Rental Property Energy Control Using Reservation and Entry Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Vacation rental management companies face challenges in efficiently managing energy usage across multiple properties, particularly in reducing energy consumption during unoccupied periods due to manual adjustments required from renters and staff, leading to inefficiencies and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A rental property management system that utilizes guest reservation data to automatically control energy-consuming devices such as thermostats and pool heaters by integrating electronic locks, gateways, and control devices, allowing remote management and energy optimization based on occupancy status.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If manual adjustment of energy-consuming devices is required from renters and staff, then energy consumption can be reduced during unoccupied periods, but operational complexity and labor costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic self-regulation of energy-consuming devices through occupancy detection sensors and automated control logic. The thermostat and pool heater automatically adjust their operation based on detected occupancy status without requiring manual intervention from renters or staff, thereby reducing both energy consumption and operational complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical adjustment systems with automated electronic control systems. Sensors detect occupancy and automatically trigger control signals to adjust energy-consuming devices, substituting the need for human physical intervention with an automated electromechanical system
2Loss of energy
If trained individuals are hired to manually turn off pool heaters during unoccupied periods, then energy consumption is reduced, but labor costs and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The pool heater system incorporates occupancy detection sensors and automated control logic that enable the heater to automatically turn off during unoccupied periods. This self-regulating system eliminates the need for trained individuals to manually monitor and adjust pool heater operation, reducing both labor costs and management complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the manual labor system with an automated electronic control system for pool heater management. Sensors detect occupancy status and automatically send control signals to the pool heater, substituting human intervention with an automated electromechanical control system
3Productivity
If automated control systems are implemented for energy-consuming devices, then labor costs are reduced, but device complexity and initial investment increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs a multi-functional integrated control platform that manages multiple energy-consuming devices (thermostat, pool heater) through a single automated system. This universal controller handles occupancy detection, temperature regulation, and heater control, reducing overall system complexity compared to separate control systems for each device
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary control system that acts as a mediator between occupancy sensors and energy-consuming devices. This intermediate controller processes sensor data and automatically adjusts device operation, simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing control logic and reducing direct complexity at each device level
Data Source
AI summary
Rental property management technology, in which electronic entry data for rental properties, energy related data for the rental properties, reservation data for the rental properties, and settings for energy management of the rental properties is accessed. Integrated data that includes the accessed electronic entry data, the accessed energy related data, and the accessed reservation data integrated with the accessed settings for energy management of the rental properties is stored in electronic storage. The integrated data is analyzed to determine whether energy management of the rental properties aligns with the accessed settings and accords with one or more efficiency rules. Based on the analysis, an energy management operation is performed for at least one of the rental properties.