Heat transfer system and environmental control system with heat transfer system

1. An environmental control system for a first unit in a multi-unit structure comprising:

a) at least one first heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system device providing at least heating or cooling for the first unit; and

b) a first control unit for the at least one first HVAC system device, the first control unit being coupled to a system monitor that is also coupled to a second control unit for at least one second HVAC system device that provides at least heating or cooling for a second unit in the multi-unit structure, the first control unit comprising:

i) a controller;

ii) a system communication interface comprising a first firewall whereby the system communication interface provides a first secure communication interface for a first remote device that is located outside the multi-unit structure to communicate with the at least one HVAC system device, wherein the system monitor is coupled to the first control unit and the second control unit through each respective firewall and prevents unauthorized remote devices from accessing each respective control unit; and

iii) a local communication interface providing a secure local communication interface for a first local user device that is located inside the first unit to communicate with the at least one first HVAC system device.

2. The environmental control system of claim 1 wherein the local communication interface operates using a selected local communication protocol and wherein the local communication interface is secured by applying a security protocol corresponding to the selected local communication protocol.

3. The environmental control system of claim 1 wherein the local communication interface operates using a local communication protocol selected from the group consisting of: WiFi, Bluetooth, Bluetooth LE, ZigBee, and WiMax, and wherein the local communication interface is secured by applying a security protocol corresponding to a selected local communication protocol.

4. The environmental control system of claim 1 wherein the system communication interface enables the first control unit to communicate with the at least one first HVAC system device.

5. The environment control system of claim 1 wherein the first remote device and the first local user device are a common device and the common device communicates with the at least one first HVAC system device via the first firewall when the common device is located outside the unit and the common device communicates with the at least one first HVAC system device via the secure local communication interface when the common device is located inside the first unit.

6. The environment control system of claim 5 wherein the common device is a smartphone.

7. The environment control system of claim 6 wherein the first firewall is utilized only by the system communication interface of the first control unit.

8. The environment control system of claim 7 wherein the first secure communication interface enables the first remote device to communicate with the at least one first HVAC system device when the first remote device is located outside the first unit.

9. The environment control system of claim 1 wherein the first firewall is utilized only by the system communication interface of the first control unit.

10. An arrangement of multiple environmental control systems for a multi-unit structure comprising:

a) a system monitor in communication with each of the multiple environmental control systems;

b) a first environmental control system installed in a first unit of the multi-unit structure, the first environmental control system comprising:

i) a first control unit coupled to the system monitor through a first firewall that prevents unauthorized devices from accessing the first control unit; and

ii) at least one first heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system device coupled to the first control unit through the first firewall,

wherein one or more first local user devices that are located inside the first unit are coupled to the first control unit through a first local communication interface; and

c) a second environmental control system installed in a second unit of the multi-unit structure, the second environmental control system comprising:

i) a second control unit coupled to the system monitor through a second firewall that prevents unauthorized devices from accessing the second control unit; and

ii) at least one second HVAC system device coupled to the second control unit through the second firewall,

wherein one or more second local user devices that are located inside the second unit are coupled to the second control unit through a second local communication interface.

11. The arrangement of multiple environmental control systems of claim 10 wherein one or more first external user devices that are located outside the first unit communicate with the first control unit through the first firewall.

12. The arrangement of multiple environmental control systems of claim 11 wherein one or more second external user devices that are located outside the second unit communicate with the second control unit through the second firewall.

13. The arrangement of multiple environmental control systems of claim 10 wherein the system monitor adapts the operation of the first environmental control system and the second environmental control system by sending a monitor control signal to at least one of the first control unit and the second control unit to reduce or stop use of heating or air conditioning functions in the corresponding first environmental control system and second environmental control system.

14. The arrangement of multiple environmental control systems of claim 10 wherein the system monitor is configured to adapt operation of the first environmental control system and the second environmental control system based on at least one of weather or electrical power availability.

15. The arrangement of multiple environment control systems of claim 11 wherein the first firewall authorizes a first user to use the one or more first remote devices and the one or more first local user devices to control the at least one first HVAC system device.

16. The arrangement of multiple environment control systems of claim 12 wherein the second firewall authorizes a second user to use the one or more second remote devices and the one or more second local user devices to control the at least one second HVAC system device.

17. An arrangement of multiple environmental control systems for a multi-unit structure comprising:

a) a system monitor in communication with each of the multiple environmental control systems;

b) a firewall;

c) a first environmental control system installed in a first unit of the multi-unit structure, the first environmental control system comprising:

i) a first control unit coupled to the system monitor through the firewall that prevents unauthorized devices from accessing the first control unit; and

ii) at least one first heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system device coupled to the first control unit through the firewall,

wherein a first local user device that is located inside the first unit is coupled to the first control unit through a first local communication interface, and

wherein a first external user device that is located outside the first unit communicates with the first control unit through the firewall; and,

d) a second environmental control system installed in a second unit of the multi-unit structure, the second environmental control system comprising:

i) a second control unit coupled to the system monitor through the firewall that prevents unauthorized devices from accessing the second control unit; and

ii) at least one second HVAC system device coupled to the second control unit through the firewall,

wherein a second local user device that is located inside the second unit is coupled to the second control unit through a second local communication interface, and

wherein a second external user device that is located outside the second unit communicates with the second first control unit through the firewall.

18. The arrangement of multiple environment control systems of claim 17 wherein the firewall comprises a first firewall coupled to the first control unit and a second firewall coupled to the second control unit.

19. The arrangement of multiple environment control systems of claim 17 wherein the first remote device and the first local user device are a first common device and the first common device communicates with the at least one first HVAC system device via the firewall when the first common device is located outside the first unit and the first common device communicates with the at least one first HVAC system device via the first secure communication interface when the first common device is located inside the first unit, and wherein the second remote device and the second local user device are a second common device and the second common device communicates with the at least one second HVAC system device via the firewall when the second common device is located outside the second unit and the second common device communicates with the at least one second HVAC system device via the second secure communication interface when the second common device is located inside the second unit.

20. The arrangement of multiple environment control systems of claim 17 wherein the first common device is a smartphone.