Comments on: Wishful Thinking – Energy Monitoring and Controls http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/ The former home of the 100k Blog Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:21:06 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Zach Dwiel http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-7472 Zach Dwiel Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:40:12 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-7472 I find this post really interesting. For those of you who have a TED or other whole home monitor already, you might be interested in PlotWatt. At PlotWatt we can connect to your whole home monitor to get a live data feed and give you recommendations about how to save energy or send you a text when something goes wrong (unusually high energy usage). In the example in the post they say you may check your house usage while you are out and notice that it is high. With PlotWatt, you don't have to constantly check, we'll notify you. We've actually saved (fish) lives already. One of our customers had a fish tank sensor go bad and the tank heater was constantly on. We noticed the abnormal behavior, notified the owner and they were able to replace the sensor before the fish got cooked! I find this post really interesting. For those of you who have a TED or other whole home monitor already, you might be interested in PlotWatt. At PlotWatt we can connect to your whole home monitor to get a live data feed and give you recommendations about how to save energy or send you a text when something goes wrong (unusually high energy usage). In the example in the post they say you may check your house usage while you are out and notice that it is high. With PlotWatt, you don’t have to constantly check, we’ll notify you.

We’ve actually saved (fish) lives already. One of our customers had a fish tank sensor go bad and the tank heater was constantly on. We noticed the abnormal behavior, notified the owner and they were able to replace the sensor before the fish got cooked!

]]> By: Kris http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-6822 Kris Sun, 05 Dec 2010 05:04:30 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-6822 Love reading all these ideas.Could someone explain how the Smartgrid concept is the same or different than Time-of-Day (TOD) metering/pricing? We have had our house on a TOD system for about 5 years now. We pay less than 3 cents/kwh from 9pm to 9am and then a higher than normal rate from 9am to 9pm. We put our water heater, chest freezer, washing machine, and electric car charging outlets on an X10 system so they are automatically only live during the cheap rate period. We are also experimenting with Arduino for doing customized temperature and pump monitoring for our radiant heating system for our current house. This will be the platform for our new house monitoring and operation of our solar water distribution system. Love reading all these ideas.Could someone explain how the Smartgrid concept is the same or different than Time-of-Day (TOD) metering/pricing? We have had our house on a TOD system for about 5 years now. We pay less than 3 cents/kwh from 9pm to 9am and then a higher than normal rate from 9am to 9pm. We put our water heater, chest freezer, washing machine, and electric car charging outlets on an X10 system so they are automatically only live during the cheap rate period.

We are also experimenting with Arduino for doing customized temperature and pump monitoring for our radiant heating system for our current house. This will be the platform for our new house monitoring and operation of our solar water distribution system.

]]> By: zac http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-4071 zac Wed, 08 Jul 2009 20:05:05 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-4071 Hi Nic, What you've described is right up our alley. Take a look at our website (the OEM section in particular) and give us a call if you're interested in working together: <a href="http://www.wattmetrics.com/OEM/OEM.aspx" title="wattmetrics/oem" rel="nofollow"> -Zac Hi Nic,
What you’ve described is right up our alley. Take a look at our website (the OEM section in particular) and give us a call if you’re interested in working together:

-Zac

]]> By: New Blogs added to our Blogroll | 100K House Blog http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-2629 New Blogs added to our Blogroll | 100K House Blog Mon, 02 Mar 2009 16:32:35 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-2629 [...] Top 25 Design & Architecture Blogs from Trends Updates. With our new found focus on everything home automation recently, we’ll be spending some time rummaging through the archives of this blog I’m [...] [...] Top 25 Design & Architecture Blogs from Trends Updates. With our new found focus on everything home automation recently, we’ll be spending some time rummaging through the archives of this blog I’m [...]

