Communications of the ACM
Innovative Software Converts Wi-Fi Data Into Energy Savings
Researchers at the University of British Columbia in Canada have developed software that uses Wi-Fi to determine the number of building occupants and adjusts ventilation accordingly.
Credit: Lara Swimmer Photography
Researchers at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada have developed Bridge, software that uses Wi-Fi to determine the number of building occupants and adjusts ventilation accordingly, which can save energy without sacrificing air quality.
Bridge anonymously counts the number of wireless devices in each room and passes the counts to a centralized building control system, which then adjusts airflow through the relevant building, in near-real time.
During testing, the researchers found Bridge reduced energy consumption by 5% over a period of 12 months while maintaining air quality and occupant comfort. They say the system could help the university reduce greenhouse gas emissions by hundreds of tons and save as much as $100,000 in energy costs each year for core campus buildings.
The project highlights the potential benefits of using Wi-Fi systems to create smart buildings, says UBC's Stefan Storey.
From UBC News
View Full Article
Abstracts Copyright © 2017 Information Inc., Bethesda, Maryland, USA
No entries found