1. Smart Environments for Energy Reduction Eric Torunski

2. Introduction Electricity usage has increased steadily and will continue to increase for the foreseeable future. Electricity usage has increased steadily and will continue to increase for the foreseeable future. Electricity production creates carbon dioxide as a by-product, which causes global warming. Electricity production creates carbon dioxide as a by-product, which causes global warming.

3. Introduction The energy grid must provide enough energy for peak demand, when people turn on their air conditioners, stoves & televisions when they come home from work. The energy grid must provide enough energy for peak demand, when people turn on their air conditioners, stoves & televisions when they come home from work. Ottawa Hydro will introduce time-of-use electricity rates Ottawa Hydro will introduce time-of-use electricity rates http://www.hydroottawa.com/smartmeter/index.cfm?lang=e&template_id=357 http://www.hydroottawa.com/smartmeter/index.cfm?lang=e&template_id=357 http://www.hydroottawa.com/smartmeter/index.cfm?lang=e&template_id=357 Energy usage for a typical home: Energy usage for a typical home: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_pie http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_pie http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.pr_pie

4. Solution Create a control system that helps reduce energy consumption in the home. Create a control system that helps reduce energy consumption in the home. o Provide real-time feedback to the user of current energy consumption. o Automatically power down, or enter low-power state for items that are not being used: television, lights, furnace, air conditioner. o Reduce power consumption of items when total consumption is above a maximum level: turn down air conditioner, lower home heating, water heater. o Also, try to schedule energy usage to minimize cost.

5. Previous work – resource usage minimization The problem of home power control is similar to computer device control. The problem is to try and predict when a resource will be used next. The problem of home power control is similar to computer device control. The problem is to try and predict when a resource will be used next. Similar to screen savers, powering down hard drives, even virtual memory in a computer. Similar to screen savers, powering down hard drives, even virtual memory in a computer. Concept of “Break-even” cost. This is the amount of energy saved by powering down a device versus the power needed to restore its state. Concept of “Break-even” cost. This is the amount of energy saved by powering down a device versus the power needed to restore its state.

6. Artificial Intelligence control Fuzzy logic control – system is pre-programmed to classify inputs into pre-determined membership categories, with corresponding outputs. Fuzzy logic control – system is pre-programmed to classify inputs into pre-determined membership categories, with corresponding outputs. Neural networks – systems slowly learn the correct output for given inputs. Neural networks – systems slowly learn the correct output for given inputs. Software Agents – An agent acts on behalf of something in the system and agents negotiate a solution. They can be pre-programmed or learn patterns over time. Software Agents – An agent acts on behalf of something in the system and agents negotiate a solution. They can be pre-programmed or learn patterns over time.

7. Previous work – neural network Fuzzy logic and neural network control: Fuzzy logic and neural network control: o Neural Network House in Colorado – A project at the University of Colorado converted an old 1920's school house to test their ACHE (Adaptive Control of Home Environment) control system. – The first goal is to meet user's comfort needs, and the secondary goal is energy conservation. – Light and temperature levels are kept at a minimum level, and then raised to user's comfort levels only when they are about to enter a give room. – Hot water tank only heats enough water for predicted use.

8. Previous work – software agents – Software agent control systems: iDorm in University of Essex, England iDorm in University of Essex, England iHome at University of Massachusetts iHome at University of Massachusetts University of Karlskrona, Sweden University of Karlskrona, Sweden – When a user enters a room or house, the user's agent negotiates with the room's agent for lighting levels and temperature settings. – Over time, the user's comfort agent learns the user's comfort preferences. – For meetings, the agents of people attending negotiate common settings for light and temperature. – The user's comfort agent is tied to the house or building.

9. Previous work - testing It is hard to build and test real systems with real users. It is hard to build and test real systems with real users. It is possible to simulate people living in a house, and get “reasonable” results. It is possible to simulate people living in a house, and get “reasonable” results. Some papers used tracking devices on people to record their movements for 1 week. Then, the researchers can test their algorithms on the recorded movements. Some papers used tracking devices on people to record their movements for 1 week. Then, the researchers can test their algorithms on the recorded movements.