]]> By: David Burke http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-2218 David Burke Wed, 07 Jan 2009 16:45:11 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-2218 Nic, What an exciting project! I am one of the development engineers with Verve. We're happy you have identified our system as a potential solution for your homes. Verve is truly a unique approach to lighting a home. Just some background for your readers: Switch Technology: 1) Wireless, batteryless, energy-harvesting switches. 2) Switch Technology by EnOcean (www.enocean.com) 3) Lifetime guarantee Controller: 1) 10 channel controller, controls up to 10 light loads 2) each controller is also a dimmer 3) each controller can link up to 200 switches to any combination of light loads (even across other controllers) 4) 300W per channel, 1800W per controller 5) each controller is a wireless repeater (no wireless dead spots in your home) 6) "wiring" a 3-way switch is now as simple as sticking two switches on the wall and linking them to whatever light load you want. If you don't like it, link them to something else. The whole process takes 30 seconds. 7) Controller uses the EnOcean radio protocol to communicate with switches and other sensors. Occupancy Sensors: 1) Wireless, batteryless, energy harvesting 2) Stick an occupancy sensor to your wall/ceiling, link it to any light (or combination of lights) in the home, and walk away. 3) The OS turns off your lights when there is no one in the room Lumen Sensor: 1) Wireless, batteryless, energy-harvesting 2) Stick it to your wall/ceiling, link it to any light or combination of lights and walk away. 3) when you dim those lights to your desired level, the light level detected by the lumen sensor is stored in the controller and your desired light level will be maintained throughout the day. 4) As outdoor light enters, the indoor lights will be dimmed, as outdoor light diminishes, indoor light will adjust to maintain your desired level. The Verve system is ever-expanding and due to the EnOcean Enabled feature of the product, your idea, Nic, is no longer a fantasy. Installing a Verve lighting control system in your home will allow future expansion and features without re-wiring your home. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help. -David dburke@masco-rd.com Nic,

What an exciting project! I am one of the development engineers with Verve. We’re happy you have identified our system as a potential solution for your homes. Verve is truly a unique approach to lighting a home. Just some background for your readers:

Switch Technology:
1) Wireless, batteryless, energy-harvesting switches.
2) Switch Technology by EnOcean (www.enocean.com)
3) Lifetime guarantee

Controller:
1) 10 channel controller, controls up to 10 light loads
2) each controller is also a dimmer
3) each controller can link up to 200 switches to any combination of light loads (even across other controllers)
4) 300W per channel, 1800W per controller
5) each controller is a wireless repeater (no wireless dead spots in your home)
6) “wiring” a 3-way switch is now as simple as sticking two switches on the wall and linking them to whatever light load you want. If you don’t like it, link them to something else. The whole process takes 30 seconds.
7) Controller uses the EnOcean radio protocol to communicate with switches and other sensors.

Occupancy Sensors:
1) Wireless, batteryless, energy harvesting
2) Stick an occupancy sensor to your wall/ceiling, link it to any light (or combination of lights) in the home, and walk away.
3) The OS turns off your lights when there is no one in the room

Lumen Sensor:
1) Wireless, batteryless, energy-harvesting
2) Stick it to your wall/ceiling, link it to any light or combination of lights and walk away.
3) when you dim those lights to your desired level, the light level detected by the lumen sensor is stored in the controller and your desired light level will be maintained throughout the day.
4) As outdoor light enters, the indoor lights will be dimmed, as outdoor light diminishes, indoor light will adjust to maintain your desired level.

The Verve system is ever-expanding and due to the EnOcean Enabled feature of the product, your idea, Nic, is no longer a fantasy. Installing a Verve lighting control system in your home will allow future expansion and features without re-wiring your home.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or if there is anything we can do to help.

-David
dburke@masco-rd.com

]]> By: Energy Monitoring and Control - Web Application Concept | 100K House Blog http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-2144 Energy Monitoring and Control - Web Application Concept | 100K House Blog Tue, 30 Dec 2008 16:20:11 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-2144 [...] conversation on my original post on energy monitoring and controls has been fantastic. Great ideas have been presented and examples that approximate my wishful [...] [...] conversation on my original post on energy monitoring and controls has been fantastic. Great ideas have been presented and examples that approximate my wishful [...]

]]> By: lavardera http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-2108 lavardera Wed, 24 Dec 2008 19:18:00 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-2108 I'm thinking it would not be that hard to create an x10 or UPB watt meter, but is there a software package ready to receive the data and display it in a form that is useful to the homeowner. I’m thinking it would not be that hard to create an x10 or UPB watt meter, but is there a software package ready to receive the data and display it in a form that is useful to the homeowner.

