Systems and methods for monitoring and control of energy consumption for a structure
Systems, apparatuses, and methods of data collection for more efficiently configuring and calibrating a building energy management service, particularly for a small to medium sized building. In some embodiments, the disclosed approach significantly reduces the time, cost, and level of expertise needed to collect data and configure a model of energy consumption.
1 . A method of data collection for use by an energy control model for a structure, comprising:
identifying an initial set of parameters required to generate an energy control model for the structure;
reducing the initial set of parameters based on a sensitivity analysis to produce a reduced set of parameters;
selecting a site Data Collection Workflow based on the reduced set of parameters;
collecting site data at the structure in accordance with the site Data Collection Workflow;
storing the collected site data in a database for use by the energy control model for the structure; and
providing one or more outputs generated by the energy control model to an actuator to control a heating or cooling function of the structure.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein collection of the site data further comprises one or more of the stages of:
defining required values/variables for the initial set of parameters;
assessing site data collection requirements for collecting values/variables for the initial set of parameters;
assembling the site data collection requirements for collecting values/variables into data collection workflows;
using a sensitivity analysis to produce a reduced set of parameters; and
generating a simplified data collection workflow to gather values/variables for the reduced set of parameters.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein storing the site data collected in a database for use by the energy control model further comprises one or more of the stages of:
applying an ontology to the initial and reduced set of parameters;
creating a data schema based on the ontology;
constructing a graph database using the created data schema; and
placing collected site data into one or more of the schema categories in the ontology.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising obtaining some of the reduced set of parameters from customer input prior to selecting the site Data Collection Workflow.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensitivity analysis comprises consideration of one or more of energy, thermal comfort, time, and cost to collect.
6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the energy control model comprises a thermodynamic model providing occupant comfort.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the data schema is BRICK compliant.
8 . A system, comprising:
one or more electronic processors configured to execute a set of computer-executable instructions; and
one or more non-transitory electronic data storage media containing the set of computer-executable instructions, wherein when executed, the instructions cause the one or more electronic processors to
identify an initial set of structure parameters;
reduce the initial set of parameters based on a sensitivity analysis;
based on the reduced set of parameters, develop an ontology for the parameters;
create a data schema based on the ontology;
construct a graph database using the created data schema;
select a simplified site Data Collection Workflow based on the reduced set of parameters and user inputs;
collect site data and place at least a portion of the site data into an appropriate
element of the graph database, wherein the site data includes data for the structure; and
generate inputs and/or configuration settings for an energy control model for the structure based on the site data in the database; and
a data connection between the energy control model and an actuator to control a heating or cooling function of the structure, wherein one or more outputs generated by the energy control model are provided to the actuator.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein collection of the site data further comprises one or more of:
defining required values/variables for the initial set of parameters;
assessing site data collection requirements for collecting values/variables for the initial set of parameters;
assembling the site data collection requirements for collecting values/variables into data collection workflows;
using a sensitivity analysis to produce a reduced set of parameters; and
generating a simplified data collection workflow to gather values/variables for the reduced set of parameters.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the sensitivity analysis comprises consideration of one or more of energy, thermal comfort, time, and cost to collect.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the energy control model comprises a thermodynamic model providing occupant comfort.
12 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the data schema is BRICK compliant.
13 . The system of claim 8 , further comprising one or more sensors arranged to collect data regarding conditions in the structure, wherein the data collected by the sensors is provided to the energy control model.
14 . The system of claim 13 , wherein the sensors comprise one or more of a sensor to measure temperature, a sensor to measure humidity, a sensor to measure CO 2 , and a sensor to measure air flow.
15 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable media comprising a set of computer-executable instructions that when executed by one or more programmed electronic processors, cause the processors to:
identify an initial set of structure parameters;
reduce the initial set of parameters based on a sensitivity analysis;
based on the reduced set of parameters, develop an ontology for the parameters;
create a data schema based on the ontology;
construct a graph database using the created data schema;
select a simplified site Data Collection Workflow based on the reduced set of parameters and user inputs;
collect site data and place at least a portion of the site data into an appropriate element of the graph database, wherein the site data includes data for the structure;
generate inputs and/or configuration settings for an energy control model for the structure based on the site data in the database; and
provide one or more outputs generated by the energy control model to an actuator to control a heating or cooling function of the structure.
16 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the sensitivity analysis comprises consideration of one or more of energy, thermal comfort, time, and cost to collect.
17 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the energy control model comprises a thermodynamic model providing occupant comfort.
18 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the data schema is BRICK compliant.
19 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 15 , wherein the computer-executable instructions further cause the processors to receive data from one or more sensors arranged to collect data regarding conditions in the structure, wherein the data collected by the sensors is provided to the energy control model.
20 . The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 19 , wherein the sensors comprise one or more of a sensor to measure temperature, a sensor to measure humidity, a sensor to measure CO 2 , and a sensor to measure air flow.