Smart Building

Database Driven Building Temperature Control

Our research in the smart building area combines modeling, control, and optimization to balance between human comfort and energy efficiency for a multi-zone building. We exploit the inherent passivity property in multi-zone building to demonstrate stability. The passivity property is also used in iterative control.

Research Theme

Heat

Light

Projects

Building Thermal Management: Adaptive and learning control for human comfort and energy efficiency

This project is focused on the development of an intelligent control system to manage energy consumption of buildings by actively incorporating human mediation in this process. The unique aspect of this project includes mechanisms by which multiple tenants of a commercial building can participate in the energy management process and allow the various control and actuation functions to efficiently meet their collective needs. The goal is to develop a blueprint for a more sustainable design of buildings. In addition to the significant impact on energy efficiency and sufficiency of next-generation buildings, the techniques being developed here also have transformative impact on sustainability research and sustainable technologies as a whole.