Using Computers and Sensors to Curb Electricity Use in Buildings

Information Processing in Sensor Networks (IPSN) LCTES Cyber-Physical Systems Calit2 UC San Diego Computer Scientists Propose Novel Solution to Reduce HVAC Power Consumption April 13, 2011 By Doug Ramsey - Research scientist Yuvraj Agarwal in front of the UCSD Computer Science and Engineering building, where his team ran real-world experiments on a better way to regulate HVAC building systems using 'occupancy sensors'. To reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings, computer scientists at the University of California, San Diego have come up with a way to use real-time occupancy sensors and computer algorithms to create 'smart' heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. Based on early test results, the software- and sensor-based solution produced electrical energy savings of between 9.54 and 15.73 percent on their test deployment on one floor of a 5-floor campus building. "It's clear that sensors and computing are key to reducing the demand for electricity in office buildings," said Yuvraj Agarwal, a research scientist in UC San Diego's Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) department. "Based on the test deployment, we estimate 40-50 percent in energy savings if we deployed our system across the entire CSE building. This is a significant real-world energy saving that comes while maintaining important quality-of-life measures related to building availability, lighting, comfort and appearance." Agarwal presented the project's initial findings today in a talk on "Duty-Cycling Buildings Aggressively: The Next Frontier in HVAC Control"* at the 10th International Conference on Information Processing in Sensor Networks (IPSN) in Chicago.