System and method for determining HVAC set points
A system and method for determining HVAC set points are provided. A present season is determined. An allowable temperature comfort range for each occupant in a room in a space is also determined. For each room, an energy saving set point temperature is calculated for the space based on the allowable temperature comfort range for that room. A set point temperature for the space is determined based on the energy saving set point temperatures for each of the rooms in the space. The set point temperature is provided to a thermostat or HVAC system to regulate temperature in the building.
1. A method for determining HVAC set points, comprising:
identifying a present season;
identifying rooms in a space;
determining an allowable temperature comfort range for each occupant in each of the rooms via a computer processor;
selecting one of a plurality of processes for calculation of energy saving set point temperatures based on the present season, wherein different seasons are associated with different processes for calculations of the energy saving set point temperatures;
calculating by the computer processor, the energy saving set point temperatures for the present season using the selected process, wherein each energy saving set point temperature is calculated for one of the rooms based on the allowable temperature comfort range for each occupant in that room;
selecting one of the energy saving set point temperatures for the one of the rooms as a set point temperature for the space depending on the present season in which the energy saving set point temperature is calculated;
providing the set point temperature to a thermostat or HVAC system of the space; and
regulating temperature of the space by the thermostat or HVAC system using the set point temperature.
2. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining the set point temperature for the space comprising one of:
computing the maximum over all the allowable temperature comfort ranges for the rooms for heating; and
computing the minimum over all the allowable temperature comfort ranges for the rooms for cooling.
3. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a set point time for initiating the set point temperature for the space.
4. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
monitoring a presence or absence of one or more personal comfort devices in each room in the space, wherein the personal comfort devices each comprise one of a portable heating device, portable cooling device, or motorized curtains.
5. A method according to claim 4 , further comprising at least one of:
determining a corrective power of each personal comfort device, wherein the energy saving set point temperature for each of the rooms is calculated based on the allowable temperature comfort range for each occupant in that room and the corrective power of each personal comfort device in that room.
6. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the energy saving set point temperatures associated with each room are each calculated based on a lowest temperature of the allowable temperature comfort range for that room, the corrective power of the personal comfort device in the room if present, and an offset value for the room.
7. A method according to claim 1 , wherein the energy saving set point temperatures associated with each room are each calculated based on a highest temperature of the allowable temperature comfort range for that room, the corrective power of the personal comfort device in the room if present, and an offset value for the room.
8. A method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining a most challenging room comprising the room that requires a highest set point temperature of the space during heating or a lowest set point temperature of the space during cooling to achieve comfort for the occupant in the most challenging room.
9. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
providing a recommendation to improve the most challenging room comprising at least one of recommending the addition of one or more personal comfort devices, recommending a change of the occupant in the most challenging room, recommending that a motorized vent be opened or closed relative to other vents in the space, and recommending the addition of a dehumidifier to the room.
10. A method according to claim 9 , further comprising:
adjusting an airflow to one or more of the rooms by changing at least one of the vents in that room, wherein each vent changed is based on at least one other vent previously changed.
11. A method according to claim 10 , wherein the vents are changed manually or automatically by opening the vents.
12. A method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
improving the most challenging room.
13. A method according to claim 12 , wherein the most challenging room is improved, comprising:
determining whether additional personal comfort devices can be purchased for monetary amount M or less so that the energy saving set point temperature required by the most challenging room becomes lower in winter or higher in summer than a second most challenging room, or becomes equal to the second most challenging room.
14. A method for determining an HVAC set point, comprising:
identify occupants present in a space;
identify rooms in the space in which the occupants are present;
determining a presence or absence of one or more personal comfort devices in each of the rooms with an occupant;
determining a range of comfortable temperatures for each occupant;
determining for each room, an energy saving set point temperature that results in the room being within the range of comfortable temperatures based on the presence or absence of the personal comfort device in that room via a computer processor;
computing via the computer processor over all the energy saving set point temperatures for the rooms, one of the following:
a set point temperature for the space that is the maximum of the energy saving temperatures for the rooms for heating based on values for each of the energy set point temperatures of the rooms; and
a set point temperature for the space that is the minimum of the energy saving temperatures for the rooms for cooling based on values for each of the energy set point temperatures of the rooms;
transmitting the set point temperature from the computer processor to a thermostat or HVAC system; and
regulating temperature of the space by the thermostat or HVAC system using the set point temperature.
15. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
determining a set point time for initiating the set point temperature for the space.
16. A method according to claim 15 , wherein the set point time is determined based on one or more of a current temperature of the space, a likely amount of time needed to heat or cool the space to the set point temperature, arrival or departure times of the occupants, and a highest priority goal of the set point temperature comprising one of energy savings, comfort, or reduced consumption.
17. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising at least one of:
determining a corrective power of each personal comfort device; and
determining an offset value for each room comprising a temperature value that represents a difference between a temperature in the room and a previous set point temperature of the space.
18. A method according to claim 14 , further comprising:
determining a most challenging room comprising the room that requires a highest set point temperature of the space during heating or a lowest set point temperature of the space during cooling to achieve comfort for the occupant in the most challenging room.
19. A method according to claim 18 , further comprising:
providing a recommendation to improve the most challenging room comprising at least one of recommending the addition of one or more personal comfort devices, recommending a change of the occupant in the most challenging room, recommending that a motorized vent be opened or closed relative to other vents in the space, and recommending the addition of a dehumidifier to the room.
20. A system for determining HVAC set points, comprising:
a thermostat or HVAC system; and
a server comprising memory, a central processing unit, an input port to receive data relating to the thermostat or the HVAC system, and an output port, wherein the central processing unit is configured to:
identify a present season;
identify rooms within a space;
determine an allowable temperature comfort range for each occupant in each of the rooms;
select one of a plurality of processes for calculation of energy saving set point temperatures based on the present season, wherein different seasons are associated with different processes for calculations of the energy saving set point temperatures;
calculate the energy saving set point temperatures for the present season using the selected process, wherein each energy saving set point temperature is calculated for one of the rooms based on the allowable temperature comfort range for each occupant of that room;
select one of the energy saving set point temperatures for the one of the rooms as a set point temperature for the space depending on the present season in which the energy saving set point temperature is calculated; and
provide the set point temperature to the thermostat or the HVAC 22 system of the space; and
regulate temperature of the space by the thermostat or HVAC system using the set point temperature.