computing device determines a series of temperature set points based on the corresponding energy response and the minimal energy requirements. The computing device transmits the series of temperature set points to a thermostat, which adjusts operating parameters using each series of temperature set points when a time value matches the point in time associated with each series of temperature set points.

Described herein are methods and systems, including computer program products, for optimizing and controlling the energy consumption of a building. A first computing device generates a set of thermal response coefficients for the building based on energy characteristics of the building and weather data associated with the location of the building. The first computing device predicts an energy response of the building based on the set of thermal response coefficients and forecasted weather associated with the location of the building. The first computing device selects minimal energy requirements of the building based on an energy consumption cost associated with the building. The first computing device determines one or more temperature set points for the building based on the energy response and the minimal energy requirements. The first computing device transmits the one or more temperature set points to a thermostat of the building.

A mechanism and method for directly observing data from which the thermal emissivity or absorptivity of a surface can be calculated. The invention teaches the use of a substantially planar heat-flux or heat-flow sensor employing a thermopile, to measure the rate of heat dissipation from a radiating surface thermally attached to one side of the heat-flux sensor where the radiating surface is exposed to a first temperature and where the second side of the heat flux sensor is in thermal contact with a heat source at a second higher temperature.

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College Park, MD, United States of America

Jungho Kim