Mobile energy audit system and method

#Current energy auditing services provided by service providers (e.g., Honeywell Utility Solutions) require an expert energy auditor. Other consumer applications (e.g., EcoInsight, Microsoft Hohm, Energy Audit mobile applications) require the user to manually input many pieces of information about their home. This information includes, but is not limited to, the specifications about the house structure, the home equipment (e.g., HVAC, hot water heater), doors, windows, appliances, lighting, and pools. If the homeowners do not know all of this information or lack the motivation to manually input it, then it is difficult for homeowners to perform an energy audit on their own.

#Trained auditing professionals spend approximately 2-3 days per commercial site or 2 hours per residential site to perform an energy audit. This time is spent collecting data manually, using PC-based software or checklists, which makes the process inefficient and predisposed to errors. In addition, many of the energy characteristics are unknown and oftentimes estimated. For example, energy consumption information about a hot water heater would likely be estimated based on type and size rather accurately assessed based on make and model.

#Presently, energy audits are typically done on a standalone system using spreadsheets, and then the information is transcribed into auditing software, which runs analytics to provide recommendations. This process is manual, intrusive, complicated and time consuming.

#FIG. 1 is a block schematic diagram of a system to provide energy audits according to an example embodiment.

#FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a computer implemented method of performing an energy audit according to an example embodiment.

#FIG. 3 is a block schematic flow diagram illustrating a method of capturing a bar code image and performing image analytics according to an example embodiment.

#In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments which may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural, logical and electrical changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. The following description of example embodiments is, therefore, not to be taken in a limited sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims.

#The functions or algorithms described herein may be implemented in software or a combination of software and human implemented procedures in one embodiment. The software may consist of computer executable instructions stored on computer readable media such as memory or other type of storage devices. Further, such functions correspond to modules, which are software, hardware, firmware or any combination thereof. Multiple functions may be performed in one or more modules as desired, and the embodiments described are merely examples. The software may be executed on a digital signal processor, ASIC, microprocessor, or other type of processor operating on a computer system, such as a personal computer, server or other computer system.

#In one embodiment, a mobile energy audit application makes an energy auditing process seamless and intuitive, even for an inexperienced homeowner. The energy audit application may be installed on a camera-enabled mobile device, such as an Apple iPod™/iPad™ or an Android™ phone/tablet. The output of the application may be viewed on the mobile device or through an Internet browser.