Temperature Control Interface for Coordinated Building Energy Savings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current load control systems lack a comprehensive solution to simultaneously manage lighting intensities, motorized window treatments, and building temperature to effectively reduce total power consumption, especially during peak demand periods, leading to increased energy costs.
Innovation Solution
A centralized load control system that includes a temperature control device with a visual display and a controller to adjust setpoint temperatures, coupled with motorized window treatments and lighting control devices, which receive digital messages to optimize energy usage by adjusting lighting intensities and window positions in response to energy-savings presets and demand response commands.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a centralized load control system adjusts lighting intensities, window treatments, and temperature settings to reduce power consumption, then energy costs and peak demand loads are reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple control functions (lighting control, window treatment control, and temperature control) into a single centralized load control system. The controller integrates these diverse functions and communicates with various subsystems through a unified digital messaging protocol, reducing overall system complexity while achieving comprehensive energy management.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller serves multiple functions simultaneously: it controls lighting intensities, adjusts window treatment positions, manages temperature settings, and processes demand response commands. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate control systems into a single universal device.
2Loss of energy
If demand response commands are implemented to shed loads during peak demand periods, then energy costs are reduced, but occupant comfort may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-cools or pre-heats spaces before anticipated peak demand periods when demand response commands are expected. By adjusting temperature settings in advance and storing thermal energy in the building structure, the system can maintain occupant comfort during peak periods while still reducing overall energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The controller dynamically adjusts lighting intensities and window treatment positions based on real-time conditions and demand response commands. Rather than applying fixed reductions, the system adapts control strategies to maintain minimum comfort thresholds while achieving energy savings during peak demand periods.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces power consumption by dynamically adjusting lighting, window treatments, and temperature settings, thereby minimizing energy costs and peak demand loads while maintaining occupant comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The room temperature visual display and the setpoint temperature visual display each comprise a linear array of light-emitting diodes
Data Source
AI summary
A wall-mountable temperature control device having a vertically-arranged temperature adjustment actuator for adjusting a setpoint temperature of a temperature control system to thus control a present temperature in a building, a room temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the present temperature of the building, and a setpoint temperature visual display for displaying a visual representation of the setpoint temperature. The room and setpoint temperature visual displays each comprising a linear array of light-emitting diodes arranged parallel to the temperature adjustment actuator and controlled such that one of the light-emitting diodes of the setpoint temperature visual display is illuminated to display the setpoint temperature in response to the actuations of the temperature adjustment actuator and one of the light-emitting diodes of the room temperature visual display is illuminated to display the present temperature.