Technology and Innovation Management

III Description of the innovation idea

The innovation idea focuses on developing a new system installed in any building and providing efficient energy consumption by buildings. In this regard, it is worth mentioning the fact that the development of the effective information system that can accumulate, regulate, monitor and control the energy consumption by the equipment, heating and water supply system, windows shutters, the lighting of the interior and exterior and other elements and parts of buildings that consume energy. The new system’s introduction is to optimize energy consumption by buildings and generate energy using renewable sources of energy, namely solar power.

The innovative system will focus on developing an effective approach to the energy generation and management in buildings to put it more precisely. The system will include the instalment of solar batteries that will accumulate the solar power and the network uniting all the equipment, heating and water supply system, windows shutters, the lighting of the interior and exterior and other elements and parts of buildings that consume energy within the building. In such a way, the energy accumulated by solar batteries will be distributed within the building, and the excess of the energy may be sold out to third parties. The system may be managed by users from a PC or any mobile device with an internet connection. As the user enters into the system online, he/she can manage the information system, set controls and regulate the performance of the building either manually or automatically. The automatic management of the building’s energy consumption will be grounded on the analysis of the performance of different equipment and elements of the building. The user may also calculate how much energy the building requires and sell excessive energy.

The system will generate electricity and identify, which equipment and elements of the building are used, how frequently and how long they are used, the system will measure outside and inside temperature and lighting. In such a way, as the information system collects the information will analyze the information related to the energy consumption of the building, its environment and interior and habits of residents of the building. As the analysis is complete, the information system will elaborate solutions to optimize the energy consumption by the equipment, heating and water supply system, windows shutters, the lighting of the interior and exterior and other elements and parts of buildings that consume energy. For instance, if certain equipment is not used by residents but is switched on, the information system switches the equipment off or shifts it to the standby mode. As a result, the system decreases the consumption of energy by the equipment.

The system may also regulate the cooling and heating of the building depending on the outside and inside the temperature. The information system will analyze the inside and outside temperature to undertake respective actions to minimize energy consumption and optimize the building’s atmosphere. In fact, the information system regulates the heating and cooling system to create the optimal temperature. If the outside temperature is too high, the information system can switch on the cooling system and close shutters on the windows. In such a way, the temperature decreases. Similarly, the heating system may also be regulated by the information system. If the information system detects the low outside temperature and inside temperature, the information system switches on the building’s heating system to raise the inside temperature, opens window shutters, and, thus, accelerates the healing of the building.

Simultaneously, the information system can detect, where people are in the building and cool or heat the specific room, mainly minimizing the cooling or heating other rooms. The motion detection will help the information system locate areas that need heating or cooling, preventing the useless energy wasted on cooling and heating other areas of the building, where there are no residents at the moment. In such a way, the information system will optimize energy consumption.

Finally, the lighting of buildings may also be regulated by the information system. To put it more precisely, the information system will regulate the lighting of the building’s interior and exterior. As the system detects the motion inside or outside the building, it switches on the light. If the interior is empty or there is no one outside the building, the system switches off the light. In such a way, the consumption of energy becomes efficient.

At the same time, users can change the functioning of the information system manually. For instance, users may be willing to maintain lighting outside the building. In such a way, the system will keep the light outside on, but it may fade the light if there is no motion outside, and the bright light is not needed. In fact, users can manage the information system regulating the energy consumption of the building manually. In such a way, users will be able to set any aspect of the building’s energy consumption. Even though the system’s manual management may decrease energy efficiency, this option is essential for the convenience of users, in case the system fails to manage the energy consumption effectively. For instance, if there is not enough light, heating, or cooling, users will always have an opportunity to manage the system manually. Also, they will be able to manage the system distantly, accessing the system online. For instance, if residents of a house are on vacation, they can switch off all the equipment and systems that are unnecessary for the building’s maintenance, when they are away. In contrast, the system will switch on the equipment and systems they need just before their arrival. For instance, if residents return home and the weather is cold, the system will switch on the heating before their arrival so that residents will return to the warm house.

If the energy is accumulated, the building owner can sell out the energy and release it from the building network. The building owner may sign contracts with neighbours, owners of other buildings in the area or local energy supplier.