Oct 10 2014
A smart sensor that predicts homeowners’ movements and living patterns to help reduce their fuel bills has been developed by experts from the Energy Academy at Heriot Watt University.
The technology uses multiple sensors to predict when a home or building is occupied and an advanced mathematical algorithm then creates a formula that can accurately anticipate occupants’ lifestyle habits to control where and when in the house their heating should be on.
Thanks to funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) the technology has been piloted by elderly residents living in social housing in Dumfries and Galloway, where 38.5 per cent of households lived in fuel poverty between 2009 and 2011.
The research is being led by Dr Edward Owens at the of School of Energy, Geoscience, Infrastructure and Society.
Norman Kerr, Director, Energy Action Scotland said, “Sensors with built-in smart controllers are an exciting new approach and one that will hopefully assist older and more vulnerable people to better control their heating and save money in the process, ultimately helping to tackle fuel poverty.”
Source: http://www.hw.ac.uk/