]]> By: tlynch http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-2104 tlynch Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:16:38 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-2104 Universal powerline bus (or UPB) is an industry emerging standard for communication among devices used for home automation. It uses power line wiring for signaling and control. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_powerline_bus There are many UPB products out there that enable home automation, but I have been unable to find any Watt Meters that use the UPB Protocol. I think that a key to this system would be to sell a breaker box that would act as a central hub for the system. Each circuit breaker would also be a watt meter and the breaker box could work as a phase coupler to integrate the whole house. If you named each Circuit in your house and each breaker had a watt meter, and the key appliances all had watt meters installed then you could easily generate a report like this (where total usage is measured at the breaker and individual usage is measured at each appliance, and misc would be everything unaccounted for) : Circuit #1: Kitchen Refridgerator ................ x.x kw/h Dishwasher ................ x.x kw/h Overhead Light.............. x.x kw/h Misc ................ x.x kw/h Total: x.x kw/h Circuit #2: 2nd Floor Misc ................ x.x kw/h Total: x.x kw/h Circuit #3: Utility Room Washing Machine .......... x.x kw/h Dryer ................ x.x kw/h Boiler .............. x.x kw/h Misc ................ x.x kw/h Total: x.x kw/h Universal powerline bus (or UPB) is an industry emerging standard for communication among devices used for home automation. It uses power line wiring for signaling and control.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_powerline_bus

There are many UPB products out there that enable home automation, but I have been unable to find any Watt Meters that use the UPB Protocol.

I think that a key to this system would be to sell a breaker box that would act as a central hub for the system. Each circuit breaker would also be a watt meter and the breaker box could work as a phase coupler to integrate the whole house.

If you named each Circuit in your house and each breaker had a watt meter, and the key appliances all had watt meters installed then you could easily generate a report like this (where total usage is measured at the breaker and individual usage is measured at each appliance, and misc would be everything unaccounted for) :

Circuit #1: Kitchen
Refridgerator ……………. x.x kw/h
Dishwasher ……………. x.x kw/h
Overhead Light………….. x.x kw/h
Misc ……………. x.x kw/h
Total: x.x kw/h

Circuit #2: 2nd Floor
Misc ……………. x.x kw/h
Total: x.x kw/h

Circuit #3: Utility Room
Washing Machine ………. x.x kw/h
Dryer ……………. x.x kw/h
Boiler ………….. x.x kw/h
Misc ……………. x.x kw/h
Total: x.x kw/h

]]> By: Ryan http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-2102 Ryan Wed, 24 Dec 2008 17:06:38 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-2102 Nic, Currently the project exists in a design development state. However, if the final goal of the solar decathalon is an exhibition of the built/resolved designs so anything you see in the pdf will be a working prototype within the next year. Nic,

Currently the project exists in a design development state. However, if the final goal of the solar decathalon is an exhibition of the built/resolved designs so anything you see in the pdf will be a working prototype within the next year.

]]> By: Matthew Jastremski http://www.100khouse.com/2008/12/19/wishful-thinking-energy-monitoring-and-controls/comment-page-1/#comment-2092 Matthew Jastremski Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:43:02 +0000 http://www.100khouse.com/?p=301#comment-2092 (i'm MJ above) Bruce: I imagine the best solution would be to implement the motion sensitive lights in places where you transit or are always moving. A hallway could have a delay that turns off after 30 seconds of no motion, whereas a kitchen for instance would turn off after 3 minutes, as you're usually moving around while cooking, getting food, etc. For when you're in a room that you may not move a lot, maybe there is one light that is motion sensitive to illuminate the whole room, but after you settle in, it dims down to some simple spot-lighting. None of this is really "out there" technically, it just requires a level of thoughtfulness in design. (i’m MJ above)
Bruce: I imagine the best solution would be to implement the motion sensitive lights in places where you transit or are always moving. A hallway could have a delay that turns off after 30 seconds of no motion, whereas a kitchen for instance would turn off after 3 minutes, as you’re usually moving around while cooking, getting food, etc. For when you’re in a room that you may not move a lot, maybe there is one light that is motion sensitive to illuminate the whole room, but after you settle in, it dims down to some simple spot-lighting. None of this is really “out there” technically, it just requires a level of thoughtfulness in design.

]]>