Building Sensor Network for Real-Time CO2 Balance Calculation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current systems for monitoring and managing consumption data in building services lack transparency, making it difficult for users to understand and reduce their CO2 footprint effectively.

Innovation Solution

A system comprising a central unit and sensor units that transmit consumption data via data technology to determine a CO2 balance, allowing for real-time tracking and analysis of individual and collective resource usage, with features like AI-driven load profile analysis and wireless communication for enhanced data processing and user feedback.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If consumption data is recorded and transmitted to a central unit, then transparency of resource usage is improved, but device complexity increases due to additional sensor units and data transmission infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransparency of consumption dataVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system divides the monitoring function into separate sensor units that can be distributed throughout the building services system. Each sensor unit independently records consumption data for specific resources (electricity, water, gas, heat) and transmits it to a central unit, allowing transparency without requiring a completely centralized complex system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sensor units are designed to be multi-functional, capable of recording different types of consumption data (electricity, water, gas, heat) and transmitting them through a unified data transmission interface to the central unit. This universal design reduces overall system complexity by using standardized components rather than specialized devices for each resource type.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Loss of information

If CO2 balance calculation is performed based on consumption data, then environmental impact visibility is improved, but data processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveCO2 footprint transparencyVSAvoiddata processing power
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary data collection and transmission at the sensor unit level, preparing consumption data in advance for centralized CO2 balance calculation. The central unit receives pre-processed consumption data from multiple sensor units and calculates the CO2 balance, distributing the processing workload and reducing peak data processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The central unit acts as an intermediary between the distributed sensor units and the CO2 balance calculation function. It receives consumption data from various sensor units, aggregates the data, and performs the CO2 balance calculation, mediating the data flow and processing requirements between data collection points and analysis functions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4212827A1System for recording consumption data of a building-related device for determining a co2 balance
Publication Date: 2023.07.19 CLEVER HOME LABS GMBH
  • EP4212827A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4212827A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4212827A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

In order to improve a system for recording consumption data of a building technology facility, wherein the system comprises a central unit and at least one first sensor unit for recording at least part of the consumption data, wherein the at least one first sensor unit is connected to the central unit for data transmission of the determined consumption data, in such a way that the CO2 footprint can be transparently displayed to a consumer in order to enable targeted reduction, it is proposed that the system be designed to determine a CO2 balance of the building technology facility based on the consumption data transmitted to the central unit.