Thermostat Setpoint Scoring Interface for Energy Usage Feedback
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional HVAC systems lack feedback to users regarding the environmental impact and performance of user-input temperature setpoints, limiting user understanding and energy efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A control system that includes a user interface, temperature sensor, and processing circuit to compare user-preferred temperature setpoints with measured air temperatures, project energy usage, generate user comfort and overall scores, and present a setpoint scoring interface, suggesting alternative setpoints for reduced energy consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If conventional thermostats allow users to set temperature setpoints, then user comfort control is improved, but users lack feedback on energy usage and environmental impact
Solution Approach 1:
The thermostat introduces multiple feedback mechanisms including real-time energy usage display, projected energy consumption for selected setpoints, comfort scoring, and environmental impact feedback. This allows users to see the direct consequences of their temperature selections and make informed decisions about energy consumption while maintaining comfort control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary processing layer that calculates and presents energy usage projections, comfort scores, and environmental impact metrics between the user's setpoint selection and the actual HVAC control. This intermediary provides the missing information feedback without directly controlling the temperature adjustment.
2Loss of energy
If the thermostat provides detailed energy usage information and scoring, then user awareness and energy efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control system is segmented into distinct functional modules: energy usage calculation module, comfort scoring module, projected energy projection module, and user interface module. Each module handles a specific aspect of the complex functionality, making the overall system more manageable and maintainable despite the increased capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The thermostat is designed as a multi-functional device that not only controls temperature but also calculates energy usage, generates comfort scores, projects future energy consumption, displays environmental impact, and provides educational information. This universal approach consolidates multiple functions into a single device rather than requiring separate systems.
3Loss of information
If the thermostat calculates projected energy usage and comfort scores for setpoints, then user decision-making is improved, but processing requirements and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of energy usage projections and comfort scores before the user finalizes their setpoint selection. By pre-calculating these metrics for various potential setpoints, the system provides users with informed decision-making information in advance, reducing the need for complex real-time processing during the selection moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter presentation by converting raw energy consumption data into meaningful metrics like comfort scores, projected energy usage, and environmental impact ratings. This transformation of parameters makes complex processing outputs more interpretable for users without requiring additional complex processing.
Data Source
AI summary
A control system for a HVAC system includes a user interface configured to present information to a user and receive inputs from the user, a temperature sensor configured to measure an air temperature inside of the building space, and a processing circuit. The processing circuit is configured to receive a user-preferred temperature setpoint, compare the user-preferred temperature setpoint to the measured air temperature, project an energy usage amount for the user-preferred energy setpoint, generate a user comfort score for the user-preferred energy setpoint, generate an overall score for the user-preferred temperature setpoint, and present, by the user interface, the user with a setpoint scoring interface including the overall score.