Systems and methods for energy savings in buildings
AssigneeMechoshade Systems, LLC
InventorStephen P. Hebeisen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The disclosure includes a method comprising determining that solar heat gain exists in trapped air between a window shade and a window and opening a controllable damper to exhaust the trapped air. The method may also include obtaining occupancy data about an occupant based on at least one of a home automation system or a security system. The method may also include forecasting, using a sky camera and historical sky conditions, sky conditions associated with a building; and determining, based on the forecasted sky conditions, a setting for at least one of a lighting system or an HVAC system associated with the building. The method may also include changing a timing of an automation routine for adjusting window shades to minimize an impact on peak demand energy usage.
Claims23
A method comprising:
- adjusting a roller shade over an inside surface of a window to optimize solar heat gain between the inside surface of the window and the roller shade;
- receiving the solar heat gain through the window and into a window pocket between the inside surface of the window and the roller shade;
- receiving the solar heat gain into trapped air in the window pocket between the inside surface of the window and the roller shade;
- determining, by a processor, that the solar heat gain exists in the trapped air in the window pocket between the inside surface of the window and the roller shade,
- wherein the roller shade at least partially covers the inside surface of the window, and
- wherein the roller shade is mounted in at least one of a pocket or a cassette over a room;
- and
- opening, by the processor, a controllable damper located within a first duct that leads from the window pocket to a fresh air duct, based on at least one of historical data, artificial intelligence or occupant feedback,
- wherein the opening the controllable damper exhausts air with the solar heat gain from the trapped air from the first duct and into a second duct with fresh air emanating from a heat, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and
- wherein a mixture of the air with the solar heat gain and the fresh air directly enters a room.
A system comprising:
- a roller shade,
- wherein the roller shade at least partially covers the inside surface of a window;
- the roller shade is configured to adjust over the inside surface of the window to optimize solar heat gain between the inside surface of the window and the roller shade;
- the window is configured to receive the solar heat gain through the window and into a window pocket between an inside surface of the window and the roller shade;
- the window pocket configured to receive the solar heat gain into trapped air in the window pocket between the inside surface of the window and the roller shade;
- at least one of a pocket or a cassette housing a bracket for the roller shade;
- and
- a controllable damper located within a first duct that leads from the window pocket to a fresh air duct,
- wherein, based on at least one of historical data, artificial intelligence or occupant feedback, the controllable damper is configured to open to exhaust air with the solar heat gain from the trapped air from the first duct and into a second duct with fresh air emanating from a heating, venting and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and
- wherein a mixture of the air with the solar heat gain and the fresh air directly enters a room.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.