Ways to Use Wireless to Operate

Buildings Better

CBE
Edward Arens, Cliff Federspiel,
David Auslander,Therese Peffer,
Charlie Huizenga
BWRC
Paul Wright, Jan Rabaey, +
BSAC
Richard White +
Berkeley Intel Lab
David Culler +

CENTER FOR THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT OCTOBER 2003

 Building Systems and Their Monitoring Needs

Building Current situation:

 Insufficient number
Lighting, of environmental
temperature, sensors (1/1000sf)
sound, air
quality…  Ineffective placement

of sensors (limited by
wires)
 Monthly lump-sum
Electricity, Occupancy,
gas, water, comfort, electricity/gas bills
weather… productivity  Occupants have little

Energy information, insight, or

People
influence over their
building environment
 Individual Solar Zone
recognize radiation temperature
sensor sensor sensor Sensing and Actuation
Physiology Survey of
Anemometer
Opportunities
sensor occupant
reaction Provide
information

CO2 Message to Suggest Shading

Individual Human productivity model
sensor occupants action
comfort
model
Window
Human
schedule Adjust
Occupancy position Blinds
model Total power consumption Decisions Control
model devices
Door Start AC
sensor on/off

Building HVAC Lighting Plug load Vent

Setpoint
Sound thermal system model model reset
sensor model model
Refriger

Shut down
Motion
sensor Lights

Computer
Structure Window HVAC Zone light Plug power
temperature status condition sensor measurement
sensor sensor Office
device
Pressure
Weather Weather Daylight Fuel/electric
around
condition condition illumination price
building
 Perspective in a Perimeter Zone

Sensing, intelligence, actuation:

VAV actuator
Climate
sensor
 Detect ambient conditions,
Light ballast
solar radiation, wind pressure,
BACnet
Occupancy natural light, perspiration,
sensor
Reflective
occupancy,…
Base station Comfort stat
vane
actuator  Trade-off energy, thermal
comfort, and visual need,…
Window  Appropriate adjustments are
switch
made at: vav valve, light
Desk climate sensor
dimmer, reflective vanes,…
Prototype wireless
lighting control system
Motivation
• Lighting accounts for ~50% of commercial building electricity
consumption
• Switching is often inadequate and inflexible and results in
significant energy waste
• One switch may control the lights for many occupants
• Switches are often not conveniently located
• “Ownership” of switches is unclear
• Switching often does not work well with daylight patterns
Objective

Develop a lighting control system that is:

• Highly flexible
• Wireless
• Cost effective

There are many wireless systems in

development and in the marketplace.
What’s different about our approach?
• Does not require special ballasts
• Will work for new or retrofit applications
• Is easily reprogrammed by the user
• Will have a low installation cost per
switch/fixture ($20 target)
 System Overview

Wireless controller
Light sensor

Desktop, mobile,
or wall mounted
switch
 System components

Radio motes

Wireless switch Ballast

Power
supply
to lamps

Wireless controller

Light sensor
Motion sensor
 Control flexibility

Switches can be operated by either a local

switch or through a central control system
 Lighting Groups

Perimeter Daylight Group

 Lighting Groups

Emergency Group
 Lighting Groups

Jethro’s Workspace
 Lighting Groups

Madonna’s Workspace
Control strategies

More creative strategies are possible than with a simple

switch…

Lights on/off
Lights needed/not needed
Minimum light level
Emergency lights on
Non-critical lights off
Progress

 Prototype design
 2 prototypes built
Residential Demand Response Project

Objectives:

 To respond to dynamic electricity pricing, we need:

• A meter that records time-of-use, as well as use.
• A system that can automatically operate HVAC and other
equipment in response to price signals.
• An interface that accurately obtains the occupants’ preferences
between price and comfort.
• Information devices that help the occupant respond intelligently.
• Sensors and actuators that can be easily installed, (ie, wireless).

 To be a breakthrough, this system must be inexpensive:

• $50 for meter, $30 for thermostat, $10 for sensor nodes.
• It must also last at least 10 years without battery changes.
 Demand-response system
Outdoor
Sensors

Power
Indoor
Sensors
Wattmeters,
Switches,
Existing Action-suggesting
Meter alerts and displays
(Links by Internet or (two alternatives)
wireless services to:) Sun control blinds,
Lighting dimmers
Electrical Utility
Grid Operator Appliances
Weather Service… Panel Refrigerator
User Base
Price schedules in, Station
Interface
Electric usage out (Wi-Fi or
TinyOS)

DSL, Cable, Cell-phone Heating System

Home Air Conditioner Smart Ventilator
text messaging, or WAN
Server
radio system Hot Water Heater Pool Pump
Demonstration Sept. 30

Attendees: List of demos:

California Energy Comm. DR System
Framework
Commissioner Rosenfeld
and staff Physical model
User interface
PIER staff
Energy Scavenging
TAC members
Light and vibration
CIEE
Power on/off motes
Device prototyping
Thermostat
Price-signalling mote
 Wattmeters and wireless relays

(By Richard White’s group at BSAC)

appliance
“zip” cord

120 Hz
output signal
Iout Iin
60 Hz
AC current MEMS cantilever with
piezoelectric film
 DR System simulation and control

DR system simulated in Java code, including:

House thermal behavior.

DR control algorithms.
Wireless network
communications.
Will control the model
house via the wireless
motes.
 Smart Thermostat Control
Levels
 Operator presets typical setback Temperature setpoints
External Realtime pricing Weather forecast Operator  Operator presets Demand Response temperature setpoints
Communication from Utility via (WWW) (amount of temperature discomfort acceptable based on price).
 Operator maintains manual override.
meter
LOW $ MED $$ HIGH $$$

• Wireless motes
• Scavenged power
Goal Seeking • Tiny OS
Energy cost vs.thermal comfort and power need

Supervisory  Typical energy saving setback Temperature setpoints  Auto control of water heater, refrigerator, pool equipment depending on price
Thermal comfort  Demand Response Temperature Setpoints (based on price) Power  Send notice to motes on stove, washer, dryer, dishwasher (current price and
Control vs. price  Temperature Setpoints based on adaptive model
consumption vs. upcoming price)
 Preheat or precool based on advance notice of price increase
 Expert system optimize cooling or heating (temp sensors, weather forecast) price
 Manual override
 Shut off

Coordination Heat or cool Use economizer Power to which

What, how, when fan or ac appliance

Appliance power sensors

Appliance power sensors

Direct Control On/off On/off On/off On/off On/off On/off
high/med/low

Interface Mote interface Heater AC control Fan/economizer Smart advice •Wireless power sensor Traffic light on
•Wireless relay at outlet
Computer (radio to hub) control (wired) control (wired) text appliance
(wired)
• Wireless motes/tiny OS
• Scavenged power

Operator actuated

Operator actuated
Sensor/ LR BR Ext Sensor on Wireless Wireless Wireless Temp mote Power
Actuator Temp Temp Temp window or relay relay relay in Ref sensor
mote mote mote blind

Power Power Power

sensor sensor sensor

Physical Target Living Bed Window/blind Pool Water Refrigerator Stove, Washer,
Room room equipment heater Dryer, Dishwasher
Blow dryer…
Thermostat simulation and prototyping

Working,interactive
thermostat simulated
on PC screen

Thermostat and
signalling motes
fabricated using
rapid prototyping
Energy usage screen
 Obtaining user preferences

We are examining various

versions of interface—the
challenge is to balance
energy cost and comfort.