Fernando Cielo – Mechanical Engineer 

Kymani Beckford – Mechanical Engineer 

Nusayba Ahmed – Computer Scientist

Raeesah Iram – Computer Scientist

Our current concerns:

• How will a smart thermostat work?
  • What HVAC is needed in order for it to work?
  • How can it tell if the place is full or empty?
  • Will there be an app on the phone in order to control the smart thermostat?
• Will there be a software update for the smart thermostat?

• How does a smart thermostat handle user’s preferences?
  • How does a smart thermostat handle multiple users with different preferences?
• What are the possible energy and environmental savings of adopting a smart thermostat?
  • How much energy may be saved by utilizing a smart thermostat instead of a standard thermostat?
  • How can smart thermostats aid in the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the mitigation of the effects of climate change?
• What are the environmental costs of a smart thermostat?
  • How can a smart thermostat be built to use less energy and have a smaller environmental impact?
  • Can the thermostat be made of environmentally friendly materials?
• How can a smart thermostat be designed for cost-effectiveness?
  • How can a thermostat be built using low-cost components without sacrificing functionality?
  • How can the thermostat be made to be simple to install and maintain?
• How can the smart thermostat be designed for accessibility??
  • Can the thermostat be developed with capabilities to accommodate disabled users?
  • How can the thermostat be constructed such that non-English speakers may use it?
  • What considerations should be made for users who have visual or hearing impairments?

Why does this work need to be done?

The effects of climate change can no longer be ignored, as the over consumption of electricity leads to more fossil fuels being used to get more energy, which leaves a lot of greenhouse gasses behind. These gasses are the reason the earth is experiencing extreme weather changes, tides rising from glaciers melting, and affecting the growth of food. Especially from cities like New York, its large population constantly uses electricity for the buildings and households. However, by renovating buildings to reduce the over usage of electricity, such as installing smart thermostats. These smart thermostats would be connected to a HVAC system that is a cooling and heating unit that is powered by electricity. Being able to detect people’s presence and automatically turn off, if no one is home to help save electricity. Simple ways like this are a step to reduce climate change. 

Statistics: 

Electricity is a vital need for any country, especially since everything is now electric. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), natural gasses make up 38.4% of the electricity provided to the US (EIA, 2022, n.p.). As a whole, America gets its energy mainly from natural gas, which includes fossil fuels. Not to mention that the following energy source is coal which is also bad for the environment. These two energy sources are big contributors to why climate change is occurring, the most energy is made from these two and are being used the most. However, renewable energy has been increasing in recent years, making up 13.7% of the energy in the US  (EIA, 2022, n.p.). This clean energy being wind and solar, which are innovations that even if used, they are not causing greenhouse gasses. A New Yorker on average uses about 599 Kilowatts-hour (KWh), which paired with the fact that it has one of the highest populated states in America, the effects of all that energy being used adds up (EIA, 2022, n.p.). Making it essential to provide New Yorkers with the option to save energy with smart thermostats not only are they helping reduce a threat but also saving Americans money, which if anyone is given the option to get a cheaper electric bill, people would take it through saving electricity. 

Why are we qualified? What is our plan?

In recent years, there has been a growing concern about energy consumption in buildings is heating and cooling systems. As such, there is a need to develop thermostats that help reduce energy usage. Two computer scientists and two mechanical engineers could be very qualified to make a smart thermostat. The computer scientists have the ability to build the software that will compose the thermostat and create the algorithms within it that will manage its functions, and the mechanical engineers have the ability to apply their knowledge of machinery to create the physical thermostat itself while ensuring it has the most efficient features.

Firstly, mechanical engineers have a deep understanding of thermodynamics and heat transfer. This knowledge can be applied to developing a thermostat that maximizes energy efficiency. According to a study by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), heating and cooling account for approximately 43% of residential energy consumption in the United States. They can use their expertise to design a thermostat that can accurately measure temperature changes and control heating and cooling systems accordingly. Mechanical engineers can also suggest ways to minimize heat loss, such as improving insulation, and optimize the use of renewable energy sources.

Secondly, computer scientists have the expertise to develop software and algorithms that can optimize temperature control and energy usage. For example, a team of computer scientists at Carnegie Mellon University developed a machine learning algorithm that adjusts thermostat settings based on occupancy patterns, resulting in energy savings of up to 25%. They can program the thermostat to learn the users preferences and adjust temperature settings accordingly. They can also develop machine learning algorithms that can prodigy temperature changes based on weather forecasts and adjust the thermostat settings accordingly. Additionally, computer scientists can develop a user-friendly interface that enables users to easily adjust the thermostat settings and monitor energy consumption.

Furthermore, collaboration between mechanical engineers and computer scientists can result in a more efficient and effective product. According to a study by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), interdisciplinary collaboration can lead to innovation and the development of solutions that cannot be achieved by a single discipline. The combination of mechanical and computational concepts can result in a thermostat that is both energy-efficient and simple to use. The team can collaborate to create a product that is both environmentally sustainable and meets consumer needs.

When this thermostat is created, it will first be put into the testing phase to ensure that the product works the way it was intended. Testing will be done by distributing the thermostat to the Forest Housing Project in Bronx, NY. We will ensure that there is an experimental group of buildings with other types of thermostats to compare our control group thermostats with to ensure our data is unbiased and the most accurate. We also plan on working with both the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority and the New York City Housing Authority to make sure our product follows our mission of working towards an energy sufficient future. Since the buildings we are seeking are owned by the NYCHA, we will be working with them first to ensure we have permissions for our testing. If our testing proves that our product is sufficient for consumer use, we will start advertising to our target audience we currently feel would benefit most from our thermostat, which would be in commercial and residential buildings within populated cities such as New York City. Of course, our connection with the aforementioned organizations would grant us a powerful ally when promoting our product as it would be backed by powerful investors, granting us useful permissions and access to further resources. 

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1XyKoHcgO2YNCCXLdqNSHG2FTJMfGye1C7LzpilbMCqo/edit?usp=sharing