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Just In Time Delivery
Energy Behavior Change Low Energy
Homes Kent Larson kll_at_mit.edu
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Appalling Statistic The US, with 5 of the
worlds population, consumes 25 of the worlds
energy
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Energy consumption (kg of oil equivalents per
capita) US 7798 Denmark 3045
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US Consumption of Energy 39 Buildings 33
Industrial 28 Transportation
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US Consumption of Energy in Buildings 54
Residential 46 Commercial
Institutional
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Energy consumed over the life of a
building 84 Use 13 Manufacturing 2
Construction 1 Demolition
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Cost-effectiveness of energy-related investment
in cents/kwh 30-80 Photovoltaics 5-10
Small Hydro 4-7 Nuclear 4-6 Gas 4 Coal 3
Wind 0.8 Low Energy Homes () Energy Behavior
Change
Energy Sources
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Energy Behavior Change
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Information at the point of decision changing
driving behavior
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Information at the point of decision changing
driving behavior
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• PlaceLab Energy Wastage
• Study
• Married couple
• 10 week pilot study
• 37 electrical circuits monitored
• Activity detection location every 8 seconds

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• MITes
• (MIT Environmental Sensors)
• Variations
• 1) Object motion
• 2) Body movement
• 3) Temperature
• 4) Light level
• 5) RFID reader
• 6) Haptic output
• 7) Location beacons
• 8) IR distance ranger
• 9) Electrical current
• (Electrical device use)
• 10) Ultra violet light
• 11) Heart rate monitor
• Funded by National Science Foundation (NSF)

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hinged panels to micro-controllers speakers air
quality sensors IR illuminators hinged panels to
sensor bus cabinet door switches countertop
activity cameras refrigerator use
sensors microwave use sensors oven range use
sensors cabinet drawer sensors hot water use
sensor cold water use sensor hinged panels to
sensor bus cabinet door switches sensor network
connections internet connections temperature
sensors Power integrated into cabinetry hinged
panels to subwoofers
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Data Where people are Human activity Human
Interaction with systems and objects State of
environment Focus on Energy behaviors
PlaceLab
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• Study 1
• Potential for reducing consumption

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Analysis Tool

• Handlense sensor visualization tool
• Developed at House_n

Vampire power sources
Unused lights Devices
Example device consuming power in red, lights
on in yellow
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Projected Usage
Space in use
Devices in use
Devices and lights on only in spaces with
occupancy
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42 savings in electrical consumption predicted
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Distribution of wasted energy
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Study 2 GPS Enabled Thermostat Can we more
effectively encourage energy conservation by
combining? Information Automation
Persuasion Control Positive Reinforcement
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Automation GPS Enabled Thermostat
Phone with GPS communicates travel time to home
Return home
Leave home
Comfortable Temperature
Comfortable Temperature upon arrival
Thermostat Set back When unoccupied
Begin to Travel home
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Automation GPS Enabled Thermostat
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Persuasion GPS Enabled Thermostat
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Control GPS Enabled Thermostat
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Information GPS Enabled Thermostat
Cooling as fast as Possible to 72 deg Time to
Cool 27 min.
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Positive Reinforcement GPS Enabled Thermostat
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How information is presented is critical!

• Which is more effective in encouraging behavior
  change
• Save 25c today
• Save 91
• this year
• Have 758 more five years from now
• Have 22,055 more for retirement at age 65

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• Study 3
• Tunable LED lighting responsive to activity and
  path prediction
• w/ Siemens (Sylvania)
• (so that office occupants are never aware of
  lighting adjustment)

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MIT House_n Research Consortium
Open Prototype Initiative
Low Energy Homes
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b

• Open Prototype Initiative
• Open_2
• Presidents zero-energy house, Unity College,
  Maine

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• Disentangled layers with
• six primary systems
• Utility chassis
• Loft chassis
• Roof components
• Integrated interior infill
• Responsive façade components
• Agile technologies

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Unity College, Maine Presidents Zero Energy,
LEED Platinum House
Utility chassis all plumbing, electrical
distribution, HVAC, bathrooms, kitchen, solar
equipment (highly constrained)
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Prefabricated mechanical room
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Loft chassis (unconstrained dimensions and form)
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Roof components (PV and solar hot water)
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Responsive, high performance façade components
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Integrated interior infill
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Chassis interior w/o infill
Infill design A
Infill design B
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Disentangled technologies
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mechanical module sliding panels
integrated infill wall timber frame
chassis insulating doors (w/ aerogel)
solar shades
Goal scalable systems, optimized w/o engineers
and architects
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Open_3 Cambridge, MA Mass-customized, zero
energy, multifamily living lab

• Open_3 mass customized apartments

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Just In Time Delivery
Energy Behavior Change Low Energy
Homes Kent Larson kll_at_mit.edu