Energy forecasts for greener homes
The FEROP (Flat EnOcean room operating panels) project was established to help users meet EU energy consumption targets. This was achieved with the aid of a home automation system that can control heating, air conditioning, lighting, shutters and blinds via a visual display. Researchers developed a wireless battery-free touch panel display powered by energy harvesting and EnOcean radio communication, which allows the occupant to directly interact with the building. This innovative product was aimed at both old buildings that need to be modernised as well as new buildings that allow the deployment of wireless technology. Self-powered wireless sensors and switches using the EnOcean wireless standard were ideal for sustainable building applications in terms of saving resources. Powered by motion, light or heat, no cables or batteries were needed to collect sensor information like temperature and water presence. Sensors and actuators can communicate directly with each other and are controlled by a gateway to the cloud for applications requiring remote sensing and control via a personal computer or smart phone. Users were provided with an exact view of their energy usage in each room to understand the impact of any setting they may choose for each room. The system’s big advantage is that it can perform energy consumption forecasts based on temperature and indoor air quality set points, light dimming levels and past consumption. Each time a user changes a set point, the energy consumption displayed for one day, one week, one month or even one year will help to encourage ‘greener’ behaviour. FEROP is currently the most comprehensive energy saving device using a forecast energy consumption feature. It could help save Europe 1.3 billion EUROs of energy per year, representing 6 million tons of carbon dioxide.
Keywords
Energy, wireless, FEROP, EnOcean, sustainable building
