Reduction of Energy Demand in Buildings through Optimal Use of Wireless Behaviour Information (Wi-be) Systems

最近，低功耗（如电池供电）无线传感器、网络和个人通信设备的出现，使人们能够探索无线系统，以监测个人的能源使用情况，并将信息直接反馈给负责的个人。这些都是基于静态无线传感器，利用低成本，小，低功耗的数字无线电（ZigBee）和实时用户位置传感器，使用RFID和超宽带（UWB）射频技术。低成本、低功耗、用户反馈技术包括Ekahau基于Wi-Fi的设备和手机。Wi-be系统是真正以用户为中心的，并承诺在促进行为改变和大幅减少能源需求方面具有巨大潜力：它补充了智能计量技术，并在帮助识别具体的浪费能源使用、采取行动和采取行动的人方面迈出了重要的一步。与智能电表不同，智能电表预计将以特定的反馈格式提供整体消费数据b[11]， Wi-be方法形成了一个人/建筑能源技术接口，承诺更大的能源行为变化，这些变化可广泛复制并适应未来的能源技术方案。如果在一段时间内实施和使用，它可能会带来持久的行为改变，从而有效地使用能源。然而，这项技术的发展带来了信息和通信技术、建筑能源和用户行为等相互关联的挑战，迄今为止，这些挑战在很大程度上是孤立研究的。我们所需要的是一项多学科的研究，以使人们对Wi-be技术的理解发生阶段性的变化，以确保其有效性和成功的采用。基于一项新的合作，这项研究将为有效实施这项技术提供工具和指导，并大大提高对这项技术的理解，从而持久而显著地减少能源需求。具体目标包括：1。建造最先进的极低功耗无线系统，以监察及沟通住宅及非住宅楼宇的个人能源使用情况。这将涉及建筑物内和身体上的传感器，并将安装在办公楼和住宅中，作为综合研究的试验台。通过整合以下内容对Wi-be进行跨学科评估：a.传感器网络研究-确定在建筑和人体传感器方面的实用性，以捕捉能源效率低下的行为；b.无线研究-对无线传感器信号传播进行建模，以确定最佳配置（例如，位置、功率水平）和无线传感器、网络和其他相关通信设备的物理部署的潜在限制，这些设备在非常低的功率下运行（因此电池寿命非常长）；c.行为研究-确定向个别能源使用者提供传感器数据的最佳反馈界面、格式和时间，以达到刺激立即行动和持久行为改变的最佳效果；d.建筑能源研究-评估建筑能源需求、供应和用户行为之间的相互作用，以及基准，以及它们对向用户反馈的最佳安排的影响；让用户、制造商和其他利益攸关方参与进来，确保结果的质量和相关性，并有效传播这些结果，以便进行商业部署。传播在这项可行性研究中确定的综合方法，将使将来能够部署到大规模评估和商业开发中。

The recent availability of very low power (e.g., battery powered) wireless sensors, networks and personal communication devices has enabled the exploration of wireless systems for both monitoring personal energy use and for feeding back the information directly to individuals responsible. These are based on static wireless sensors utilising low cost, small, low power digital radio (ZigBee) and real-time user location sensors using RFID and Ultra-wideband (UWB) radio frequency technologies. Low cost, low power, user feedback technologies include Ekahau Wi-Fi based devices and mobile phones.The Wi-be system is truly user-centric and promises huge potential for instigating behaviour change and substantial energy demand reduction: it complements the smart metering technology and takes a significant step further in helping to identify specific wasteful energy use, actions to take and the persons to take them. Unlike the smart meter, which is expected to provide overall consumption data in specific feedback formats [11], the Wi-be approach forms a people/building energy technology interface that promises much greater energy behaviour changes that are widely replicable and adaptable to future energy technology scenarios. When implemented and used over a period of time, it could potentially bring about a durable behavioural change leading to efficient energy uses.However, development of this technology gives rise to inter-related challenges spanning ICT, building energy and user behaviour, which so far are largely being researched in isolation. What is required is a multi-disciplinary study to bring about a step change in the understanding of Wi-be technology to ensure its effectiveness and successful uptake. Based on a new collaboration, the study will provide tools, guidance and vastly improved understanding for effective implementations of the technology that would result in durable and significant reduction of energy demand. Specific objectives include:1. Construct a state-of-the-art very-low-power Wi-be system for monitoring and communicating personal energy behaviours in both domestic and non-domestic buildings. This will involve both in-building and on-body sensors and will be installed in an office building and a house, to be used as test beds for the integrated research:2. Conduct cross-disciplinary assessment of Wi-be by integrating the following: a. Sensor Network Research - determining what is practical, in terms of building and body sensors, in order to capture energy-inefficient behaviour; b. Wireless Research - modelling of wireless sensor signal propagation to ascertain the optimum configurations (e.g., location, power levels) and potential limitations to physical deployment of wireless sensors, network and other related communication devices operating at very low power (and consequently very long battery life); c. Behavioural Research - determine the optimum feedback interface, format and timing of sensor data presentation to individual energy users in order to achieve the best effects on stimulating immediate action and durable behavioural change; d. Building Energy Research - to assess interactions between building energy demand, supply and user behaviour, as well as benchmarks, and their implications for optimum arrangement for feedback to users;3. To engage users, manufacturers and other stakeholders to ensure quality and relevance of the results and their effective dissemination for commercial deployment. Dissemination of the integrated methodology, established in this feasibility study, will permit future deployment into large scale assessments and commercial exploitation.