Building HVAC Occupancy-Based Conditioning for Energy Efficiency
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional building conditioning management systems operate on rigid schedules, leading to inefficient energy use and costs due to inaccurate occupancy assumptions, as they often assume full occupancy during business hours and neglect variations caused by shifting work hours and events.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that track users' entries and exits via mobile devices to estimate occupancy in real-time or based on historical patterns, adjusting HVAC and lighting systems accordingly, with zone-specific conditioning and the use of indoor localization techniques to determine user locations and adjust environmental settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If rigid scheduling is used for building conditioning systems, then operational simplicity is maintained, but energy efficiency deteriorates due to unnecessary conditioning during unoccupied periods
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static rigid scheduling to dynamic occupancy-based scheduling. The system continuously monitors occupancy status and dynamically adjusts HVAC operation modes (occupied/unoccupied) in real-time, allowing the building conditioning system to adapt its operation to actual occupancy conditions rather than following fixed time-based schedules
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by monitoring occupancy status and using this information to adjust conditioning operations. Occupancy sensors detect whether spaces are occupied or unoccupied, and this feedback continuously informs the HVAC control system to modify its operation, creating a closed-loop control system that responds to actual building conditions
2Reliability
If full occupancy mode is maintained during business hours, then occupant comfort is ensured, but energy consumption increases due to conditioning empty spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by conditioning only the specific zones that are actually occupied rather than conditioning the entire building uniformly. The system divides the building into multiple zones with independent occupancy detection and conditioning control, allowing different HVAC settings in occupied versus unoccupied zones, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining comfort where needed
Solution Approach 2:
The building is segmented into multiple independently controllable zones, each with its own occupancy detection and conditioning control. This segmentation allows the system to apply different conditioning strategies to different parts of the building based on local occupancy conditions, avoiding the energy waste of conditioning entire floors or zones that are unoccupied
3Loss of energy
If unoccupied mode is activated according to fixed schedules, then energy savings are achieved, but occupant comfort deteriorates when occupants are present due to delayed conditioning response
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses real-time occupancy feedback to determine when to activate occupied or unoccupied modes, replacing fixed schedule-based activation. Occupancy sensors continuously monitor presence and immediately trigger appropriate conditioning responses, ensuring that occupants are never subjected to uncomfortable conditions due to delayed system response
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a system, method, and computer program for conditioning a building environment based on occupancy estimates. In one embodiment, the method includes tracking the user's entries to and exits from the building on a mobile device associated with the user for each of a plurality of users. Entry and exit event data from the users' mobile devices are used to estimate occupancy of the building. The conditioning of the building environment is adjusted in accordance with changes in occupancy estimates. In certain embodiments, where the building has a plurality of zones, each entry and exit event may be correlated with one of the plurality of zones. Occupancy is estimated within each zone using the zone-correlated entry and exit events. Alternately, users' locations within the building may be estimated using an indoor localization technique. Each zone is then conditioned in accordance with the occupancy of the zone.