Introduction

In the Bronx, which has the highest number of Black and brown neighborhoods affected by the instability of climate change in New York City, emissions are particularly harmful in areas such as the South Bronx’s Asthma Alley. (Sequeira, 2022).  Climate change is a serious issue caused by overconsumption of electricity, which leads to the use of more fossil fuels and the production of greenhouse gases. These gases contribute to extreme weather changes, and rising sea levels due to melting glaciers, and negatively impact the growth of food. Large cities like New York contribute significantly to this problem due to their high population and electricity usage in buildings and households. The installation of smart thermostats with occupancy sensors in residential and commercial buildings as a means of reducing energy consumption and promoting sustainability. These sensors can detect when a room is empty and automatically adjust the temperature to reduce unnecessary heating or cooling. Smart thermostats with occupancy sensors is a proactive and innovative solution to address the challenges of energy consumption and climate change. By taking advantage of the latest advancements in technology, we can help create a more sustainable future for ourselves and future generations.

1.1 Problem Statement

The overconsumption of power from nonrenewable energy sources has increased greenhouse gas emissions, caused extreme weather changes, and negatively impacted the ecosystem. Inefficient heating and cooling systems in buildings are one of the main contributors to this problem, leading to the need for an energy-efficient solution such as a smart thermostat.

1.2 Background

            New York is a big city in the United States and its easy for such a big city to overuse its resources. Especially with electricity, most buildings have more than 3 families in one building and as Summer and winter approaches that overuse the heating and cooling, becomes apparent. Having consequences as this energy comes from fossil fuels, which are bad for the environment. 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 add up (EIA, 2022, n.p.). It’s essential to provide New Yorkers with products that would help save energy with smart thermostats and help reduce the effects of climate change.

1.3 Needs Statement

In populated areas like the Bronx, there are currently no effective measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in place for farms. As these buildings rely heavily on fuel-powered heating and cooling systems, this not only poses a significant environmental challenge but also a health issue as pollution is released into the air, affecting the local community. Thus, there is an urgent need for an energy-efficient thermostat that can accurately monitor temperature changes, regulate heating and cooling systems, and optimize energy consumption to address these issues.

1.4 Objective

The main objective is to create an environmentally sustainable product that satisfies consumer needs. A team will be created of engineers and computer scientists to develop a smart thermostat that is energy-efficient, user-friendly, and capable of optimizing energy usage. The team will collaborate on designing a physical thermostat that accurately measures temperature changes and controls heating and cooling systems. Then, the computer scientists will develop software and algorithms that can learn user preferences and adjust temperature settings accordingly. The thermostat will be tested in residential and commercial buildings throughout New York City, with highly populated areas such as the Bronx.