HVAC control system encouraging energy efficient user behaviors in plural interactive contexts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of devices such as thermostats and light switches often operate them in an extreme manner, leading to excessive energy consumption, high costs, and environmental harm, without clear feedback on their specific behaviors contributing to these issues.
Innovation Solution
A system that provides instantaneous or delayed visual feedback, such as icons, to users indicating their responsible device operation, using relative or absolute criteria, to encourage sustainable practices and reduce energy usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users operate devices in extreme manner (e.g., very cold refrigerator temperatures, warm temperatures in winter, bright lights), then user satisfaction is improved, but energy consumption increases and environmental harm worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to users about their device operation behaviors and their environmental impact. By showing users how their extreme operations contribute to energy consumption and environmental harm, the system enables them to adjust their behaviors toward more sustainable practices while still maintaining comfort and satisfaction.
2Ease of operation
If users operate devices in extreme manner, then immediate user satisfaction is improved, but device parts life cycle is shortened resulting in excess waste
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides feedback to users about how their extreme device operations shorten the life cycle of device parts and contribute to waste. This awareness enables users to moderate their operational extremes, thereby extending device life and reducing waste while maintaining acceptable levels of user satisfaction.
3Productivity
If users are provided with detailed feedback on their device behaviors, then energy-efficient behaviors are encouraged, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically monitors user device operations, analyzes their environmental impact, and provides feedback without requiring complex user configuration or intervention. This self-service approach enables the system to encourage energy-efficient behaviors while minimizing the complexity burden on users.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and devices for controlling a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system by a thermostat are provided. Input can be received from a user via a thermostat, the input being indicative of an adjustment of an HVAC-related setting. On a real-time basis, the HVAC-related setting that is being adjusted can be compared against a feedback criterion designed to indicate a circumstance under which feedback is to be presented to the user. The circumstance can be indicative of an achievement of a HVAC-related setting of a predetermined responsibility level with respect to an energy usage of the HVAC system. Upon a real-time determination that the feedback criterion is satisfied, visual feedback can be caused to be presented to the user in real-time. The real-time feedback can include a visual icon having a visual appeal corresponding to a desirability of the satisfaction of the feedback criterion.