Virtual Energy Audit System for Building Efficiency Diagnostics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional energy audits for buildings are costly, time-consuming, and often yield inconsistent results due to the need for physical inspections and complex data analysis, deterring building managers from implementing energy-efficient retrofits despite potential cost-effectiveness.
Innovation Solution
A virtual energy audit system utilizing a database, analytics server, and predictive models to analyze building-specific data, weather data, and energy usage patterns, generating diagnostics and recommendations for improving energy efficiency without on-site surveys or extensive data collection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional energy audits are conducted using physical walk-throughs and on-site surveys, then measurement precision and reliability of energy diagnostics are improved, but loss of time and loss of substance (cost) increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual replica of the physical energy audit process by collecting and analyzing existing building data (utility bills, weather data, building characteristics) to generate energy diagnostics without requiring physical on-site surveys. This digital copy approach eliminates the need for auditors to physically visit buildings while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through sophisticated data analysis algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical walk-throughs, manual inspections, and on-site measurements with an automated computational system that processes digital data. The analytics server uses algorithms to analyze utility bills, weather data, and building characteristics, substituting human auditors and physical measurement tools with automated data processing and modeling capabilities.
2Measurement precision
If conventional energy audits are conducted using physical walk-throughs and on-site surveys, then measurement precision and reliability of energy diagnostics are improved, but loss of substance (cost) increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual replica of the physical energy audit process by collecting and analyzing existing building data (utility bills, weather data, building characteristics) to generate energy diagnostics without requiring physical on-site surveys. This digital copy approach eliminates the need for auditors to physically visit buildings while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through sophisticated data analysis algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical walk-throughs, manual inspections, and on-site measurements with an automated computational system that processes digital data. The analytics server uses algorithms to analyze utility bills, weather data, and building characteristics, substituting human auditors and physical measurement tools with automated data processing and modeling capabilities.
3Manufacturing precision
If building information modeling with physics-based models is used to assess energy efficiency, then manufacturing precision of energy recommendations is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential data elements needed for accurate energy diagnostics from the complex building information modeling process. Instead of requiring thousands of inputs and extensive calibration, the system focuses on key data points (utility bills, weather data, basic building characteristics) and uses targeted algorithms to generate reliable diagnostics and retrofit recommendations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing a simplified version of physics-based modeling that captures the most critical energy efficiency factors without requiring full-scale complex modeling. The system uses streamlined algorithms that process essential data to produce accurate enough recommendations for building retrofits, avoiding the excessive complexity of comprehensive building information modeling while maintaining practical utility.
4Manufacturing precision
If building information modeling with physics-based models is used to assess energy efficiency, then manufacturing precision of energy recommendations is improved, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential data elements needed for accurate energy diagnostics from the complex building information modeling process. Instead of requiring thousands of inputs and extensive calibration, the system focuses on key data points (utility bills, weather data, basic building characteristics) and uses targeted algorithms to generate reliable diagnostics and retrofit recommendations.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies partial action by implementing a simplified version of physics-based modeling that captures the most critical energy efficiency factors without requiring full-scale complex modeling. The system uses streamlined algorithms that process essential data to produce accurate enough recommendations for building retrofits, avoiding the excessive complexity of comprehensive building information modeling while maintaining practical utility.
5Measurement precision
If conventional energy audits are conducted with extensive sensoring and equipment monitoring, then measurement precision is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a virtual replica of the physical energy audit process by collecting and analyzing existing building data (utility bills, weather data, building characteristics) to generate energy diagnostics without requiring physical on-site surveys. This digital copy approach eliminates the need for auditors to physically visit buildings while maintaining diagnostic accuracy through sophisticated data analysis algorithms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical system of physical walk-throughs, manual inspections, and on-site measurements with an automated computational system that processes digital data. The analytics server uses algorithms to analyze utility bills, weather data, and building characteristics, substituting human auditors and physical measurement tools with automated data processing and modeling capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A system may provide virtual energy audits of one or more target buildings. The system may retrieve weather data and energy usage data specific to a given target building from a weather server and a utility server, respectively. The system may store predefined building characteristics corresponding to the given target building in local memory. Based on the weather data, energy usage data, and/or predefined building characteristics, the system may generate one or more building markers that characterize the energy usage and efficiency of the given target building. Building efficiency diagnostics and energy conservation prognostics may be generated based on the building markers and may be sent by the system to be displayed via a user interface of a client device. The energy conservation prognostics may include one or more energy conservation measure recommendations and corresponding predicted cost/energy savings.