DZone
Thanks for visiting DZone today,
Edit Profile
  • Manage Email Subscriptions
  • How to Post to DZone
  • Article Submission Guidelines
Sign Out View Profile
  • Post an Article
  • Manage My Drafts
Over 2 million developers have joined DZone.
Log In / Join
  • Refcardz
  • Trend Reports
  • Webinars
  • Zones
  • |
    • Agile
    • AI
    • Big Data
    • Cloud
    • Database
    • DevOps
    • Integration
    • IoT
    • Java
    • Microservices
    • Open Source
    • Performance
    • Security
    • Web Dev
DZone >

Crowdsourcing office energy saving

Adi Gaskell user avatar by
Adi Gaskell
·
May. 02, 14 · · Interview
Like (0)
Save
Tweet
2.57K Views

Join the DZone community and get the full member experience.

Join For Free

It’s estimated that commercial buildings consume around 20% of a nations energy.  What’s more, studies have also suggested that this level could be reduced by as much as 30% by more effective monitoring.  Mostly this takes an algorithmic form, but a new site has launched that hopes to achieve the same benefits via a crowdsourced approach.

CrowdComfort is a site that aims to create a crowdsourced thermostat for offices and other commercial buildings.  The rationale behind the site is that different people feel the cold in different ways, and that applying the wisdom of crowds can help to better manage temperatures in offices.

The site is a relatively simple one.  Any user of a facility, be they office workers or school children, or even residents in a tower block, can download the CrowdComfort app.  They can then rate their personal level of comfort via their smartphones, reporting to building operators whether they are too hot or too cold.  This data is then sent to managers alongside a timestamp and geolocation details so managers can determine where in the building the ratings are coming from.

This data can then be used to hopefully apply smarter heating levels according to this new information.  You can see more about the concept via the video below.

Of course, the system only works when there are sufficient numbers of people giving it their feedback.  Is it likely to prove more effective than an automated sensor network therefore?  I personally have my doubts, as it will always be a challenge to find the perfect temperature for everyone.  It seems a more practical approach to require people to adapt more to their surroundings, which in energy saving terms would simply mean putting on a jumper.

Having said that, some big companies have signed up with the app, so it will be interesting to see how it transpires.

Original post
app Data (computing) Concept (generic programming) Blocks IT Operator (extension) Network

Opinions expressed by DZone contributors are their own.

Popular on DZone

  • Simulators vs. Emulators: What's the Difference
  • Image Classification Using SingleStore DB, Keras, and Tensorflow
  • The Right Way to Hybridize Your Product Development Technique
  • Demystify the Cybersecurity Risk Management Process

Comments

Partner Resources

ABOUT US

  • About DZone
  • Send feedback
  • Careers
  • Sitemap

ADVERTISE

  • Advertise with DZone

CONTRIBUTE ON DZONE

  • Article Submission Guidelines
  • MVB Program
  • Become a Contributor
  • Visit the Writers' Zone

LEGAL

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy

CONTACT US

  • 600 Park Offices Drive
  • Suite 300
  • Durham, NC 27709
  • support@dzone.com
  • +1 (919) 678-0300

Let's be friends:

DZone.com is powered by 

AnswerHub logo