10. Previous work – user feedback Visual feedback from HCI community: Visual feedback from HCI community: By just giving visual feedback to the user, at least 10% energy reduction is possible. By just giving visual feedback to the user, at least 10% energy reduction is possible. http://tiffanyholmes.com/?page_id=28 http://tiffanyholmes.com/?page_id=28 http://tiffanyholmes.com/?page_id=28 http://www.google.org/powermeter/ http://www.google.org/powermeter/ http://www.google.org/powermeter/ The Watt Bot shows the user power usage by category, although the user is responsible for taking steps to reduce energy consumption. The Watt Bot shows the user power usage by category, although the user is responsible for taking steps to reduce energy consumption. Image of WattBot

11. Power Generation Vehicle to Grid Vehicle to Grid o Hybrid and electric cars will have high-capacity batteries to move a car for up to 300km on a single charge. o If the car is plugged in at home, why not use the battery as an energy storage device? o Peak load leveling: provides power when demand is above average, recharges when demand is below. – Schwarmstrom (Swarm power) o http://www.treehugger.com/ http://www.treehugger.com/ o A home generator generates electricity and uses excess heat to heat the home and water. o Provides electricity that is much cleaner than coal, and is cheaper and safer than nuclear power. – Renewable Energy: Solar, Wind, etc.

12. Proposed new work Artificial Intelligence controller for home that meets the user's environmental preferences, while minimizing energy usage. Artificial Intelligence controller for home that meets the user's environmental preferences, while minimizing energy usage. Mobile device is the interface to the environment, and provides feedback to the user. This makes the user aware of current power usage, and perhaps compares it to average usage. The mobile device can also stores the user's comfort preferences (in the form of software agent) for entering new environments. Mobile device is the interface to the environment, and provides feedback to the user. This makes the user aware of current power usage, and perhaps compares it to average usage. The mobile device can also stores the user's comfort preferences (in the form of software agent) for entering new environments.

13. Proposed new work.. 2 Artificial Intelligence controller lowers electricity usage cost by using alternate energy sources when available (vehicle to grid, solar, wind, home generator). Artificial Intelligence controller lowers electricity usage cost by using alternate energy sources when available (vehicle to grid, solar, wind, home generator). Schedule some tasks for when the electricity rates are cheap (laundry, water heating, recharging car). Schedule some tasks for when the electricity rates are cheap (laundry, water heating, recharging car). Reduce peak energy usage by using stored electricity in batteries. Reduce peak energy usage by using stored electricity in batteries.

14. Example of AI Controller and Peak Reduction

15. JAVA Agent Framework JADE (Java agent development environment). Java library for distributed agents. Implements FIPA agent specification so it will work other compliant agent frameworks. JADE (Java agent development environment). Java library for distributed agents. Implements FIPA agent specification so it will work other compliant agent frameworks. Facilities for sending messages between agents, transferring agents amongst platforms. Facilities for sending messages between agents, transferring agents amongst platforms.

16. Distributed Agents Every controllable object has an agent. For example, lights, heaters, window blinds. Every controllable object has an agent. For example, lights, heaters, window blinds. Each room has an agent to interact with objects in rooms. Each room has an agent to interact with objects in rooms. The user has a comfort agent to inform the room agent what the lighting and temperature settings should be. The room agent picks the objects in the room which can provide those settings using the least amount of energy. The user has a comfort agent to inform the room agent what the lighting and temperature settings should be. The room agent picks the objects in the room which can provide those settings using the least amount of energy. When there is no one in the room, the room agent maintains a minimum power state. When there is no one in the room, the room agent maintains a minimum power state.

17. Comfort settings The user interacts with the room using mobile device to turn up temperature, change lighting levels. The user interacts with the room using mobile device to turn up temperature, change lighting levels. The mobile device learns over time what the preferred settings are, and can inform new smart environments. The mobile device learns over time what the preferred settings are, and can inform new smart environments. The mobile device can challenge the user by lowering temperature and see if the user notices. The mobile device can challenge the user by lowering temperature and see if the user notices.

18. Conclusion By lowering energy usage, the home owner can save money. With visual feedback, the user becomes more aware of how much energy is used. By lowering energy usage, the home owner can save money. With visual feedback, the user becomes more aware of how much energy is used. By lowering peak energy demand, the most polluting electricity generating stations (burning coal) can be shut down. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. By lowering peak energy demand, the most polluting electricity generating stations (burning coal) can be shut down. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and environmental pollution. Hybrid car batteries can store energy from intermittent alternative energy sources (wind, solar). Hybrid car batteries can store energy from intermittent alternative energy sources (wind, solar).

19. References 1.M. Boman et al, Energy Saving and Added Customer Value in Intelligent Buildings. 2.M. Boman et al, Saving Energy and Providing Value Added Services in Intelligent Buildings: A MAS Approach. 3.M. Mozer, The Neural Network House: An Environment that Adapts to its Inhabitants. 4.H. Hagras et al, Creating an Ambient-Intelligence Environment Using Embedded Agents. 5.T. Holmes, Eco-Visualization: Combining Art and Technology to Reduce Energy Consumption. 6.D. Petersen et al, WattBot: A Residential Elecricity Monitoring and Feedback System. 7.Tae-Jung Yun, Investigating the Impact of a Minimalist In-Home Energy Consumption Display.