[from The Cavalier Daily]

The National Science Foundation has presented a University research team with a $2 million grant to produce “smart building” energy systems, focusing on reducing energy use.

Computer Science Prof. Kamin Whitehouse, the principle investigator for the grant, said the team is working to develop a technology that can recognize its occupants’ identities and locations. By allowing the building to employ heating and cooling only when necessary, this feature could improve the energy costs related to those operations.

“If you want to apply heating and cooling to a person, you might do it differently if you notice that the father is in the kitchen versus the child being in the nursery,” Whitehouse said.

Sensory technology is key in the implementation of the technology. According to the project’s website, preliminary results using data from eight homes indicate that this approach can save 28 percent of Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning energy with only $25 in sensors.

“It will influence a lot of new technology and integration of new technology in architecture,” Asst. Architecture Prof. Anselmo Canfora said, adding that the ultimate goal is to improve the quality of the living environment while employing practices that are sustainable.

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